High-Protein Diet Associated with Bocaiuva Supplementation Decreases Body Fat and Improves Glucose Tolerance in Resistance-Trained Rats.

High-protein diets (HPDs) are widely used for health and performance. However, the combination of whey protein and natural foods (i.e., fruits) is still unclear. Thus, we evaluated the role of supplemental HPD with Bocaiuva (Acrocomia sp.) in metabolic and body composition parameters of rats submitted to resistance training (RT). Wistar rats (203.3 ± 30 g) were randomly allocated to five groups: normoproteic control (CON, n = 5), sedentary high-protein (SH, n = 5), RT + H (trained high-protein [TH], n = 5), sedentary+Bocaiuva (SH+B, n = 4), and RT+Bocaiuva (TH+B, n = 4) diet groups. After 12 weeks of RT, the maximal strength increased in both trained groups (P < .05). The TH + B group had lower values of adiposity index (AI) (3.8 ± 0.7% vs. 6.8 ± 1.3%) and visceral fat (0.038 ± 0.004 g/g vs. 0.067 ± 0.012 g/g) compared with the SH group, respectively (P < .05). The other groups did not show differences in values of AI (CON, 5.4 ± 1.6%, TH, 5.4 ± 1.3%, and SH+B, 5.5 ± 1.2%). In addition, the fasting glucose of trained groups (TH, 106.0 ± 4.5, and TH+B, 100.4 ± 13.5 dL/mg) was significantly lower when compared with controls (SH, 120.0 ± 14.4, and SH+B, 119 ± 6.4 dL/mg) (P < .05). Bocaiuva combined with an HPD reduced visceral fat and AI in addition to improving glucose tolerance of rats submitted to RT.

Identification of the force-velocity curve on dynamic resistance exercise for rats.

The aim of this study was to identify force-velocity and power-velocity curves in climbing activity protocols, used as dynamic resistance exercise in rats. Eighteen 45-day-old male Wistar rats (weight = 211.9 ± 5.2 g) were evaluated. After familiarization to the climbing procedure, the animals performed an incremental climbing test (load relative to 75% of the body mass at first stage, followed by 30 g increments with and 120 s recovery between climbs) to determine the maximum carrying capacity (MCC). After this, the animals climbed with different loads (without load, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% of MCC) with 120 s recovery between climbs. Time for each climb was recorded to calculate the mechanical power. The peak power was reached at 30% of MCC. For the force-velocity curve, an inversely proportional relation was observed between force and velocity, as expected, greater forces were expressed in lower velocities. Therefore, our results suggest that training at 30% of MCC should be encouraged aiming the target for greater power output and 90%-100% of MCC should be the load aiming for strength training in climbing activities for rats.