Concurrent training associated with moderate walnut consumption improved isokinetic strength, subjective sleep quality, cognitive performance and postural balance in elderly active men: a randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: To investigate the effects of concurrent training (resistance and endurance) associated with moderate walnut consumption on isokinetic strength, subjective sleep quality, cognitive performance and postural balance in physically active elderly men. METHODS: Twenty healthy elderly men were divided into two matched groups, in a randomized controlled experiment. They have participated in three training sessions per week: concurrent (strength and endurance) training + ad libitum diet with walnuts (15 g/day for 6 weeks, CTW: n = 10) and concurrent training + ad libitum diet (CT: n = 10). Isokinetic strength, Spiegel questionnaire, Montreal cognitive assessment and postural balance parameters were assessed 48 h pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Absolute peak torque of knee extensors and knee flexors significantly increased compared to pre-training in CTW (15.2% ± 6.7; 13.2% ± 2.3, p < 0.05, respectively) and CT (10.6% ± 6.8; 7.4% ± 2.9, p < 0.05, respectively). Subjective sleep quality increased compared to pre-training for CTW and CT (24% ± 14.4; 10.5% ± 9.4, p < 0.05, respectively) with a significantly greater increase in CTW (p < 0.05). Cognitive performance measured by Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) increased only in CTW compared to baseline (7.7% ± 2.5, p < 0.05). Postural balance parameters with dual task decreased only in CTW compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The present study clearly revealed that concurrent training alone or associated with daily walnut (15 g) consumption for 6 weeks significantly increased knee isokinetic strength, support leg standing parameters and sleep quality. Meanwhile, cognitive performance evaluated by MoCA test and postural balance with dual task were improved for CTW group only.

Nocturnal Melatonin Ingestion Improves Soccer Players' Short-Term Maximal Performances on the Following Day.

Purpose: Exogenous melatonin has been proven to have beneficial effects on sleep. A good sleep quality promotes recovery and improves physical performance. In this sense, the present study aimed to explore the potential effect of nocturnal melatonin ingestion on psycho-cognitive and short-term maximal performances, in the following morning. Method: Twelve professional soccer players (22.9 ± 1.3 years, 1.80 ± 0.05 m, and 72.0 ± 8.8 kg) volunteered to perform two separate testing sessions after either nocturnal melatonin or placebo ingestion. The next morning, participants performed the following psycho-cognitive and physical tests: Hooper's index, reaction time, vigilance, handgrip strength (HG), squat jump (SJ), modified agility T-test (MAT) and Wingate anaerobic test (WanT). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate [La] were recorded, respectively, immediately and 3 min after the WanT. Blood glucose [GL] was measured before and 3 min after WanT. Results: Compared with placebo, melatonin improved subjective sleep quality, short-term maximal performances (HG and SJ), reaction-time, as well as peak and mean WanT powers and decreased fatigue index and RPE scores. However, [La] and [GL] were not affected by melatonin ingestion. Conclusion: Nocturnal melatonin intake before sleep has beneficial effects on cognitive and physical performances the following day.

Effects of Ramadan fasting on the diurnal variations of physical and cognitive performances at rest and after exercise in professional football players.

Introduction: Ramadan fasting (RF) is characterized by daily abstinence from food and fluid intake from dawn to sunset. The understanding of the Ramadan effects on the diurnal variations of athletic and cognitive performance is crucial for practitioners, coach and researchers to prepare sport events and optimize performance. The aim of the present study was to reveal the effects of RF on the diurnal variation of physical and cognitive performances at rest and after exercise. Method: In a randomized order, 11 male football players (age: 19.27 ± 0.9; height: 1.79 ± 0.04 cm; body mass: 70.49 ± 3.97 kg; BMI: 21.81 ± 1.59 kg/m2) completed a 30-s Wingate test [i.e., mean (MP) and peak powers (PP)] at 07:00, 17:00, and 21:00 h on five occasions: 1 week before Ramadan (BR); the second (R2); the third (R3); the fourth (R4) week of Ramadan; and 2 weeks after Ramadan (AR), with an in-between recovery period of ≥72 h. Simple (SRT) and choice (CRT) reaction times, mental rotation test (MRT) and selective attention (SA) test were measured before and after Wingate test. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), body composition, dietary intake, profile of mood states (POMS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed over the five periods. Results: Compared to BR, RF decreased MP at 17:00 h (p < 0.05, d = 1.18; p < 0.001, d = 2.21, respectively) and PP at 17:00 h (p < 0.05, d = 1.14; p < 0.001, d = 1.77, respectively) and 21:00 h (p < 0.01, d = 1.30; p < 0.001, d = 2.05, respectively) at R3 and R4. SRT (p < 0.001,d = 1.15; d = 1.32, respectively), number of correct answers (MRTE; p < 0.05, d = 1.27; d = 1.38, respectively) and SA (p < 0.01, d = 1.32; d = 1.64, respectively) increased during R2 and R3 in the evening before exercise compared to BR. Short term maximal exercise enhanced SRT (p < 0.01, d = 1.15; p < 0.001, d = 1.35, respectively), MRTE (p < 0.001, d = 2.01; d = 2.75 respectively) and SA (p < 0.05, d = 0.68; d = 1.18, respectively) during R2 and R3 in the evening. In comparison to BR, sleep latency and sleep duration increased during R3 (p < 0.001, d = 1.29; d = 1.74, respectively) and R4 (p < 0.001, d = 1.78; d = 2.19, respectively) and sleep quality increased in R2, R3 and R4 (p < 0.01, d = 1.60; p < 0.001, d = 1.93; d = 2.03, respectively). Conclusion: During RF, anaerobic and cognitive performances were unaffected in the morning but were impaired in the afternoon and evening. Short-term maximal exercise mitigates the negative effects of fasting on cognitive performance. Maximal exercise could thus partially counteract the effect of fasting on cognitive function.

Melatonin Ingestion Prevents Liver Damage and Improves Biomarkers of Renal Function Following a Maximal Exercise.

Background: While the promotion of the beneficial effects of melatonin (MEL) ingestion on the modulation of oxidative stress is widespread, less attention is given to the biological influence that it could exert on the results of hematology and clinical chemistry parameters. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of acute MEL ingestion on these parameters during a maximal running exercise. Methods: In double blind randomized design, 12 professional soccer players [age: 17.54 ± 0.78 yrs, body mass: 70.31 ± 3.86 kg, body height: 1.8 ± 0.08 m; maximal aerobic speed (MAS): 16.85 ± 0.63 km/h; mean ± standard deviation], all males, performed a diurnal (17:00 h ± 30 h) running exercise test (RET) at 100% of their MAS following either MEL or placebo ingestion. Blood samples were obtained at rest and following the RET. Results: Compared to placebo, MEL intake decreased post-exercise biomarkers of liver damage (aspartate aminotransferase, p<0.001; alanine aminotransferase, p<0.001; gamma-glutamyltransferase; p<0.05) and improved post-exercise renal function markers (i.e., creatinine, p<0.001). However, lipid profile, glucose, lactate and leukocyte were not affected by MEL ingestion. Regarding the time to exhaustion, no difference was found between MEL (362.46 ± 42.06 s) and PLA (374.54 ± 57.97 s) conditions. Conclusion: The results of this investigation clearly attest that MEL ingestion before a maximal running exercise might protect athletes from liver damage and perturbation in renal function biomarkers. However, this study comprises an acute MEL supplementation and no assessment on chronic effects or circadian rhythm the day before was done.

Melatonin supplementation alleviates cellular damage and physical performance decline induced by an intensive training period in professional soccer players.

Melatonin has been proved to have positive effects on cellular damage and metabolic regulation. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of melatonin supplementation during an intensive training period on physical performance decline, oxidative stress and cellular damage state. The investigation was conducted on 20 soccer players who participated in an exhaustive six-day training schedule associated with daily 5 mg oral melatonin or placebo ingestion. Resting blood samples and physical performance were measured before and after the training period. The mixed 2-way ANOVA (group x training camp) showed that compared to placebo, melatonin intake prevented an increase in advanced oxidation protein products (p>0.05) and increased the antioxidant enzyme activity (i.e., superoxide dismutase; p<0.001). In addition, melatonin prevented an increase of biomarkers of renal function (e.g., creatinine; p>0.05) and biomarkers of muscle (e.g., creatine kinase; p>0.05) and liver (e.g., gamma-glutamyltransferase; p>0.05) damage. Furthermore, melatonin alleviated the deterioration in physical performance (countermovement jump, five-jump test and 20-m sprint; p>0.05). In conclusion, the obtained data showed increased oxidative stress and renal, muscle and liver damage in professional soccer players during an exhaustive training schedule. Melatonin intake during the training period exerts beneficial effects on physical performance and protects tissues against the deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species and cellular damage.

Effects of melatonin ingestion on physical performance and biochemical responses following exhaustive running exercise in soccer players.

Antioxidant supplementation has become a common practice among athletes to boost sport achievement. Likewise, melatonin (MEL) has been ingested as an ergogenic aid to improve physical performance. To date, no study has checked whether the multiple beneficial effects of MEL have an outcome during a maximum running exercise until exhaustion. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of MEL ingestion on physical performance and biochemical responses (i.e., oxidative stress) during exhaustive exercise. In a double blind randomized study, thirteen professional soccer players [age: 17.5 ± 0.8 years, body mass: 70.3 ± 3.9 kg, body height: 1.80 ± 0.08 m; maximal aerobic speed (MAS): 16.85 ± 0.63 km/h; mean ± standard deviation], members of a first league squad, performed a running exercise until exhaustion at 100% of MAS, after either MEL or placebo ingestion. Physical performance was assessed, and blood samples were obtained at rest and following the exercise. Compared to placebo, MEL intake prevented the increase in oxidative stress markers (i.e., malondialdehyde), alleviated the alteration of antioxidant status (i.e., glutathione peroxidase, uric acid and total bilirubin) and decreased post-exercise biomarkers of muscle damage (i.e., creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase) (p < 0.05). However, physical performance was not affected by MEL ingestion (p > 0.05). In conclusion, acute MEL intake before a maximal running exercise protected athletes from oxidative stress and cellular damage but without an effect on physical performance.

Effect of Different Running Exercise Modalities on Post-Exercise Oxidative Stress Markers in Trained Athletes.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of running exercise modality on oxidative stress. Thirteen endurance athletes (age: 21.46 ± 0.66 years) performed three different running exercise modalities (Continuous running exercise (CR): continuous running exercise at 75% of VO2max for 25 min; intermittent running exercise #1 (15/15): intermittent running protocol, 15 s running at 75% of VO2max, 15 s passive recovery, performed for 50 min; intermittent running exercise #2 (30/30): intermittent running protocol, 30 s running at 75% of VO2max, 30 s passive recovery, performed for 50 min) in a randomized order. Blood samples were drawn at rest and immediately after each running exercise and assessed for malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. MDA increased by 55% following 30/30 exercise (p < 0.01), while it remained unchanged with CR and15/15 exercise. SOD increased after CR (+13.9%, p < 0.05), and also remained unchanged after 15/15 (p > 0.05) and decreased after 30/30 (-19.7% p < 0.05). GPX and AOPP did not change after exercise in all experimental sessions (p > 0.05). In conclusion, 30/30 intermittent running induced higher lipid damages than the 15/15 and CR exercise. 15/15 intermittent exercise promoted a better balance between free radicals production and antioxidant defense compared to continuous exercise and intermittent 30/30 exercise.

Effect of nocturnal melatonin intake on cellular damage and recovery from repeated sprint performance during an intensive training schedule.

An optimal recovery between training sessions is of similar if not greater importance as the training content and program of the training, itself. One of the most used strategies for improving recovery is the ingestion of supplements. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 5 mg oral melatonin supplementation on the recovery from repeated sprint (RSA) of performance and biochemical responses (i.e. oxidative stress, leukocytosis cellular damage) after an intensive training camp (TC). Twenty soccer players performed an RSA test before and after an intensive six-day TC associated with nocturnal melatonin (n = 10) or placebo (n = 10) ingestion. Resting and post-RSA test blood samples were obtained before and after the TC. Compared to placebo, melatonin intake decreased resting oxidative stress markers (i.e, advanced oxidation protein products), leukocytosis (i.e. white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils (NE)) and biomarkers of cellular damage (i.e. creatine kinase (CK)). It also lowered post-exercise leukocytosis (i.e. WBC, NE, lymphocytes (LY), monocytes (MO)) and biomarkers of cellular damage (i.e. CK, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT)) and raised the activity of the main antioxidant enzymes (i.e. glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR)). In addition, compared to placebo, melatonin reduced the deterioration of the best and total time during the RSA test after the TC. In conclusion, nocturnal melatonin supplementation during an intensive TC alleviated oxidative stress, leukocytosis and cellular damage and improved recovery of RSA performance in soccer players.