The effect of exercises on left ventricular systolic and diastolic heart function in sedentary women: Step-aerobic vs core exercises.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 16 weeks step-aerobic exercises and core exercises on left ventricular structure and function with some physiological parameters in sedentary women. METHODS: To achieve the purpose of this study, a total of 45 volunteers including (step-aerobic group (SAG, n = 25), core exercise group (CEG, n = 20) were selected as participants. Two different exercises were applied for 4 days a week, throughout 16 weeks, within 60 minutes for each exercise with the intensity of heart rate (HR) 60-70 percent. The HR was measured using a heart rate monitor for each subject. The physical, biochemical and echocardiographic characteristics of the women were measured before and after the exercise. RESULTS: During the exercise periods, there were a meaningful decrease in the body weight, BMI, value of waist region and hip circumference of the women in both intervention groups as well as in the values of HR, DBP, SBP (p < 0,05). In addition, serum homocysteine (Hcy) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) levels decreased and the VO2max and left ventricular diastolic end-diastolic dimension increased in both SAG and CEG (p < 0.05). The left ventricular diastolic functions of the SAG improved more than CEG. Left ventricular systolic ejection time and fractional shortening meaningfully improved in both SAG and CEG (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: 16 weeks of step-aerobic and core exercise showed significant changes of inflammatory and lipid markers with cardiac dimensions and had favorable effects on both left ventricular systolic function. Left ventricular diastolic function had more improved in SAG than the CEG.

PPAR-α and PPARGC1A gene variants have strong effects on aerobic performance of Turkish elite endurance athletes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PPAR-α intron 7G>C and PPARGC1A gene Gly482Ser polymorphisms on aerobic performance of elite level endurance athletes. This study was carried out on 170 individuals (60 elite level endurance athletes and 110 sedentary controls). Aerobic performance of athletes and sedentary control groups were defined by maximal oxygen uptake capacity. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using GeneJet Genomic DNA Purification kit. Genotyping of the PPAR-α intron 7G>C and PPARGC1A Gly482Ser polymorphisms was performed using PCR-RFLP methods, and statistical evaluations were carried out using SPSS 15.0. Mean age of athletes were 21.38 ± 2.83 (18-29) and control mean age were 25.92 ± 4.88 (18-35). Mean maximal oxygen consumption of athletes were 42.14 ± 7.6 ml/(kg min) and controls were 34.33 ± 5.43 ml/(kg min). We found statistically significant differences between the athlete and control groups with respect to both PPAR-α and PPARGC1A genotype distributions (p = 0.006, <0.001, respectively) and allele frequencies (<0.001, <0.001, respectively). Additionally, when we examined PPAR-α and PPARGC1A genotype distributions according to the aerobic performance test parameters, we found a statistically significant association between velocity, time and maximal oxygen consumption and PPAR-α and PPARGC1A genotypes (p < 0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first study in Turkey examined PPAR-α intron 7G>C and PPARGC1A Gly482Ser gene polymorphisms in elite level endurance athletes. Our results suggest that PPAR-α and PPARGC1A genes have strong effect on aerobic performance of elit level athletes.

Effects of menstrual cycle on sports performance.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of menstrual cycle on female athletes' performance. Forty-eight teak-wondo athletes, 76 judoka, 81 volleyball, and 36 basketball players (total 241) elite athletes participated in the study. A questionnaire constituted from 21 questions about menstrual cycle applied. A one-way analysis of variance and scheffe tests were performed to assess differences between sport branches about physical and physiological characteristics. Chi square was used to evaluate the regularity of menstrual cycle, performance, and drug taking. The mean age of teak-wondo athletes, judokas, volleyball and basketball players were 20.71 +/- 0.41, 16.91 +/- 0.27, 21.22 +/- 0.26, and 21.03 +/- 0.63 years, respectively. The menarche ages of the athletes were 13.92, 13.22, 13.75, 13.86 years, respectively. 27.8% participated in regional competitions, 46.1% participated in just the national competitions, and 26.1% participated in the international competitions. Whereas the menstrual disorder was seen in 14.5% of the athletes in normal time, during the intensive exercise this ratio was increased to 20.7%. It was determined that during the competition 11.6% of the athletes used drug, 36.9% had a painful menstruation, 17.4% did not have a painful menstruation, 45.6% sometimes had a painful menstruation, and 63.1% of the athletes said that their pain decreased during the competition. First 14 days after the menstruation began, 71% of the athletes said that they felt themselves well. 71% of the athletes felt worst just before the menstruation period, 62.2% of the athletes said that their performance was same during the menstruation, and 21.2% said that their performance got worse. Both in general and during the training the menstruation period of the athletes was found to be regular (p < .01). Most of the athletes said that they have a painful menstruation period, and during the competition their pain decreased. As a result of the questionnaire, during the training and competition the number of athletes that did not use drugs were higher than the athletes that used drug (p < .01). The number of athletes that felt good before and during the menstruation were significantly higher (p < .05, p < .01). Between the menstruation periods the athletes said that they felt better in the first 14 days than the second 14 days (p < .01). When the non-menses period and menses period were compared the athletes said that their performance did not change (p < .01). It has been concluded that the menarche age was high in the athletes. It has found that the physical performance was not affected by the menstrual period and the pain decreased during the training and competition.

Comparison of lipid and lipoprotein values in men and women differing in training status.

The aim of this study was to compare plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations of male and female subjects in different training levels and to examine the risks of cardiovascular diseases. For this purpose, 20 male athletes from the National Turkish Wrestling Team (age 23.5 +/- 1.25 years) and 44 male and 51 female students (ages 21.7 +/- 1.72 and 20.20 +/- 1.68 years, respectively) from physical education and sports department and 40 sedentary females (ages 21.14 +/- 1.72 years) participated in this study. Trigliceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C and LDL-C levels were determined by a Hitachi 717 Autoanalyser. Apo A-l, Apo B, and Lp(a) levels were determined by Behringer Nephelometer 100. Maximum Oxygen Consumption (VO(2) max) values were determined by 12-min run test and the anaerobic power values were measured by Jump Meter Instrument. Energy consumption of basal metabolic rates were for males 1 kcal for an hour and 0.9 kcal for females. There were no significant differences in plasma TC, TG, and small lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) values between four groups (p > .05). No significant differences were found in HDL-C, LDL-C, apolipoprotein Al (Apo-Al), and apolipoprotein B100 (Apo-B) values between wrestlers and male students, and between female students and sedentary females (p > .05). HDL-C values of female students and sedentary females were significantly higher when compared with the same values of wrestlers and male students (41.52 and 40.93 mg/100 ml versus 51.92 and 50.10 mg/100 ml). However, LDL-C values were found to be lower in females than males (121.83 and 101.10 mg/100 ml as opposed to 97.7 and 98.4 mg/100 ml) but only significantly lower than in wrestlers (p < .05). Although the wrestlers' training levels were always higher than male students, the lipid and lipoprotein values were not different. These variables were not different between female groups either. But the lipid and lipoprotein profile of female subjects was found to be better than that of males. These results showed that medium and high level of exercises did not cause significant differences in lipid and lipoprotein levels, but the sex differences were very pronounced. Lipid and lipoprotein values of the four groups have indicated that the individuals in these groups would not be exposed to danger of cardiovascular diseases.