The Effect of Prior Creatine Intake for 28 Days on Accelerated Recovery from Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Despite the known beneficial effects of creatine in treating exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), its effectiveness remains unclear. This study investigates the recovery effect of creatine monohydrate (CrM) on EIMD. Twenty healthy men (21-36 years) were subjected to stratified, randomized, double-blind assignments. The creatine (CRE) and placebo (PLA) groups ingested creatine and crystalline cellulose, respectively, for 28 days. They subsequently performed dumbbell exercises while emphasizing eccentric contraction of the elbow flexors. The EIMD was evaluated before and after exercise. The range of motion was significantly higher in the CRE group than in the PLA group 24 h (h) post exercise. A similar difference was detected in maximum voluntary contraction at 0, 48, 96, and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.017-0.047). The upper arm circumference was significantly lower in the CRE group than in the PLA group at 48, 72, 96, and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.002-0.030). Similar variation was observed in the shear modulus of the biceps brachii muscle at 96 and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.003-0.021) and in muscle fatigue at 0 and 168 h post exercise (p = 0.012-0.032). These findings demonstrate CrM-mediated accelerated recovery from EIMD, suggesting that CrM is an effective supplement for EIMD recovery.

Relationships between Changes in Muscle Shear Modulus, Urinary Titin N- Terminal Fragment, and Maximum Voluntary Contraction Torque after Eccentric Exercise of the Elbow Flexors.

The study aimed to investigate the relationships between the shear modulus of the biceps brachii (BB) and brachialis muscle (BA) and the total of the two (BB+BA), and urinary titin N-terminal fragment (UTF), maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), and other indirect markers. Fifteen healthy men performed five sets of 10 eccentric contractions using a dumbbell corresponding to 50% of MVC at 90° measured at baseline. The elbow joint of the left arm was extended from 90° to 180° (180° = full extension) in 5 s in the exercise, and was returned with support from the examiner to prevent concentric contraction. Shear modulus of BB and BA were measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography, and UTF, MVC, and range of motion of the elbow joint (ROM) were recorded before; immediately after; and 1, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 h after the exercise. After calculating the shear modulus of BB and BA, two values were added (BB+BA). The shear modulus peaked at 48 h, UTF peaked at 96 h, MVC and ROM changed largest at immediately, and muscle soreness peaked at 48 h post-exercise. Significant (p < 0.05) relationships were found between changes in BB shear modulus and BA shear modulus (r = 0.874), BB+BA shear modulus (r = 0.977), UTF (r = 0.681), and MVC (r = -0.538). Significant (p < 0.05) relationships were also observed between changes in BA shear modulus and BB+BA shear modulus (r = 0.957), UTF (r = 0.682), MVC (r = -0.522), and ROM (r = -0.600). Moreover, significant (p < 0.05) relationships were observed between changes in BB+BA shear modulus and UTF (r = 0.703), MVC (r = -0.549), and ROM (r = -0.547). These results indicate that shear modulus of each muscle (i.e., BB and BA) provide more precise information about muscle damage than UTF, MVC and ROM.

Changes in Muscle Shear Modulus and Urinary Titin N-Terminal Fragment after Eccentric Exercise.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the muscle shear modulus of the biceps brachii, urinary titin N-terminal fragment (UTF), and other damage markers after eccentric exercise. Seventeen healthy males performed five sets of ten eccentric exercises with dumbbells weighing 50% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at the elbow joint. Muscle shear modulus with range of interest set to only biceps brachii muscle measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography, UTF, MVC, range of motion (ROM), and soreness (SOR) were recorded before, immediately after, and 1, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 h after eccentric exercise. Each marker changed in a time course pattern, as found in previous studies. The peak shear modulus showed a moderate negative correlation with peak MVC (r = -0.531, P < 0.05) and a strong positive correlation with peak UTF (r = 0.707, P < 0.01). Our study results revealed a significant relationship between muscle strength, shear modulus measured by ultrasound SWE, and titin measured by UTF, as a non-invasive damage marker after eccentric exercise to track changes in EIMD.

Pre-cooling with ingesting a high-carbohydrate ice slurry on thermoregulatory responses and subcutaneous interstitial fluid glucose during heat exposure.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ingesting ice slurries with two different carbohydrate contents on body temperatures and the subcutaneous interstitial fluid glucose level during heat exposure. Seven physically active men underwent one of three interventions: the ingestion of 7.5 g/kg of a control beverage (CON: 26°C), a normal-carbohydrate ice slurry (NCIS: -1°C), or a high-carbohydrate ice slurry (HCIS: -5°C). The participants were monitored for a 120-min period that included 10 min of rest, 25 min of exposure to the experimental cooling intervention (during which the beverage was ingested), and 85 min of seated rest in a climate chamber (36°C, 50% relative humidity). The rectal temperature in the HCIS and NCIS trials was lower than that in the CON trial from 40 to 75 min. The infrared tympanic temperature was also lower in the HCIS and NCIS trials than in the CON trial from 20 to 50 min, whereas the deep thigh or mean skin temperatures were not significantly different among the three groups. From 90 to 120 min, the subcutaneous interstitial fluid glucose level in the NCIS trial was lower than that at 65 min; however, reductions were not seen in the HCIS and CON trials. These findings suggest that both HCIS ingestion and conventional NCIS ingestion were effective cooling strategies for reducing thermal strain, while HCIS ingestion may also enable a higher subcutaneous interstitial fluid glucose level to be maintained, ensuring an adequate supply of required muscle substrates.

Ice slurry ingestion improves physical performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise in a hot environment.

Ice slurry ingestion enhances exercise performance by lowering the core body temperature. However, an operational issue related to this ingestion is the requirement for a high intake of 7.5 g·kg-1 to produce the desired effects. We investigated the effects of the intake of low amounts of ice slurry at -2°C on the tympanic temperature and exercise performance during repeated high-intensity intermittent exercises in a hot environment. This study was a randomized, crossover study, with a 6-day washout period. Twelve university rugby union players performed two 30-min sessions of high-intensity intermittent exercises separated by a 15-min half-time break on a cycle ergometer in a hot environment (28.8°C ± 0.1°C, 49.5% ± 0.6% relative humidity). The participants ingested 450 g of -2°C-ice slurry (ICE), or a 30°C-beverage (CON) having the same composition as ICE, or 30°C-water (WAT) during the half-time break. The tympanic temperature and skin temperature were measured as the physiological data, and the peak power and mean power as the exercise performance data. The tympanic temperature at the half-time break and beginning of the 2nd session was significantly lower in the ICE group as compared with the CON and WAT groups. The skin temperature at the half-time break was significantly lower in the ICE group as compared with the WAT group. While the peak power and mean power during the 2nd session were significantly greater in the ICE group as compared with the CON and WAT groups. Our findings suggest that even the intake of lower amounts, as compared with those used in previous studies, of low-temperature ice slurry can reduce the body temperature and improve the peak power. These results suggest that intake of low-temperature ice slurry as a strategy for internal body cooling is useful for improving endurance exercise performance in hot environments.

Prevention of neointima formation by taurine ingestion after carotid balloon injury.

The sulfur-containing amino acid, taurine, has been shown to ameliorate the vascular disorders. We examined the effects of taurine ingestion on intimal thickening following balloon injury. Balloon injury was induced in the left common carotid artery of Wistar rats. Taurine (3% (w/v)) was mixed in the drinking water from 2 days prior to, until 14 days after the induction of balloon injury. The ratio of intima-to-media was significantly reduced by 26% in the taurine-treated rats at 14 days after the induction of injury, which was associated with reduced proliferation of the vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in both the media and the intima. Attenuation of arterial superoxide production by taurine ingestion was evident from the results of both the lucigenin chemiluminescence method and in situ detection by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. Moreover, LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha production in the blood cells was decreased in the taurine-treated rats. The results of the study showed that taurine suppresses neointimal formation in balloon-injured arteries, associated with reduced proliferation of the vascular SMCs, which is attributable to the anti-oxidative effects of taurine. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of taurine chloramine produced by neutrophils may be related to reduction in SMC proliferation in part.

Function and regulation of taurine transport at the inner blood-retinal barrier.

In the retina, taurine exerts a number of neuroprotective functions as an osmolyte and antioxidant. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the taurine transport system(s) at the inner blood-retinal barrier (BRB). [(3)H]Taurine transport at the inner BRB was characterized using in vivo integration plot analysis and a conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2 cells). The expression of the taurine transporter (TauT) was demonstrated by RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses. The apparent influx permeability clearance of [(3)H]taurine in the rat retina was found to be 259 muL/(ming retina), supporting carrier-mediated influx transport of taurine at the BRB. [(3)H]Taurine uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells was Na(+)-, Cl(-)- and concentration-dependent with a K(m) of 22.2 muM and inhibited by TauT inhibitors, such as beta-alanine and hypotaurine. RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses demonstrated that TauT is expressed in TR-iBRB2 and primary cultured human retinal endothelial cells. The uptake of [(3)H]taurine and the expression of TauT mRNA in TR-iBRB2 cells increased under hypertonic conditions but decreased following pretreatment with excess taurine. In conclusion, TauT most likely mediates taurine transport and regulate taurine transport at the inner BRB.