Carbohydrate-loading during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle: effects on muscle glycogen and exercise performance.

The effects of employing a high-carbohydrate diet (carbohydrate-loading) to increase glycogen storage in skeletal muscle are not well established in female athletes. On 4 occasions--2 familiarization trials and 2 experimental trials--6 well-trained female subjects completed 6 x 15-min continuous intervals of cycling (12 min at 72% VO2max, 1 min at maximal effort, and 2 min at 50% VO2max), followed by a time trial 15 min later. The women consumed their habitual diets (HD; 6-7 g carbohydrate/kg lean body mass) for 3 days after the second familiarization trial and before the first experimental trial. During the 3 days following the first experimental trial, the subjects consumed a high-carbohydrate diet (CD; 9-10 g carbohydrate/kg lean body mass) prior to the second experimental trial. Mean (+/-SEM) pre-exercise muscle glycogen concentrations were greater after CD versus HD (171.9+/-8.7 vs. 131.4+/-10.3 mmol/kg wet weight, P < 0.003). Although 4 of the 6 subjects improved their time-trial performance after CD, mean performance for the time trial was not significantly different between diets (HD: 763.9+/-35.6 s; CD: 752.9+/-30.1 s). Thus, female cyclists can increase their muscle glycogen stores after a carbohydrate-loading diet during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, but we found no compelling evidence of a dietary effect on performance of a cycling time trial performed after 90 min of moderate-intensity exercise.

Creatine supplementation and swimming performance.

The purpose of this study was to determine if oral creatine (CR) ingestion, compared to a placebo (PL), would enable swimmers to maintain a higher swimming velocity across repeated interval sets over 2 weeks of supplementation. Fourteen female and 18 male university swimmers consumed a PL during a 2-week baseline period. Using a randomized, double-blind design, during the next 2 weeks subjects consumed either CR or PL. Swimming velocity was assessed twice weekly during 6 X 50-m swims and once weekly during 10 X 25-yd swims. There was no effect of CR on the 10 X 25-yd interval sets for men and women and no effect on the 6 X 50-m interval sets for women. In contrast, for men, CR significantly improved mean overall swimming velocity in the 6 X 50-m interval after 2 weeks of supplementation, whereas PL had no effect. Although ineffective in women, CR supplementation apparently enables men to maintain a faster mean overall swimming velocity during repeated swims each lasting about 30 s; however, CR was not effective for men in repeated swims each lasting about 10 - 15 s.

Reliability of power output during intermittent high-intensity cycling.

PURPOSE: We determined the number of trials on consecutive days required to establish high reliability of an intermittent high-intensity cycling test in subjects unfamiliar with multiple-sprint exercise. We also examined the extent to which this reliability could be maintained for 6 d. METHODS: Five untrained men performed a multiple-sprint test (10 x 7 s, with each sprint separated by 30 s) on each of four consecutive days (days 1-4), then rested for 6 d, and finally performed two additional tests on consecutive days (days 11 and 12). For statistical comparisons (analyses of variance), mean power outputs during sprints 8, 9, and 10 (MP8-10) on each test day were calculated for each of the 4th, 5th, and 6th seconds of the sprints, i.e., MP8-10(4th), MP8-10(5th), and MP8-10(6th). Peak power during each sprint was also examined. RESULTS: For days 3 and 4, values for MP8-10(4th), MP8-10(5th), and MP8-10(6th) were greater than on day 1 (P < 0.05). MP8-10(6th) on day 2 was also greater than on day 1 (P < 0.05). There were no differences in MP8-10 among days 2, 3, 4, 11, and 12. Also, peak power on day 1 was lower (P < 0.05) than peak power for all other days, which were not different from one another. The coefficients of variation (CV) for MP8-10 on day 3 versus day 4 were 3.3%, 2.5%, and 2.9% for MP8-10(4th), MP8-10(5th), and MP8-10(6th), respectively. The CV for MP8-10(4th), MP8-10(5th), and MP8-10(6th) on days 4, 11, and 12 ranged from 2.1 to 3.9%, with an overall mean of 3.1%. The greatest CV for MP8-10 was 5.2% for MP8-10(6th) on days 2 versus 3 and 2 versus 4. The mean CV for peak power for all pairwise combinations of days 4, 11, and 12 was 2.8%. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, satisfactory reliability of intermittent cycling tests is achieved after two familiarization sessions identical to the tests, and that reliability can be maintained for 6 d.

Effect of tryptophan and of glucose on exercise capacity of horses.

We hypothesized that central fatigue may have a role in limiting the endurance capacity of horses. Therefore, we tested the effect of infusing tryptophan and/or glucose on endurance time and plasma concentrations of free tryptophan and other substrates thought to affect tryptophan uptake into the brain of seven mares (3-4 yr of age, 353-435 kg) that ran on a treadmill at 50% of maximal O2 consumption to fatigue. With use of a counterbalanced crossover design, the horses were infused with tryptophan (100 mg/kg in saline solution) or a similar volume of saline solution (placebo) before exercise. During exercise, horses received infusions of glucose (2 g/min, 50% wt/vol) or a similar volume of saline. Thus the treatments were 1) tryptophan and glucose (T & G), 2) tryptophan and placebo (T & P), 3) placebo and glucose (P & G), and 4) placebo and placebo (P & P). Mean heart rate, hematocrit, and concentration of plasma total solids before and during exercise were similar for all trials. Mean time to exhaustion was reduced (P < 0.05) for T & P and T & G compared with P & P [86.1 +/- 6.9 and 87.1 +/- 6.8 vs. 102.3 +/- 10.3 (SE) min], whereas endurance for P & G (122.4 +/- 11.9 min) was greater than for all other trials (P < 0.05). Compared with nontryptophan trials, during the tryptophan trials plasma prolactin increased (P < 0.05) nearly threefold before exercise and almost twofold early in exercise. Muscle glycogen concentrations were reduced (P < 0.05) below preexercise values in the P & G and P & P trials only. However, glucose infusions (P & G) did not affect (P > 0.05) concentrations of plasma free fatty acids or ratios of branched-chain amino acids to free tryptophan. In conclusion, tryptophan infusion reduced endurance time, which was consistent with the central fatigue hypothesis. The failure of glucose infusion to alleviate the effects of tryptophan and the absence of significant muscle glycogen reduction in the tryptophan trials suggest that the early onset of fatigue in the tryptophan trials is not due to a lack of readily available substrate.

Temperature of ingested water and thermoregulation during moderate-intensity exercise.

The effect of the temperature of ingested water on the rise in core temperature (Tco) during exercise is not clear. Seven trained subjects were recruited to complete 2 hr of recumbent cycling at 51% VO2peak in a temperate environment (Ta = 26 degrees C, relative humidity = 40%) on four occasions, while ingesting either no fluid (trial NF26), cold water (0.5 degree C; trial CD26), cool water (19 degrees C; trial CL26), or warm water (38 degrees C; trial WA26) during the second hour of exercise. A fifth trial was conducted during which convective and radiative heat loss were reduced by raising Ta to 31 degrees C. During this trial, subjects ingested cold water (0.5 degree C; trial CD31). When compared to WA26, over the second hour of exercise, CD26 attenuated the time-averaged changes in (Tco) and forearm blood flow and decreased whole-body sweat rate and forearm sweat rate (p < .05). Similarly, relative to WA26, the CL26 trial attenuated the time-averaged changes in Tco and reduced whole-body sweat rate (p < .05) during the second hour of exercise, but CL26 had no significant effect on forearm sweat rate or blood flow. Finally, regardless of beverage temperature, water ingestion (vs. NF26) reduced the time-averaged changes in Tco and in heat storage during the second hour of exercise (p < .05).

Caffeine vs caffeine-free sports drinks: effects on urine production at rest and during prolonged exercise.

We compared the effects of caffeinated vs non-caffeinated carbohydrate electrolyte (CE) drinks on urine volume (UV), free water clearance (CH2O), fractional excretion of water (FEH2O), and osmolar excretion during 4 h of rest or 1 h rest followed by 3 h of cycling at 60% VO2max in six subjects. We also tested maximal performance at 85% VO2max following the 3-h exercise trials. Throughout the two resting trials and the two rest + exercise trials, subjects ingested CE (total volume = 35 ml/kg) without (PLAC) or with (CAFF) caffeine (25 mg/dl). Blood samples were collected, and body weight and UV were recorded every hour. Urine and blood were analyzed for osmolality and creatinine, and plasma catecholamine concentrations were determined. At rest, mean (+/-SE) UV between 60 min and 240 min was greater for CAFF (1843 +/- 166 ml) vs PLAC (1411 +/- 181 ml) (p < 0.01); during exercise the difference in UV between CAFF (398 +/- 32 ml) and PLAC (490 +/- 57 ml) was not significant. Cycling performance was unaffected by caffeine. Plasma catecholamine concentrations were not different between PLAC and CAFF but were greater during exercise than rest (p < 0.01) and may have counteracted the diuretic effect of caffeine observed at rest. Thus, CAFF consumed in CE during moderate endurance exercise apparently does not compromise bodily hydration status.

Association between mild, routine exercise and improved insulin dynamics and glucose control in obese adolescents.

The association between mild routine exercise and glucose homeostasis, insulin dynamics, and risk factors for coronary artery disease was investigated in obese adolescent males. Subjects (n = 7; mean +/- SD age 13.3 +/- 1.4 yr) were tested before and after 15 wk of supervised mild intensity exercise. Serum glucose (GLU), insulin (IN), and C-peptide (CP) were measured in response to a mixed meal before and after the 15 wk period. Weight, body composition, peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), resting blood pressure (BP), and blood lipid levels were also assessed pre- and post-training. After training, percent fat and body weight were not decreased compared to the initial values. Relative changes (p < or = 0.02) in mean values for GLU and peptides after training were: fasting GLU, -15%; total GLU response, -15%; peak IN response, -51%; total IN response, -46%; peak CP response, +55%; and total CP response, +53%. Following training, the subjects did not have an increased peak VO2, but showed consistent reductions in systolic BP and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). Increases in hepatic insulin clearance (decreased insulin levels but increased CP levels) might be training adaptations unique to low intensity exercise or to obese youth. Decreased insulin levels with concurrent decreases in resting blood pressure and the LDL-cholesterol levels suggest that mild exercise training may reduce health risk factors without weight loss in the obese adolescent male.

Spironolactone administration and training-induced hypervolemia.

The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of aldosterone to plasma volume expansion accompanying short-term exercise training. Twelve healthy males (age = 26.5 +/- 5.8) cycled for 120 min on three consecutive days at a relative exercise intensity of 65% VO2max. Half of the subjects were treated with 25 mg of spironolactone taken four times daily to suppress the effects of aldosterone. Resting plasma volume increased significantly (501 +/- 83 ml, p < 0.05) from pretraining in control subjects, but not for drug-treated subjects (163 +/- 94 ml). Spironolactone attenuated gains in resting plasma volume, serum sodium content, and serum osmolal content by 67%, 79% and 66%, respectively. Spironolactone-treated and non-treated subjects experienced similar increases in total serum protein content sufficient to increase the plasma volume by approximately 290 ml. It was not determined why drug-treated subjects attained less of a plasma volume expansion than that expected by the increase in oncotic pressure. In conclusion, two-fifths of the plasma volume expansion induced by 3 d of endurance cycling could be attributed to aldosterone activity, and the remaining three-fifths could be explained by the expansion of intravascular protein mass. Other neurohormonal influences may have contributed to the overall plasma volume expansion but this experiment did not allow for their exclusion.

Effect of furosemide on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and aldosterone concentrations and renin activity in running horses.

Effects of furosemide administration on exertion-induced changes in plasma renin activity and plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide and aldosterone in horses during sustained submaximal exertion were examined. Furosemide (1 mg/kg of body weight) or heparinized saline solution was administered IV to each of 6 mares not conditioned to exercise, either 4 hours or 2 minutes before 60 minutes of sustained submaximal running on a treadmill. Horses ran at a speed that induced heart rate approximately 65% of maximal after saline treatment. After 15 minutes of running, furosemide suppressed the exertion-induced increase in plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (mean [95% confidence interval] values of 63.9 [9.9 to 421] pg/ml vs 100 [15.4 to 652] pg/ml after furosemide or saline treatment, respectively), and enhanced the response of plasma renin activity to exertion (18.6 [5.7 to 60.4] ng/ml/h vs 6.0 [1.8 to 19.4] ng/ml/h, respectively). An effect of furosemide on the exertion-induced increase in plasma aldosterone concentration was not detected.

Furosemide magnifies the exercise-induced elevation of plasma vasopressin concentration in horses.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that furosemide administration before exercise would cause greater increases in plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentration in exercising horses than exercise alone. Six adult, clinically normal, unfit mares underwent three randomly ordered 60 minute standard exercise tests on an equine treadmill to examine the effect of furosemide administration on plasma AVP concentration. In one trial, furosemide (1 mg kg-1) was infused four hours before exercise (FUR-4) and a placebo (10 ml saline) was infused two minutes before exercise; in another trial the placebo was infused four hours before exercise and drug was infused two minutes before exercise (FUR-2); in a third trial a placebo was infused four hours and two minutes before exercise (CON). During the treadmill test each mare ran up a fixed 4 degrees incline for one hour at a speed previously determined to produce a heart rate of 65 per cent of each horse's maximum heart rate. Venous blood samples were collected at rest in the stall, immediately before exercise while standing on the treadmill, and at 15 minute intervals during the treadmill test. Plasma AVP concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay. In the CON trial, plasma AVP concentration increased 561 per cent (P < 0.05) from 6.3 +/- 1.0 pg ml-1 (mean +/- SE) at rest to 38.8 +/- 12.8 pg ml-1 at the end of the 60 minute run. During the FUR-2 trial, AVP increased 1185 per cent (P < 0.05) from 5.9 +/- 1.7 pg ml-1 to 75.8 +/- 17.7 pg ml-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Non-weightbearing exercise may increase lumbar spine bone mineral density in healthy postmenopausal women.

Seven postmenopausal women exercised regularly at moderate intensities (60-80% of maximum heart rate) for eight months on bicycle ergometers. Evaluation of bone mineral density by dual photon absorptiometry revealed a significant (P < 0.01) + 3.55 +/- 1.43% (mean +/- SE) increase in lumbar spine density in the exercisers compared with the 2.44 +/- 0.81% decrease noted in seven sedentary controls. No significant difference in change in femoral neck density was noted between the two groups (+2.51 +/- 2.10% v -0.74 +/- 0.72% for exercisers and controls, respectively; P > 0.10). Dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D was similar in both groups, as was previous exposure to estrogen replacement therapy. These data provide evidence of a prospective nature that non-weightbearing exercise may be effective in reversing bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women.

No evidence of oxidant stress during high-intensity rowing training.

In untrained subjects, strenuous exercise provokes the appearance of oxidant stress markers in blood and muscle. On the other hand, trained muscle is resistant to oxidant stress unless exercise challenges the muscle glycogen supply. It is not known whether chronic high-intensity exercise alters the susceptibility of skeletal muscle to oxidant stress, whether there are gender-related differences in markers of oxidant stress, or whether elevating muscle glycogen stores by increasing dietary carbohydrate can minimize any exercise-related oxidant stress. To address these issues, collegiate rowers (12 men, 11 women) were randomly assigned to a moderate-(MOD, 5 g/kg body wt) or high-carbohydrate (HI, 10 g/kg) diet in a double-blind design and underwent strenuous training for 4 wk. Training in the A.M. was 40 min at 70% maximal O2 consumption (VO2); in the P.M. it was either three 2,500-m time trials (to assess power output) or aerobic and lactate tolerance training. Total daily training time was 65 min at 70% maximal VO2 and 38 min at > or = 90% maximal VO2. Thrice-weekly morning blood samples were assayed for serum creatine kinase (CK), plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and serum beta-glucuronidase (beta-Gluc). Weekly muscle biopsies were obtained for analysis of glycogen and, when tissue sample quantity allowed, TBARS. HI rowers produced more power and improved power more (10.7 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.6 +/- 1.6%) over the 4 wk than did the MOD rowers. Preexercise muscle glycogen concentration was maintained at 119 mmol/kg in MOD but increased 65% in HI rowers (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dietary carbohydrate, muscle glycogen, and exercise performance during 7 d of training.

The effects of moderate- or high-carbohydrate diets on muscle glycogen and performance in runners and cyclists over 7 consecutive days of training were determined. Muscle biopsies were performed on 4 separate days before exercise for 1 h at 75% peak oxygen consumption (VO2) followed by five, 1-min sprints. After the training session on day 7, subjects ran or cycled to exhaustion at 80% peak VO2. Muscle glycogen for cyclists and runners was maintained with the high-carbohydrate diet but was reduced 30-36% (P < 0.05) with the moderate-carbohydrate diet. All subjects completed all training sessions, and there were no differences in times to exhaustion on day 7. For cyclists and runners, consuming a moderate-carbohydrate diet over 7 d of intense training reduces muscle glycogen but has no apparent deleterious effect on training capability or high-intensity exercise performance. A high-carbohydrate diet maintains muscle glycogen, but this has no apparent benefit on training capability or high-intensity exercise performance.

Arterial-venous difference in atrial natriuretic peptide concentration during exercise in horses.

Six nontrained mares were subjected to steady-state, submaximal treadmill exercise to examine the effect of exercise on the plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in arterial, compared with mixed venous, blood. Horses ran on a treadmill up a 6 degree grade for 20 minutes at a speed calculated to require a power equivalent to 80% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2MAX). Arterial and mixed venous blood samples were collected simultaneously from the carotid and pulmonary arteries of horses at rest and at 10 and 20 minutes of exercise. Plasma was stored at -80 C and was later thawed; ANP was extracted, and its concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Exercise caused significant (P < 0.05) increases in arterial and venous plasma ANP concentrations. Mean +/- SEM arterial ANP concentration increased from 25.2 +/- 4.4 pg/ml at rest to 52.7 +/- 5.2 pg/ml at 10 minutes of exercise and 62.5 +/- 5.2 pg/ml at 20 minutes of exercise. Mean venous ANP concentration increased from 24.8 +/- 4.3 pg/ml at rest to 67.2 +/- 14.5 pg/ml at 10 minutes of exercise and 65.3 +/- 13.5 pg/ml at 20 minutes of exercise. Significant differences were not evident between arterial or mixed venous ANP concentration at rest or during exercise, indicating that ANP either is not metabolized in the lungs or is released from the left atrium at a rate matching that of pulmonary metabolism.

Plasma renin activity and aldosterone and vasopressin concentrations during incremental treadmill exercise in horses.

Six untrained mares were subjected to incremental treadmill exercise to examine exercise-induced changes in plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone (ALDO) and plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations. Plasma renin activity, ALDO and AVP concentrations, and heart rate (HR) were measured at each step of an incremental maximal exercise test. Mares ran up a 6 degree slope on a treadmill set at an initial speed of 4 m/s. Speed was increased 1 m/s each minute until HR reached a plateau. Plasma obtained was stored at -80 C and later was thawed, extracted, and assayed for PRA and ALDO and AVP values by use of radioimmunoassay. Exercise caused significant increase in HR from 40 +/- 2 beats/min (mean +/- SEM) at rest to 206 +/- 4 beats/min (HRmax) at speed of 9 m/s. Plasma renin activity increased from 1.9 +/- 1.0 ng/ml/h at rest to a peak of 5.2 +/- 1.0 ng/ml/h at 9 m/s, paralleling changes in HR. Up to treadmill speed of 9 m/s, strong linear correlations were obtained between exercise intensity (and duration) and HR (r = 0.87, P less than 0.05) and PRA (r = 0.93, P less than 0.05). Heart rate and PRA reached a plateau and did not increase when speed was increased from 9 to 10 m/s. Plasma ALDO concentration increased from 48 +/- 16 pg/ml at rest to 191 +/- 72 pg/ml at speed of 10 m/s. Linear relation was found between exercise intensity (and duration) and ALDO concentration (r = 0.97, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dietary carbohydrate, muscle glycogen, and power output during rowing training.

The belief that high-carbohydrate diets enhance training capacity (mean power output) has been extrapolated from studies that have varied dietary carbohydrate over a few days and measured muscle glycogen but did not assess power output during training. We hypothesized that a high-carbohydrate (HI) diet (10 g.kg body mass-1.day-1) would promote greater muscle glycogen content and greater mean power output during training than a moderate-carbohydrate (MOD) diet (5 g.kg body mass-1.day-1) over 4 wk of intense twice-daily rowing training. Dietary protein intake was 2 g.kg body mass-1.day-1, and fat intake was adjusted to maintain body mass. Twelve male and 10 female collegiate rowers were randomly assigned to the treatment groups. Training was 40 min at 70% peak O2 consumption (VO2) (A.M.) and either three 2,500-m time trials to assess power output or interval training at 70-90% peak VO2 (P.M.). Mean daily training was 65 min at 70% peak VO2 and 38 min at greater than or equal to 90% peak VO2. Mean muscle glycogen content increased 65% in the HI group (P less than 0.05) but remained constant at 119 mmol/kg in the MOD group over the 4 wk. Mean power output in time trials increased 10.7 and 1.6% after 4 wk in the HI and MOD groups, respectively (P less than 0.05). We conclude that a diet with 10 g carbohydrate.kg body mass-1.day-1 promotes greater muscle glycogen content and greater power output during training than a diet containing 5 g carbohydrate.kg body mass-1.day-1 over 4 wk of intense twice-daily rowing training.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Muscle glycogen loading with a liquid carbohydrate supplement.

This study compared two high carbohydrate (CHO) diets in 14 male runners for effects on muscle glycogen deposition, endurance, and sensations of gastrointestinal discomfort. Muscle glycogen was measured in the vastus lateralis at rest and run time to exhaustion at 75% VO2max was measured following 3-1/2 days on a 50% CHO diet. After 14 days the subjects consumed a 20% CHO diet and continued training to reduce glycogen. During the next 3-1/2 days, subjects ran less and consumed a 90% CHO diet emphasizing pasta and rice (Pasta, n = 7) or lesser amounts of pasta and rice supplemented by a maltodextrin beverage (Supplement, n = 7). Glycogen was again measured, followed by a second run to exhaustion. Compared to the 50% CHO diet, Pasta increased muscle glycogen by 27.1 +/- 12.2 mmoles/kg muscle (M +/- SE; P < 0.05) and run time by 15.7 +/- 5.9 min; Supplement increased glycogen by 43.2 +/- 13.5 mmoles/kg (P < 0.05) and run time by 29.0 +/- 7.4 min (P < 0.05). Total glycogen concentrations and run times were not significantly different for Pasta versus Supplement. Subjects reported less gastrointestinal discomfort and greater overall preference for Supplement than for Pasta. Thus, glycogen loading can be accomplished at least as effectively and more comfortably by substituting a maltodextrin drink for some of the pasta and rice in a glycogen loading diet.

Exercise training, indomethacin, and isoproterenol-induced myocardial necrosis in the rat.

It was hypothesized that endurance exercise training would attenuate isoproterenol-induced myocardial necrosis in the rat by increasing the concentration of prostacyclin in the myocardial vasculature. Rats were randomly assigned to exercise and control groups. Exercisers ran on a motorized treadmill 1 h.d-1, 5 d.week-1 for 14 weeks. Immediately following the training program subgroups of rats were injected with 4 mg.kg-1 indomethacin or saline. One day later, all rats were given a subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (20 mg.kg-1); after another 24 h they were sacrificed. A decrease of myocardial creatine kinase (CK) activity was used as a marker for myocardial necrosis. Endurance exercise training attenuated the isoproterenol-induced decrease in myocardial CK relative to control by approximately 37% (exercise: 16.4 +/- 0.6 U.mg-1 protein; control: 10.5 +/- 0.6 U.mg-1 protein; p less than 0.05). Pretreatment with indomethacin decreased myocardial CK in the exercise-trained rats (indomethacin: 15.4 +/- 0.8 U.mg-1 protein; saline: 17.7 +/- 0.7 U.mg-1 protein; p less than 0.05), but not in the controls (indomethacin: 10.3 +/- 1.0 U.mg-1 protein; saline: 10.8 +/- 0.6 U.mg-1 protein; p greater than 0.05). The concentration of myocardial 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, a marker for prostacyclin, was not altered by exercise but, as expected, was reduced by indomethacin pretreatment (p less than 0.05). Thus, exercise training reduces myocardial damage caused by isoproterenol, but the evidence does not support the hypothesis that prostacyclin mediated this effect of training. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which exercise training-induced alterations in sensitivity to PGI2 or TXA2 affect myocardial damage from isoproterenol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dietary carbohydrate and intensity of interval swim training.

We tested the effects of 9 d of a high-carbohydrate diet (80% of calories as CHO, 80% CHO diet) vs. a moderate-CHO diet (43% of calories as CHO, 43% CHO diet) on the abilities of collegiate swimmers to maintain a high intensity of interval swim training. Interval swim times and other physiological indices were recorded the last 5 d of each diet. Swim-interval distances ranged from 50-m interval sets to continuous 3000-m swims. There were no diet effects on mean swim velocities for any interval distance, and mean (+/- SEM) velocities for all swims were identical for both diets. There were no diet effects on the physiological indices; however, postswim blood lactate concentrations were higher after the 80% CHO diet. When mean +/- SEM daily caloric intake is 19.56 +/- 2.16 MJ (4675 +/- 516 kcal) for swimmers undertaking swim training to develop aerobic capacity, an 80% CHO diet provides no advantage over a 43% CHO diet for maintaining interval-swim-training intensity.