Effect of 6 Weeks of n-3 fatty-acid supplementation on oxidative stress in Judo athletes.

The aim of this investigation was to assess the effects of 6 wk of eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) supplementation on resting and exercise-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in judoists. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a placebo or a capsule of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; 600 mg EPA and 400 mg DHA). Blood samples were collected in preexercise and postexercise conditions (judo-training session), both before and after the supplementation period. The following parameters were analyzed: α-tocopherol, retinol, lag phase , maximum rate of oxidation (Rmax) during the propagating chain reaction, maximum amount of conjugated dienes (CDmax) accumulated after the propagation phase, nitric oxide (NO) and malondyaldehide (MDA) concentrations, salivary glutathione peroxidase activity, and the lipid profile. Dietary data were collected using a 7-day dietary record. A significant interaction effect between supplementation and time (p < .01) on triglycerides was noted, with values significantly lower in the n-3 long-chain-PUFA (LCPUFA) group after supplementation than in the placebo group. Significant interaction effects between supplementation and time on resting MDA concentrations and Rmax were found (p = .03 and p = .04, respectively), with elevated values in the n-3 LCPUFA group after supplementation and no change in the placebo group's levels. The authors observed a significantly greater NO and oxidative-stress increase with exercise (MDA, Rmax, CDmax, and NO) in the n-3 LCPUFA group than with placebo. No main or interaction effects were found for retinol and α-tocopherol. These results indicate that supplementation with n-3 LCPUFAs significantly increased oxidative stress at rest and after a judo-training session.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in rat: effect of food restriction and wheel running.

Using the activity-based anorexia model, the aim of this investigation was to explore antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase), total antioxidant status (TAS), and alpha-tocopherol in blood, liver, and gastrocnemius muscle associated with the food restriction and voluntary wheel running during 8 days. In addition, lipid peroxidation was measured by measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA). Wistars rats (n = 56) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: an ad lib sedentary group, a control wheel activity group, a food restriction-induced hyperactivity group (1 h/day ad lib food, 23 h/day ad lib wheel access), and a food-restricted sedentary group. The animals were killed when the rats in the food-restricted group had lost 25% of their free feeding weight. Antioxidant enzyme activities and TAS in blood, liver, and gastrocnemius muscle were unaffected by voluntary wheel running. A wheel activity effect (P < 0.05) was obtained for the MDA concentrations in plasma, with lower concentrations in trained animals. Food restriction effects were obtained for antioxidant capacity in liver, as well as for CAT activity in the gastrocnemius muscle and plasma MDA concentrations with lower values in the restricted animals. On the other hand, the food-restricted rats showed higher plasma TAS concentrations (P < 0.05) and higher alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the liver (P < 0.05) when compared to animals fed ad libitum. Our results also showed that food restriction coupled to wheel running decreased antioxidant parameters in liver, and plasmatic MDA concentrations and increased TAS plasma concentrations when compared to the ad libitum sedentary situation.

Motivation, stress, anxiety, and cortisol responses in elite paragliders.

In this study metamotivational dominance (measured with the Telic Dominance Scale), precompetition anxiety (evaluated with the CSAI-2), perceived stress (measured with the Perceived Stress Scale), and cortisol responses by 10 paragliding competitors prior to and following a paragliding competition were examined. Saliva was collected for each subject for cortisol analysis on eight occasions: during a resting day (baseline values) and prior to and after competition. Analysis indicated subjects were all paratelic-dominant (characterized by a desire for high arousal, a focus on the present). Scores were high on the Perceived Stress Scale and cognitive nxiety (a telic emotion). Cortisol values showed a significant increase early on the day of the competition and remained elevated all the day, with highest concentrations at the start. Participants' cognitive anxiety and cortisol responses were significantly correlated .79 just before the jump and the direction of the cognitive anxiety was rated as facilitative of performance. These results may suggest that the more frequently the subject is playful in life, the more cortisol they produce when aroused in a less frequent telic state.

Eating Attitudes, Perfectionism and Body-esteem of Elite Male Judoists and Cyclists.

This study tested the hypothesis that male athletes who feel pressured to maintain a specific body weight present an elevated risk of subclinical eating disorders. Twelve judoists (19.5 ± 0.5 yr), fifteen cyclists (21.2 ± 2.8 yr) and seventeen non- competitive students matched for BMI and used as controls (21.8 ± 1.8 yr) were studied using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Body Esteem Scale and the Profile of Mood States were also used to evaluate the relationships between eating disorders and psychological characteristics. Athletes completed the tests during their competitive period and controls completed the same scales at the same time. Scores obtained on EAT-26 differed significantly from the control group on EAT (p < 0.01), Dieting (p < 0.01), and Bulimia scores (p < 0.05). Sixty percent of the athletes used weight loss methods. Self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives and diet pills were reported by 4%, 10%, and 8.5% of them, respectively. Increasing exercise was the primary method used by controls to lose body weight. Athletes reported greater negative feelings about their physical appearance and their Body Weight Satisfaction than controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). Our results also showed that depression mood accounted for 73% of the variance in Bulimia scores and for 64% of the variance in Global EAT scores in athletes. Body-esteem Appearance and depression accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in Dieting scores. There was no difference in perfectionism and mood between athletes and controls. This study highlights that these athletes may tread a fine line between optimal competitive attitudes and detrimental health behaviors. Key pointsPrevalence of eating disorders has become a growing concern among athletic populations, but very little information is available concerning male athletes.This study highlights that these athletes may tread a fine line between optimal competitive attitudes and detrimental health behaviors.