The effect of exercise training with an additional inspiratory load on inspiratory muscle fatigue and time-trial performance.

The purpose was to determine the effect of moderate-intensity exercise training (ET) on inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF) and if an additional inspiratory load during ET (ET+IL) would further improve inspiratory muscle strength, IMF, and time-trial performance. 15 subjects were randomly divided to ET (n=8) and ET+IL groups (n=7). All subjects completed six weeks of exercise training three days/week at ∼70%V̇O2peak for 30min. The ET+IL group breathed through an inspiratory muscle trainer (15% PImax) during exercise. 5-mile, and 30-min time-trials were performed pre-training, weeks three and six. Inspiratory muscle strength increased (p<0.05) for both groups to a similar (p>0.05) extent. ET and ET+IL groups improved (p<0.05) 5-mile time-trial performance (∼10% and ∼18%) and the ET+IL group was significantly faster than ET at week 6. ET and ET+IL groups experienced less (p<0.05) IMF compared to pre-training following the 5-mile time-trial. In conclusion, these data suggest ET leads to less IMF, ET+IL improves inspiratory muscle strength and IMF, but not different than ET alone.

Improved lung function following dietary antioxidant supplementation in exercise-induced asthmatics.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress is a characteristic of exercise-induced asthma (EIA), however antioxidant supplementation may attenuate EIA. The purpose of this study was to determine if ascorbic (AsA) and α-tocopherol supplementation would improve airway function in subjects with EIA. METHODS: A single-blind randomized crossover design with eight clinically diagnosed EIA subjects (22.0 ± 0.7 year) and five healthy control subjects (28.2 ± 1.4 year) was used. Subjects consumed vitamins (V) (AsA 500 mg; α-tocopherol 300 IU) or placebo (PLA) daily for three weeks, followed by a three week washout period and then three weeks of the alternative treatment. Ten-minute treadmill tests (90% VO2peak) were performed with pulmonary function testing (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and between 25 and 75% (FEF25-75%), and peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR)) measured pre-exercise and 1, 5, 15, and 30 min post-exercise. RESULTS: Supplementation led to significant improvements at minute 5 and minute 15 in FVC; FEV1; PERF; FEF25-75% and minute 30 in FEV1 and FEF25-75% post-exercise. CONCLUSION: AsA and α-tocopherol may aid the recovery of pulmonary function in subjects with EIA.

Does menstrual cycle phase affect lung diffusion capacity during exercise?

Resting lung diffusing capacity (DLCO) decreases during the early and late-follicular phases of the menstrual cycle presumably due to capillary blood volume (VC) changes; however, it is not known if these differences exist during exercise. We hypothesized that DLCO would increase during the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle due to increases in VC. Eight normally menstruating females (21.4±0.7 yrs) were studied. Subjects completed a discontinuous treadmill V˙O2max test during the early-follicular (EF), late-follicular (LF), and mid-luteal (ML) phases of the menstrual cycle. Metabolic measurements were made from a breath-by-breath automated cart, and DLCO via the single-breath exhalation technique during exercise. During exercise, DLCO was lesser during EF compared to ML at 90% and 100%V˙O2max (p<0.05) (90%: 37.8±3.7 EF vs 41.6±4.0 ML, 100%: 37.7±3.7 EF vs 42.6±4.3 ML mL/mmHg/min). VC was significantly greater during the ML phase when compared to the EF at 80%, 90%, and 100%V˙O2max. These results demonstrate DLCO and VC are influenced by the menstrual cycle during heavy exercise.

Dietary supplementation of selenium in inorganic and organic forms differentially and commonly alters blood and liver selenium concentrations and liver gene expression profiles of growing beef heifers.

In geographic regions where selenium (Se) soil concentrations are naturally low, the addition of Se to animal feed is necessary. Even though it is known that Se in grass and forage crops is primarily present in organic forms (especially as L-selenomethionine, L-selenocystine, and L-selenocystathionine), the feeding of Se in the naturally occurring organic selenium (OSe) compounds produces higher blood and tissue Se levels than the inorganic Se (ISe) salts, and that animal metabolism of OSe and ISe is fundamentally different. Se is commonly added in inorganic form as sodium selenite to cattle feeds because it is a less expensive source of supplemental Se then are OSe forms. A trial was conducted with growing cattle to determine if the addition of OSe versus ISe forms of Se in beef cattle feed produces differences in hepatic gene expression, thereby gaining insight into the metabolic consequence of feeding OSe versus ISe. Thirty maturing Angus heifers (261 ± 6 days) were fed a corn silage-based diet with no Se supplementation for 75 days. Heifers (body weight = 393 ± 9 kg) then were randomly assigned (n = 10) and fed Se supplements that contained none (control) or 3 mg Se/day in ISe (sodium selenite) or OSe (Sel-Plex®) form and enough of a common cracked corn/cottonseed hull-based diet (0.48 mg Se/day) to support 0.5 kg/day growth for 105 or 106 days. More Se was found in jugular whole blood and red blood cells and biopsied liver tissue of ISe and OSe treatment animals than control animals, and OSe animals contained more Se in these tissues than did ISe. Microarray and bioinformatic analyses of liver tissue gene expression revealed that the content of at least 80 mRNA were affected by ISe or OSe treatments, including mRNA associated with nutrient metabolism; cellular growth, proliferation, and immune response; cell communication or signaling; and tissue/organ development and function. Overall, three Se supplement-dependent gene groups were identified: ISe-dependent, OSe-dependent, and Se form-independent. More specifically, both forms of supplementation appeared to upregulate mitochondrial gene expression capacity, whereas gene expression of a protein involved in antiviral capacity was downregulated in ISe-supplemented animals, and OSe-supplemented animals had reduced levels of mRNA encoding proteins known to be upregulated during oxidative stress and cancerous states.