Evidence for the participation of the stimulated sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of carnitine blood levels of soccer players during a game.

Catecholamines and carnitine blood levels are closely implicated with training. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of sympathetic nervous system stimulation on carnitine and its fraction levels during training. Blood was obtained from 14 soccer players pregame, at intermission, and postgame. Catecholamines were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography methods; muscle enzymes creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase as well as lactate, pyruvate, and total antioxidant status with commercial kits; and carnitine and fraction levels with tandem mass spectrometry. Total antioxidant status (2.97 +/- 0.13 vs 0.96 +/- 0.10 mmol/L, P < .01) as well as free carnitine levels (20.47 +/- 4.0 vs 12.30 +/- 2.8 micromol/L, P < .001) were remarkably decreased especially postgame. Total acylcarnitines (5.20 +/- 1.8 vs 9.42 +/- 3.0 micromol/L, P < .001) and especially total very long-chain acylcarnitines (0.80 +/- 0.01 vs 1.85 +/- 0.03 micromol/L, P < .001) as well as catecholamine levels (adrenaline: 230 +/- 31 vs 890 +/- 110 pmol/L, P < .01; noradrenaline: 1.53 +/- 0.41 vs 3.7 +/- 0.6 nmol/L, P < .01) were significantly increased in players postgame. A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between adrenaline and free carnitine (r = -0.51, P < .01); and a positive correlation was found between adrenaline, total acylcarnitines (r = 0.58, P < .01), and total long-chain acylcarnitine (r = 0.49, P < .01). The significant positive correlation of adrenaline levels with total acylcarnitine and total long-chain acylcarnitine blood levels in athletes as well as the inverse correlation with free carnitine levels may indicate participation of the stimulated sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of some carnitine fraction levels during exercise.

Maternal-neonatal amino acid blood levels in relation to the mode of delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the mode of delivery on maternal-neonatal amino acid levels as high blood levels of some amino acids are implicated with endurance exercise. DESIGN: Comparative study. SAMPLE: Thirty women in normal pregnancy divided into two groups: Group A (n=15) with normal labor and vaginal delivery and group B (n=15) with scheduled cesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood was obtained from the mothers pre- versus post-delivery as well as from the umbilical cord. Routine laboratory tests (liver enzymes, muscle enzyme, etc.) and the amino acid blood levels were measured with a clinical chemistry analyzer and tandem mass spectrometry methods, respectively. RESULTS: Routine laboratory tests and the amino acid blood levels were similar in the two groups of mothers pre-delivery. Total antioxidant status levels were reduced, whereas the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and alanine levels were remarkably elevated in the sera of group A post-delivery, whereas they remained unaltered in group B at the same time of study. The mentioned BCAAs and alanine levels were higher in the umbilical cord blood of group A than those in group B. The rest of the amino acids were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The increased BCAAs and alanine blood levels in mothers of group A may be related to uterine and skeletal muscle contractions during the vaginal delivery process and the high levels in the umbilical cord blood of their neonates may mirror those of the mothers. The elevation of BCAAs both in mothers of group A and their neonates may exclude or minimize tyrosine and tryptophane levels from entry in the brain resulting in decreased biogenic amine and increased prolactin production in the central nervous system of these mothers and their infants.

The effect of the mode of delivery on maternal-neonatal interleukin-6, biogenic amine and their precursor amino acid concentrations.

BACKGROUND: Biogenic amine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT) levels are related to interleukin-6 (IL-6) plasma concentrations and endurance exercise. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of the mode of delivery on maternal-neonatal IL-6, biogenic amine and their precursor amino acid levels. METHODS: Some women with normal pregnancy (n=56) were divided into two groups: group A (n=26) with normal labor and vaginal delivery, and group B (n=30) with scheduled cesarean section. Blood was obtained from the mothers at the beginning of labor and immediately after delivery (pre- vs. post-delivery), as well as from the umbilical cord (CB). Total antioxidant status (TAS) and IL-6 levels were measured with commercial kits, the precursor amino acids, tyrosine and tryptophan with tandem mass spectrometry and the biogenic amine blood levels with HPLC methods, respectively. RESULTS: TAS, IL-6, biogenic amine and their precursor amino acid blood levels were similar in the two groups of mothers pre-delivery. TAS levels were reduced, whereas the amino acids, the catecholamine, 5-HT and IL-6 levels were increased post-delivery and in the CB of group A and unaltered in group B at the same time of the study. CONCLUSIONS: During a vaginal delivery process, the low TAS, the increased levels of the studied amino acids, the catecholamines, 5-HT and IL-6 may be due to the activation of the neuroendocrine system and the participation of skeletal and uterine muscles. The mode of delivery may be taken into account when IL-6 plasma levels are evaluated as an anti-inflammatory index perinatally.

The effect of the mode of delivery on the maternal-neonatal carnitine blood levels and antioxidant status.

BACKGROUND: Carnitine blood levels are closely related to beta-oxidation and implicated with strenuous muscle contractions. Normal delivery process is characterized by the participation of the uterus and most skeletal muscles. METHODS: Women with normal pregnancy (n = 56) were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 26) with normal labor and vaginal delivery and group B (n = 30) with scheduled cesarean section. Blood was obtained from the mothers at the beginning of labor and immediately after delivery (pre- vs. post-delivery), as well as from the cord blood (CB). Total antioxidant status (TAS) was measured with a commercial kit and carnitine was measured in blood spots on Guthrie cards with tandem-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: TAS and carnitine levels were similar in all the groups pre-delivery. In contrast, TAS and carnitine levels were significantly lower in group A than in group B post-delivery. Remarkably lower TAS and carnitine levels were measured in the CB of neonates of group A as compared to the CB of neonates of group B. CONCLUSIONS: The lower TAS and carnitine levels measured in group A as compared to group B postdelivery may be due to uterus and skeletal muscle contraction during a normal labor process. Infants born with scheduled cesarean section are benefited with high carnitine levels to face oxidation perinatally.

The effect of diet on Paraoxonase 1/Arylesterase activities in patients with disorders of galactose metabolism.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of diet on the antiatherogenic enzyme Paraoxonase 1/Arylesterase (PON1/Aryl) activities in patients with disorders of galactose metabolism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven poorly dietary controlled children with classical galactosaemia (GALT deficiency), 7 with epimerase deficiency and 12 with duarte 1 variant 'off diet' underwent clinical and laboratory investigations before and after 10 days on galactose restricted diet whereas controls (N = 20) were examined once. Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) were measured with routine methods, PON1/Aryl activities and total antioxidant status (TAS) spectrophotometrically, and galactose-1-phosphate (Gal-1-P) enzymatically. RESULTS: Lipids, lipoproteins, ApoA1, PON1/Aryl, TAS remained unaltered in all groups, except in those with classical galactosaemia pre- versus postdiet. In patients with classical galactosaemia, TAS, PON1, Aryl (0.98 +/- 0.2 mmol/l, 60 +/- 12 U/min/ml, 56 +/- 16 KU/min/ml, respectively) were significantly reduced prediet as compared with those postdiet (1.63 +/- 0.2 mmol/l, 136 +/- 15 U/min/ml, 112 +/- 18 KU/min/ml, respectively; P < 0.001) and controls. The enzyme activities positively correlated with TAS (r = 0.56, P < 0.001) in all groups and negatively with Gal-1-P (r = -0.54, P < 0.001) in group with GALT deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Low TAS and high Gal-1-P levels may reduce PON1/Aryl activities. Patients with classical galactosaemia, when on strict diet, may benefit with a generous antiatherogenic capacity.