Moderate Effects of Hypoxic Training at Low and Supramaximal Intensities on Skeletal Muscle Metabolic Gene Expression in Mice.

The muscle molecular adaptations to different exercise intensities in combination with hypoxia are not well understood. This study investigated the effect of low- and supramaximal-intensity hypoxic training on muscle metabolic gene expression in mice. C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups: sedentary and training. Training consisted of 4 weeks at low or supramaximal intensity, either in normoxia or hypoxia (FiO2 = 0.13). The expression levels of genes involved in the hypoxia signaling pathway (Hif1a and Vegfa), the metabolism of glucose (Gys1, Glut4, Hk2, Pfk, and Pkm1), lactate (Ldha, Mct1, Mct4, Pdh, and Pdk4) and lipid (Cd36, Fabp3, Ucp2, Hsl, and Mcad), and mitochondrial energy metabolism and biogenesis (mtNd1, mtNd6, CytC, CytB, Pgc1a, Pgc1ß, Nrf1, Tfam, and Cs) were determined in the gastrocnemius muscle. No physical performance improvement was observed between groups. In normoxia, supramaximal intensity training caused upregulation of major genes involved in the transport of glucose and lactate, fatty acid oxidation, and mitochondrial biogenesis, while low intensity training had a minor effect. The exposure to hypoxia changed the expression of some genes in the sedentary mice but had a moderate effect in trained mice compared to respective normoxic mice. In hypoxic groups, low-intensity training increased the mRNA levels of Mcad and Cs, while supramaximal intensity training decreased the mRNA levels of Mct1 and Mct4. The results indicate that hypoxic training, regardless of exercise intensity, has a moderate effect on muscle metabolic gene expression in healthy mice.

Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity: the Hamburg Declaration.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and cancers, are on the rise worldwide and are often associated with a lack of physical activity (PA). Globally, the levels of PA among individuals are below WHO recommendations. A lack of PA can increase morbidity and mortality, worsen the quality of life and increase the economic burden on individuals and society. In response to this trend, numerous organisations came together under one umbrella in Hamburg, Germany, in April 2021 and signed the 'Hamburg Declaration'. This represented an international commitment to take all necessary actions to increase PA and improve the health of individuals to entire communities. Individuals and organisations are working together as the 'Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity' to drive long-term individual and population-wide behaviour change by collaborating with all stakeholders in the community: active hospitals, physical activity specialists, community services and healthcare providers, all achieving sustainable health goals for their patients/clients. The 'Hamburg Declaration' calls on national and international policymakers to take concrete action to promote daily PA and exercise at a population level and in healthcare settings.

PPARGC1A gene polymorphism is associated with exercise-induced fat loss.

Obesity is a widespread problem within modern society, serving to increase the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and PPARγ coactivator 1 α (PGC1α) play a key role in the regulation of cellular energy metabolism and is implicated in the pathology of these diseases. This study examined the association between polymorphisms of the PPARG and PPARGC1A genes and individual variability in weight loss in response to physical activity intervention. 39 obese Ukrainian women (44.4 ± 7.5 years, BMI > 30.0 kg/m2) undertook a 3-month fitness program whilst following a hypocaloric diet (~ 1500 cal). Anthropometric and biochemical measurements took place before and after the program. Single nucleotide polymorphisms within or near PPARG (n = 94) and PPARGC1A (n = 138) were identified and expression of PPARG mRNA was measured via reverse transcription and amplification. The association between DNA polymorphisms and exercise-induced weight loss, initial body mass, biochemistry and PPARG expression was determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The present intervention induced significant fat loss in all participants (total fat: 40.3 ± 5.3 vs 36.4 ± 5.7%; P < 0.00001). Only one polymorphism (rs17650401 C/T) within the PPARGC1A gene was found to be associated with fat loss efficiency after correction for multiple testing, with T allele carriers showing the greatest reduction in body fat percentage (2.5-fold; P = 0.00013) compared to non-carriers. PPARGC1A (rs17650401) is associated with fat loss efficiency of the fitness program in obese women. Further studies are warranted to test whether this variation is associated with fat oxidation.

Association of Monocarboxylate Transporter-1 (MCT1) A1470T Polymorphism (rs1049434) with Forward Football Player Status.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the MCT1 (monocarboxylate transporter 1) A1470T polymorphism and positional roles in a large cohort of professional football players from five different countries. We compared genotype distributions of the MCT1 A1470T polymorphism between football players (n=694) and non-athlete controls (n=781) from Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine and Malta, and we analyzed the MCT1 genotype distributions with respect to the players' positions in the field (e. g. forwards, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers). Genomic DNA was extracted from either buccal epithelium or peripheral blood using a standard protocol. In the pooled cohort of Italian, Polish, Lithuanian and Ukrainian football players, forwards (n=148) were more likely than controls (n=781) to possess the A allele (χ2=7.067, p=0.029, FDR q value 0.116), with a greater likelihood of having the AA genotype compared with the TT genotype (OR=1.97; C.I.=1.07-3.64; p=0.021, FDR q value 0.086). The MCT1 AA genotype was significantly more frequent in forwards then in controls. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in other professional football player cohorts.