Redox status and antioxidant response in professional cyclists during training.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether different phases of training affect oxidative stress and antioxidant defences in professional cyclists. Ten professional cyclists, aged 21.8 ± 2.5 years, were enrolled in the study. They were classified into two groups of five athletes each one with similar nutritional intake excepting for the overload of vitamin C (1000 mg day(-1)) and E (400 mg day(-1)) supplementation in one of them. The cyclists of both groups performed the same exercise design, consisting of hard, tapering and recovery training periods. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the diet, plasma oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC), lipid peroxidation (LPO), DNA damage (8-OHdG) and erythrocyte glutathione disulfide/glutathione ratio (GSSG:GSH(-1)) were measured. During the intense exercise trainings, the cyclists without vitamin supplements had the TAC of diet significantly lower than the supplemented group. Plasma ORAC, LPO and 8-OHdG were similar in both groups of athletes. Athletes with supplements had a basal LPO:ORAC(-1) ratio lower than that without supplements, but this ratio converged to the same level at the end of the training in both groups of cyclists. Both groups of cyclists showed similar changes in GSSG:GSH(-1) ratio and in GSSG and GSH levels along the study. The data suggest that well-trained athletes with suitable ultra-endurance training volume and intensity do not require antioxidant vitamin supplements to adapt their endogenous antioxidant defenses to exercise-induced ROS.

Changes in the redox status and inflammatory response in handball players during one-year of competition and training.

The present research was designed to evaluate the adaptive responses to oxidative stress and inflammation in handball players subjected to well-controlled training intervals over one-year of competition. Seven blood samples were collected over the season of the study, approximately one a month. Plasma lipid peroxidation, nitrite, cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, INFγ and TNFα), and the glutathione cycle in erythrocytes, were measured. Exercise intensity, measured with the Borg's scale, increased significantly up to the middle of the competition season, coinciding with maximal creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase values, and then decreased at the end of the study. The inflammatory markers including nitrite, IL-1ß, IL-6, and, to a lesser extent INFγ, increased early in the training season, and remained elevated until the end of the study. TNFα, however, remained low during the season. The oxidative stress response included a transient increase of the glutathione disulphide/glutathione ratio and glutathione reductase activity at the beginning of the study, returning to basal values somewhat later. Glutathione peroxidase also increased at the end of the training season, and lipid peroxidation levels remained low during the athletic season. These results suggest that well-trained athletes were best adapted to the oxidative response, although the beneficial effects of some of the inflammatory cytokines on skeletal muscle myogenesis and repair cannot be ruled out.

Comparación del somatotipo, evaluación nutricional e ingesta alimentaria entre estudiantes universitarios deportistas y sedentarios / Comparison of the somatotype, nutritional assessment and food intake among university sport and sedentary students

Fundamento y objetivo: El estudio del somatotipo y de la ingesta alimentaria entre la población universitaria es importante para implantar políticas internas de mejora de la salud y de la prevención de enfermedades. En este estudio se ha realizado la comparación del somatotipo, evaluación energética-nutricional e ingesta alimentaria entre estudiantes universitarios deportistas frente a los sedentarios. Sujetos y método: La muestra está formada por 1.299 jóvenes universitarios (420 varones y 879 mujeres) de la Universitat de València, durante 2008-2009 y 2009-2010, evaluándose en ellos diversos parámetros antropométricos, el somatotipo y la ingesta nutricional y alimentaria mediante un registro del consumo alimentario de 7 días. Resultados: El somatotipo fue Endo-Mesomorfo, Meso-Endomorfo, Endomorfo Balanceado y Meso-Endomorfo para varones deportistas y sedentarios, y mujeres deportistas y sedentarias, respectivamente. Los cuatro grupos presentan un porcentaje alto para proteínas y grasas y bajo para hidratos de carbono porcentualmente con respecto a las calorías totales establecidos por los objetivos nutricionales para la población española. Se observa un déficit de vitamina E para los varones deportistas, de vitaminas A, D y E, folato y biotina para los varones sedentarios y de vitaminas D y E, folato y biotina para las mujeres deportistas y sedentarias. En los cuatro grupos hay una elevada ingesta de sodio y un déficit de potasio, calcio, yodo y magnesio. Para todos ellos, el grupo de cereales es el grupo de alimentos que más contribuye energéticamente al día. Conclusiones: Los desequilibrios tanto en macronutrientes como en micronutrientes reflejan la importancia de desarrollar adecuadas políticas de educación alimentaria universitaria que pueden mejorar esta situación (AU)

Background and objective: The study of the somatotype and food intake among university students is important to carry out internal policies about the improvement of health and prevention of diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the somatotype, nutritional assessment and food intake of university sport and sedentary students. Subjects and method: The sample were 1,299 university students (420 males and 879 females) from University of Valencia, during 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, who were evaluated for several anthropometric parameters, the somatotype and the nutritional and food intakes with a 7 day dietary diary. Results: The somatotype was Endo-Mesomorph, Meso-Endomorph, Balanced Endomorph and Meso-Endomorph for sport and sedentary males, and sports and sedentary females, respectively. All groups had a high and low percentage of total calories in comparison with proteins plus lipids, and carbohydrates, respectively, as established in the nutritional objectives for the Spanish population. Low vitamin intakes, including E (in the sport males), A, D and E, folate and biotine (in the sedentary males) and A, D, E, folate and biotine (in the sport and sedentary females) were observed. All groups had a high intake of sodium and a deficit of potassium, calcium, iodine and magnesium. On the other hand, cereal groups were the most important in the energy dairy intake. Conclusions: Disequilibrium in macronutrients and micronutrients reflects the importance of developing food policies among University people to improve this situation (AU)

[Comparison of the somatotype, nutritional assessment and food intake among university sport and sedentary students]. / Comparación del somatotipo, evaluación nutricional e ingesta alimentaria entre estudiantes universitarios deportistas y sedentarios.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The study of the somatotype and food intake among university students is important to carry out internal policies about the improvement of health and prevention of diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the somatotype, nutritional assessment and food intake of university sport and sedentary students. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The sample were 1,299 university students (420 males and 879 females) from University of Valencia, during 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, who were evaluated for several anthropometric parameters, the somatotype and the nutritional and food intakes with a 7 day dietary diary. RESULTS: The somatotype was Endo-Mesomorph, Meso-Endomorph, Balanced Endomorph and Meso-Endomorph for sport and sedentary males, and sports and sedentary females, respectively. All groups had a high and low percentage of total calories in comparison with proteins plus lipids, and carbohydrates, respectively, as established in the nutritional objectives for the Spanish population. Low vitamin intakes, including E (in the sport males), A, D and E, folate and biotine (in the sedentary males) and A, D, E, folate and biotine (in the sport and sedentary females) were observed. All groups had a high intake of sodium and a deficit of potassium, calcium, iodine and magnesium. On the other hand, cereal groups were the most important in the energy dairy intake. CONCLUSIONS: Disequilibrium in macronutrients and micronutrients reflects the importance of developing food policies among University people to improve this situation.