Aortic Response to Strength Training and Spirulina platensis Dependent on Nitric Oxide and Antioxidants.

Studies have shown that supplementation with Spirulina platensis improves vascular reactivity. However, it is unclear whether in association with strength training this effect can be enhanced. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effects of strength training and S. platensis on the reactivity of the aorta from Wistar rat and the possible mechanisms involved. The animals were supplemented with S. platensis and divided into sedentary (SG, SG50, SG150, and SG500) and trained groups (TG, TG50, TG150, and TG500). Nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant activity were determined by biochemical assays. To evaluate vascular response, cumulative concentration-response curves to phenylephrine (PHE) and acetylcholine (ACh) were constructed. L-NAME was used to assess the participation of nitric oxide (NO). It was observed that the PHE contractile potency was reduced in TG50, TG150, and TG500 groups compared to SG50, SG150, and SG500 groups, respectively. However, the presence of L-NAME increased the contractile response in all groups. Strength training potentiated the increase in relaxing activity induced by S. platensis, where the pCE50 values of ACh increased in TG150 and TG500. These responses were accompanied by increased nitrite production, MDA reduction and increased antioxidant activity in the aorta of both TG150 and TG500 groups. Thus, the present study demonstrated that combined with strength training, S. platensis potentiates vascular improvement through the participation of NO and reduction of oxidative stress.

Carbohydrate supplementation attenuates decrement in performance in overtrained rats.

Carbohydrate ingestion at the end of a single exercise is recognized as delaying fatigue and accelerating recovery, but whether chronic ingestion can prevent overtraining during periods of intense training has not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to determine whether carbohydrate supplementation minimizes overtraining in Wistar rats. The animals underwent 11 weeks of training (running) on a treadmill, and the last 3 weeks were designed to induce overtraining. One group was supplemented with carbohydrates (EX-CHO) (n = 13), 1 group had no supplementation (EX) (n = 10), and a third group remained inactive (C) (n = 9). Performance tests were given before training (Pr1) and at the 8th (Pr2) and 11th (Pr3) training week. Food intake, body weight, testosterone, cortisol, malondialdehyde, creatine kinase, and activities of the PI3-K, Akt-1, mTOR, and GSK-3 enzymes were measured. In the EX group, there was a significant 32.6% performance decrease at Pr3 when compared with Pr2. In addition, at protocol completion, the EX-CHO group had a greater gastrocnemius weight than did the C group (p = 0.02), which the EX group did not. Training caused anorexia, decreased testosterone (p = 0.001), and increased malondialdehyde (p = 0.009) in both exercise groups compared with the C group, with no influence of carbohydrate supplementation on these variables (p > 0.05). Compared with in the C group, the activity of Akt-1 was higher in the EX-CHO group but not in the EX group (p = 0.013). Carbohydrate supplementation promoted an attenuation in the performance decrement and maintained gastrocnemius muscle mass in animals that had undergone overtraining protocols, which was accompanied by increased activity of the Akt-1 molecular indicator.

SUPLEMENTAÇÃO COM MUCUNA PRURIENS ASSOCIADA AO TREINAMENTO DE FORÇA NÃO ALTERA CONSUMO ALIMENTAR, PESO CORPORAL E MEDIDAS MURINOMÉTRICAS EM RATOS TREINADOS / MUCUNA PRURIENS SUPPLEMENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH RESISTANCE TRAINING DOES NOT CHANGE FOOD INTAKE, BODY WEIGHT AND MURINOMETRIC VALUES IN TRAINED ANIMALS

RESUMOMucuna pruriens (MP) tem sido comercializada como suplemento para emagrecimento mesmo sem comprovação científica. Este estudo objetiva avaliar o efeito da MP associada ao treinamento resistido sobre parâmetros murinométricos e consumo alimentar em ratos. Os animais foram randomizados nos grupos: controle sedentário e treinado, MP sedentário e treinado. Os treinados executaram protocolo de saltos e os suplementados receberam 250 mg de MP/kg/dia via gavagem. O consumo alimentar e peso corporal foram avaliados semanalmente e medidas murinométricas ao final do protocolo. Não houve alterações no consumo alimentar (147 a 180 g), peso (341 a 368 g), comprimento (entre 24,6 e 25,5 cm), circunferências torácica (de 14,1 a 16,2 cm) e abdominal (variação de 14,5 a 15,8 cm), índice de massa corporal (entre 0,53 e 0,56 g/cm2) e índice de Lee (entre 4,5 e 4,8 cm3). Suplementação de MP associada ao exercício não altera consumo alimentar, peso e medidas murinométricas em ratos.

ABSTRACTMucuna pruriens(mp) has been marketed as a supplement for weight loss even without scientific proof. this study aims to evaluate the effect of mp supplementation associated with resistance training on murinometric parameters and food consumption in rats. animals were randomized into sedentary and control groups, supplemented with mp or not. trained animals performed the jump protocol and received the mp supplementation (250 mg/kg/day) by gavage. food consumption and body weight were assessed weekly and murinometric parameters, at the end of the protocol. there were no changes in food intake (147 - 180 g), weight (341 - 368 g), length (24.6 - 25.5 cm), chest (14.1 - 16.2 cm) and abdominal circumferences (14.5 - 15.8 cm), body mass index (0.53 - 0.56 g/cm2) and lee index (4.5 - 4.8 g/cm3). mp supplementation during exercise does not alter food intake, weight and murinometric measurements in rats.