The relationships between expressed emotion, cortisol, and EEG alpha asymmetry.

Families can express high criticism, hostility and emotional over-involvement towards a person with or at risk of mental health problems. Perceiving such high expressed emotion (EE) can be a major psychological stressor for individuals, especially those at risk of mental health problems. To reveal the biological mechanisms underlying the effect of EE on health, this study investigated physiological response (salivary cortisol, frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA)) to verbal criticism and their relationship to anxiety and perceived EE. Using a repeated-measures design, healthy participants attended three testing sessions on non-consecutive days. On each day, participants listened to one of three types of auditory stimuli, namely criticism, neutral or praise, and Electroencephalography (EEG) and salivary cortisol were measured. Results showed a reduction in cortisol following criticism but there was no significant change in FAA. Post-criticism cortisol concentration negatively correlated with perceived EE after controlling for baseline mood. Our findings suggest that salivary cortisol change responds to criticism in non-clinical populations and this response might be largely driven by individual differences in the perception of criticism (e.g., arousal and relevance). Criticisms expressed by audio comments may not be explicitly perceived as an acute emotional stressor, and thus, physiological response to criticisms could be minimum.

Natural killer cell subset count and antigen-stimulated activation in response to exhaustive running following adaptation to a ketogenic diet.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does a ketogenic diet (KD) modulate circulating counts of natural killer (NK) cells, including CD56bright and CD56dim subsets, and their ability to activate (CD69 expression) following in vitro antigen stimulation in response to exhaustive moderate-intensity exercise? What is the main finding and its importance? The KD amplified the biphasic exercise-induced NK cell response due to a greater mobilisation of the cytotoxic CD56dim subset but did not alter NK cell CD69 expression. The KD appears to modulate exercise-induced circulating NK cell mobilisation and egress, but not antigen-stimulated circulating NK cell activation. ABSTRACT: We investigated the effect of a 31-day ketogenic diet (KD) compared with a habitual, carbohydrate (CHO)-based diet on total circulating natural killer (NK) CD3- CD56+ , dim and bright subset count, and antigen-stimulated CD3- CD56+ cell activation (CD69+ ) in response to exhaustive running. In a randomised, repeated-measures, cross-over study, eight trained, male endurance athletes ingested a 31-day low-CHO KD or their habitual diet (HD). On day 31, participants ran to exhaustion at 70% V ̇ O 2 max $\dot{V}_{{\rm{O}}_{2}{\rm{max}}}$ (∼3.5-4 h, ∼45-50 km). A low-CHO (<10 g) meal was ingested prior to the KD trial, with fat ingested during exercise. A high-CHO (2 g kg-1 ) meal was ingested prior to the HD trial, with CHO (∼55 g h-1 ) ingested during exercise. Venous blood samples were collected at pre-exercise, post-exercise and 1 h post-exercise. The KD amplified the classical exercise-induced biphasic CD3- CD56+ cell response by increasing the post-exercise counts (P = 0.0004), which appeared to be underpinned by the cytotoxic CD3- CD56dim subset (main effect of time point, P < 0.0001). The KD had no effect on NK cells' expression of CD69 or their geometric mean fluorescence intensity of CD69 expression, either for unstimulated or for antigen-stimulated NK cells (all P > 0.05). In conclusion, adaptation to a KD may alter the number of circulating NK cells but not their ability to activate to an antigenic challenge.

Upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite field hockey players during a dry run for the Tokyo Olympics.

ABSTRACTThe primary aim of this study was to examine if biomarker and/or self-reported data could predict upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) risk in elite field hockey players. The secondary aim was to investigate the effect of the additional stressor 'repeated heat exposure' on measures of thermoregulation and immunity. A prospective cohort repeated measures study design was used to collect URTS, household illness, self-reported wellness, biomarker and thermoregulatory data from elite male field hockey players (n = 19), during an 8-week training and competition period that simulated the preparatory and competition phases of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Heat response testing (HRT) was performed at the beginning of the study period, following heat acclimation (HA) and following an intensified competition period (ICP) played in hot and humid conditions (27-37°C and 53-80% relative humidity). Univariate frailty analysis demonstrated that illness in players' households (Hazard ratio (HR: 4.90; p < 0.001)) and self-reported stress (HR: 0.63; p = 0.043) predicted players' risk for URTS. Additionally, low baseline resting salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration predicted players' "potential" URTS risk (p = 0.021). The additional stressor "repeated heat exposure" was found to facilitate partial thermoregulatory adaptation without attenuating resting immune functions. In conclusion, lifestyle and behavioural factors (i.e. household illness and stress) influenced players risk for URTS more so than sport-related stressors. Furthermore, repeated heat exposure did not appear to compromise players resting immunity. To assess athletes' risk for URTS, baseline screening of SIgA concentration and regular monitoring of self-reported lifestyle and behavioural data are recommended.Highlights Self-reported illness in players' households and higher self-reported stress significantly predicted increased upper respiratory tract symptom risk.Low baseline salivary secretory immunoglobulin A concentration predicted players "potential" URTS risk.Repeated heat exposures facilitated partial thermoregulatory adaptation without altering resting immunity.

Autonomic and Perceptual Responses to Induction of a Ketogenic Diet in Free-Living Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Crossover Trial.

PURPOSE: Considerable interindividual heterogeneity has been observed in endurance performance responses following induction of a ketogenic diet (KD). It is plausible that a physiological stress response in the period following the dramatic dietary shift associated with transition to a KD may explain this heterogeneity. METHODS: In a randomized, crossover study design, 8 trained male runners completed an incremental exercise test and ran to exhaustion at 70%VO2max before and after a 31-day rigorously controlled habitual diet or KD intervention, and recorded heart rate variability (root mean square of the sum of successive differences in R-R intervals [rMSSD]) upon waking each morning along with the recovery-stress questionnaire for athletes each week. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. RESULTS: A significant reduction in rMSSD was observed in the KD (-9.77 [4.03] ms, P = .02), along with an increase in day-to-day variability in rMSSD (2.1% [1.0%], P = .03). The reduction in rMSSD in the KD for the subgroup of individuals exhibiting impaired exercise capacity following induction of the KD approached significance (Δ -22 [15] ms, P = .06, N = 4); whereas no effect was observed in those who exhibited unchanged exercise capacity (Δ 5 [18] ms, P = .61, N = 4). No main effects were observed for recovery-stress questionnaire for athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest those working with endurance athletes transitioning onto a KD may consider using noninvasive, inexpensive resting heart rate variability measures to gain individual-level insights into the likely short-term effects on exercise capacity.

Predictors of upper respiratory tract symptom risk: Differences between elite rugby union and league players.

This study examined possible predictors of upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) episodes in elite rugby union and league players (n = 51) during intensive pre-season training. Baseline saliva and blood samples were collected in the first week of pre-season training for analysis of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and cytomegalovirus. Thereafter, SIgA, URTS, internal training load and self-reported wellness data were repeatedly measured throughout a 10-week pre-season training period. Univariate frailty model analysis, which included 502 observations, was performed for each rugby code for the following independent predictor variables: SIgA concentration, internal training load, total wellness, sleep quantity, sleep quality and stress. Rugby union and league players experienced a similar number of URTS episodes; however, predictors of URTS episodes differed between the codes. No biomarkers or self-reported measures significantly predicted URTS risk in rugby union players, while reductions in self-reported total wellness (HR: 0.731, p = 0.004) and sleep quality (HR: 0.345, p = 0.001) predicted increased URTS risk in rugby league players. The findings from this study highlight that factors influencing URTS risk are perhaps sport specific and this may be attributed to different sporting demands and/or different management of players by team-practitioners.

Adaptation to a ketogenic diet modulates adaptive and mucosal immune markers in trained male endurance athletes.

This study examined the effect of short-term adaptation to a ketogenic diet (KD) on resting and post-exercise immune markers. Using a randomized, repeated-measures, crossover design, eight trained, male, endurance athletes ingested a 31-day low carbohydrate (CHO), KD (energy intake: 4% CHO; 78% fat) or their habitual diet (HD) (energy intake: 43% CHO; 38% fat). On days 0 and 31, participants ran to exhaustion at 70% VO2max . A high-CHO (2 g·kg-1 ) meal was ingested prior to the pre-HD, post-HD, and pre-KD trials, with CHO (~55 g·h-1 ) ingested during exercise, whereas a low-CHO (<10 g) meal was ingested prior to the post-KD trial, with fat ingested during exercise. Blood and saliva samples were collected at pre-exercise, exhaustion, and 1 hour post-exhaustion. T-cell-related cytokine gene expression within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and whole-blood inflammatory cytokine production were determined using 24-hour multi-antigen-stimulated whole-blood cultures. Multi-antigen-stimulated PBMC IFN-γ mRNA expression and the IFN-γ/IL-4 mRNA expression ratio were higher at exhaustion in the post-KD compared with pre-KD trial (P = 0.003 and P = 0.004); however, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression were unaltered (P > 0.05). Multi-antigen-stimulated whole-blood IL-10 production was higher in the post-KD compared with pre-KD trial (P = 0.028), whereas IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-8, and IFN-γ production was lower in the post-HD compared with pre-HD trial (P < 0.01). Salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) secretion rate was higher in the post-KD compared with pre-KD trial (P < 0.001). In conclusion, short-term adaptation to a KD in endurance athletes may alter the pro- and anti-inflammatory immune cell cytokine response to a multi-antigen in vitro and SIgA secretion rate.

Household illness is the strongest predictor of upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite rugby union players.

OBJECTIVES: To identify periods of increased risk for upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) episodes, and examine whether biomarkers and/or self-reported lifestyle and wellness data can predict URTS risk in elite rugby union players. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal and repeated-measures study. METHODS: Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), salivary cortisol, URTS, internal training load and self-reported lifestyle and wellness data including household illness, stress, mood, fatigue, muscle soreness and sleep quality were repeatedly measured in elite Southern hemisphere rugby union players (n=28) throughout a season. Univariate frailty model analysis, which included 495 observations, was used to determine predictors of URTS risk. RESULTS: Surprisingly, the highest incidence of URTS occurred after rest weeks, namely the Christmas break and bye weeks (i.e., no scheduled trainings or matches); whereas URTS risk was reduced during weeks involving international travel (Hazard ratio (HR): 0.43, p<0.001)). Household illness was the strongest predictor of URTS risk; players were almost three-fold more at risk for an URTS episode when illness in the household was present (HR: 2.90, p=0.002). A non-significant, but potentially important trend for an inverse association between SIgA concentration and URTS incidence was also observed (HR: 0.99, p=0.070). CONCLUSIONS: Rest weeks were identified as periods of increased risk for URTS; while international travel did not appear to increase players risk for URTS. Incidence of household illness and SIgA concentration independently predicted URTS risk, with household illness being the strongest predictor. These findings can assist practitioners monitoring and management of athletes to potentially reduce URTS risk.

Exogenous Ketone Supplementation and Keto-Adaptation for Endurance Performance: Disentangling the Effects of Two Distinct Metabolic States.

Ketone bodies (KB) provide an alternative energy source and uniquely modulate substrate metabolism during endurance exercise. Nutritional ketosis (blood KBs > 0.5 mM) can be achieved within minutes via exogenous ketone supplementation or days-to-weeks via conforming to a very low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (KD). In contrast to short-term (< 2 weeks) KD ingestion, chronic adherence (> 3 weeks) leads to a state of keto-adaptation. However, despite elevating blood KBs to similar concentrations, exogenous ketone supplementation and keto-adaptation are not similar metabolic states as they elicit diverse and distinct effects on substrate availability and metabolism during exercise; meaning that their influence on endurance exercise performance is different. In contrast to contemporary, high(er)-carbohydrate fuelling strategies, inducing nutritional ketosis is rarely ergogenic irrespective of origin and, in fact, can impair endurance performance. Nonetheless, exogenous ketone supplementation and keto-adaptation possess utility for select endurance events and individuals, thus warranting further research into their performance effects and potential strategies for their optimisation. It is critical, however, that future research considers the limitations of measuring blood KB concentrations and their utilisation, and assess the effect of nutritional ketosis on performance using exercise protocols reflective of real-world competition. Furthermore, to reliably assess the effects of keto-adaptation, rigorous dietary-training controls of sufficient duration should be prioritised.

Acute hyperketonaemia alters T-cell-related cytokine gene expression within stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells following prolonged exercise.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of the racemic ß-hydroxybutyrate precursor, R,S-1,3-butanediol (BD), on T-cell-related cytokine gene expression within stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) following prolonged, strenuous exercise. METHODS: A repeated-measures, randomised, crossover study was conducted in nine healthy, trained male cyclists (age, 26.7 ± 5.2 years; VO2peak, 63.9 ± 2.5 mL kg-1 min-1). Participants ingested 0.35 g kg-1 of BD or placebo 30 min before and 60 min during 85 min of steady-state (SS) exercise, which preceded a ~ 30 min time-trial (TT) (7 kJ kg-1). Blood samples were collected at pre-supplement, pre-exercise, post-SS, post-TT and 1-h post-TT. Whole blood cultures were stimulated with Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) for 24 h to determine T-cell-related interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA expression within isolated PBMCs in vitro. RESULTS: Serum cortisol, total circulating leukocyte and lymphocyte, and T-cell subset concentrations were similar between trials during exercise and recovery (all p > 0.05). BD ingestion increased T-cell-related IFN-γ mRNA expression compared with placebo throughout exercise and recovery (p = 0.011); however, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression and the IFN-γ/IL-4 mRNA expression ratio were unaltered (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acute hyperketonaemia appears to transiently amplify the initiation of the pro-inflammatory T-cell-related IFN-γ response to an immune challenge in vitro during and following prolonged, strenuous exercise; suggesting enhanced type-1 T-cell immunity at the gene level.

Keeping Athletes Healthy at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games: Considerations and Illness Prevention Strategies.

Keeping athletes healthy will be important for optimal athletic performance at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Athletes will be exposed to several stressors during the preparatory and competition phases of the Summer Games that have the potential to depress immunity and increase illness risk. This mini-review provides an overview on effective and practical stressor-specific illness prevention strategies that can be implemented to maintain and protect the health of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Submaximal Exercise Capacity and Efficiency in Runners.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of a 31-d ketogenic diet (KD) on submaximal exercise capacity and efficiency. METHODS: A randomized, repeated-measures, crossover study was conducted in eight trained male endurance athletes (V˙O2max, 59.4 ± 5.2 mL⋅kg⋅min). Participants ingested their habitual diet (HD) (13.1 MJ, 43% [4.6 g⋅kg⋅d] carbohydrate and 38% [1.8 g⋅kg⋅d] fat) or an isoenergetic KD (13.7 MJ, 4% [0.5 g·kg⋅d] carbohydrate and 78% [4 g⋅kg⋅d] fat) from days 0 to 31 (P < 0.001). Participants performed a fasted metabolic test on days -2 and 29 (~25 min) and a run-to-exhaustion trial at 70% V˙O2max on days 0 and 31 following the ingestion of a high-carbohydrate meal (2 g⋅kg) or an isoenergetic low-carbohydrate, high-fat meal (<10 g CHO), with carbohydrate (~55 g⋅h) or isoenergetic fat (0 g CHO⋅h) supplementation during exercise. RESULTS: Training loads were similar between trials and V˙O2max was unchanged (all, P > 0.05). The KD impaired exercise efficiency, particularly at >70% V˙O2max, as evidenced by increased energy expenditure and oxygen uptake that could not be explained by shifts in respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (all, P < 0.05). However, exercise efficiency was maintained on a KD when exercising at <60% V˙O2max (all, P > 0.05). Time-to-exhaustion (TTE) was similar for each dietary adaptation (pre-HD, 237 ± 44 vs post-HD, 231 ± 35 min; P = 0.44 and pre-KD, 239 ± 27 vs post-KD, 219 ± 53 min; P = 0.36). Following keto-adaptation, RER >1.0 vs <1.0 at V˙O2max coincided with the preservation and reduction in TTE, respectively. CONCLUSION: A 31-d KD preserved mean submaximal exercise capacity in trained endurance athletes without necessitating acute carbohydrate fuelling strategies. However, there was a greater risk of an endurance decrement at an individual level.

The Effect of 1,3-Butanediol on Cycling Time-Trial Performance.

This study investigated the effect of the racemic ß-hydroxybutyrate (ßHB) precursor, R,S-1,3-butanediol (BD), on time-trial (TT) performance and tolerability. A repeated-measures, randomized, crossover study was conducted in nine trained male cyclists (age, 26.7 ± 5.2 years; body mass, 69.6 ± 8.4 kg; height, 1.82 ± 0.09 m; body mass index, 21.2 ± 1.5 kg/m2; VO2peak,63.9 ± 2.5 ml·kg-1·min-1; Wmax, 389.3 ± 50.4 W). Participants ingested 0.35 g/kg of BD or placebo 30 min before and 60 min during 85 min of steady-state exercise, which preceded a ∼25- to 35-min TT (i.e., 7 kJ/kg). The ingestion of BD increased blood D-ßHB concentration throughout exercise (0.44-0.79 mmol/L) compared with placebo (0.11-0.16 mmol/L; all p < .001), which peaked 1 hr following the TT (1.38 ± 0.35 vs. 0.34 ± 0.24 mmol/L; p < .001). Serum glucose and blood lactate concentrations were not different between trials (all p > .05). BD ingestion increased oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production after 20 min of steady-state exercise (p = .002 and p = .032, respectively); however, no further effects on cardiorespiratory parameters were observed. Within the BD trial, moderate to severe gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in five participants, and low levels of dizziness, nausea, and euphoria were reported in two participants. However, this had no effect on TT duration (placebo, 28.5 ± 3.6 min; BD, 28.7 ± 3.2 min; p = .62) and average power output (placebo, 290.1 ± 53.7 W; BD, 286.4 ± 45.9 W; p = .50). These results suggest that BD has no benefit for endurance performance.

The impact of sport related stressors on immunity and illness risk in team-sport athletes.

OBJECTIVES: Elite team-sport athletes are frequently exposed to stressors that have the potential to depress immunity and increase infection risk. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to describe how team-sport stressors impact upon immune responses, along with exploring whether alterations in these markers have the potential to predict upper respiratory tract illness symptoms. DESIGN: Narrative review. METHODS: Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and T-cell markers have been shown to predict infection risk in individual endurance athletes. Papers discussing the impact of team-sport stressors on SIgA and T-cells were discussed in the review, studies discussing other aspects of immunity were excluded. Journal articles were sourced from PubMed, Web of science and Scopus. Key search terms included team-sport athletes, stressors, immunity, T-cells, cytokines, SIgA and upper respiratory illness. RESULTS: Most team-sport stressors appear to increase risk for illness. An association between reduced SIgA and increased illness incidence has been demonstrated. Intensive training and competition periods have been shown to reduce SIgA, however, it is less clear how additional stressors including extreme environmental conditions, travel, psychological stress, sleep disturbance and poor nutrition affect immune responses. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring SIgA may provide an assessment of a team-sport athletes risk status for developing upper respiratory tract symptoms, however there is currently not enough evidence to suggest SIgA alone can predict illness. Team-sport stressors challenge immunity and it is possible that the combination of stressors could have a compounding effect on immunodepression and infection risk. Given that illness can disrupt training and performance, further research is required to better elucidate how stressors individually and collectively influence immunity and illness.

The Effects of Sleep Extension on Sleep, Performance, Immunity and Physical Stress in Rugby Players.

(1) Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of sleep extension in professional rugby players. The aims were to: (i) characterise sleep quantity in elite rugby players and determine changes in immune function and stress hormone secretion during a pre-season training programme; (ii) evaluate the efficacy of a sleep extension intervention in improving sleep, markers of physical stress, immune function and performance. (2) Methods: Twenty five highly trained athletes from a professional rugby team (age (mean ± SD) 25 ± 2.7 years; height 1.87 ± 0.07 m; weight 105 ± 12.1 kg) participated in a six week pre-post control-trial intervention study. Variables of sleep, immune function, sympathetic nervous activity, physiological stress and reaction times were measured. (3) Results: Sleep extension resulted in a moderate improvement in sleep quality scores ([mean; ± 90% confidence limits] −24.8%; ± 54.1%) and small to moderate increases in total sleep time (6.3%; ± 6.3%) and time in bed (7.3%; ± 3.6%). In addition, a small decrease in cortisol (−18.7%; ± 26.4%) and mean reaction times (−4.3%; ± 3.1%) was observed following the intervention, compared to the control. (4) Conclusions: Professional rugby players are at risk of poor sleep during pre-season training, with concomitant rises in physical stress. Implementing a sleep extension programme among professional athletes is recommended to improve sleep, with beneficial changes in stress hormone expression and reaction time performance.

Relationships Between Concentric and Eccentric Strength and Countermovement Jump Performance in Resistance Trained Men.

Bridgeman, LA, McGuigan, MR, Gill, ND, and Dulson, DK. Relationships between concentric and eccentric strength and countermovement jump performance in resistance trained men. J Strength Cond Res 32(1): 255-260, 2018-The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between concentric and eccentric peak force (PF) and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in resistance trained men. Subjects were 12 men (mean ± SD; age: 25.4 ± 3.5 years; height: 177.2 ± 4.5 cm; mass: 84.0 ± 10.1 kg). The men were tested for concentric and eccentric PF using the Exerbotics squat device. Subjects then completed 3 CMJs to allow for the calculation of peak power (PP), peak ground reaction force, and jump height (JH). Correlations between the variables of interest were calculated using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. A large relationship was found between absolute concentric PF and absolute CMJ PP (r = 0.66, p ≤ 0.05). Absolute eccentric PF had a very large relationship with absolute CMJ PP and CMJ JH (r = 0.74, p < 0.01 and r = 0.74, p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, absolute eccentric PF was found to have a moderate relationship with relative CMJ PP (r = 0.58, p ≤ 0.05). Relative eccentric PF was had a very large relationship with relative CMJ PP and CMJ JH (r = 0.73, p < 0.001 and r = 0.79, p < 0.001, respectively). Based on these findings, strength and conditioning coaches and athletes who wish to enhance CMJ performance may wish to include exercises, which enhance lower-body eccentric strength within their training.

The Effect of Nitrate Supplementation on Cycling Performance in the Heat in Well-Trained Cyclists.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of [Formula: see text] consumption on measures of perception, thermoregulation, and cycling performance in hot conditions. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 8 well-trained cyclists (mean ± SD age 25 ± 8 y, [Formula: see text] peak 64 ± 5 mL · kg-1 · min-1) performed 2 separate trials in hot (35°C, 60% relative humidity) environments, having ingested either 140 mL [Formula: see text]-rich beetroot juice ∼8 mmol [Formula: see text] (NIT) or placebo (PLA) daily for 3 d with a 7-d washout period separating trials. Trials consisted of 2 × 10-min bouts at 40% and 60% peak power output (PPO) to determine physiological and perceptual responses to the heat, followed by a 4-km cycling time trial. RESULTS: Basal [nitrite] was substantially elevated in NIT (2.70 ± 0.98 µM) vs PLA (1.10 ± 0.61 µM), resulting in a most likely (ES = 1.58 ± 0.93) increase after 3 d. There was a very likely trivial increase in rectal temperature in NIT at 40% (PLA 37.4°C ± 0.2°C vs NIT 37.5°C ± 0.3°C, 0.1°C ± 0.2°C) and 60% (PLA 37.8°C ± 0.2°C vs NIT 37.9°C ± 0.3°C, 0.1°C ± 0.2°C) PPO. Cycling performance was similar between trials (PLA 336 ± 45 W vs NIT 337 ± 50 W, CV ± 95%CL; 0.2% ± 2.5%). Outcomes for heart rate and perceptual measures were unclear across the majority of time points. CONCLUSIONS: Three days of [Formula: see text] supplementation resulted in small increases in rectal temperature during low- to moderate-intensity exercise, but this did not appear to influence 4-km cycling time-trial performance in hot climates.

Salivary diagnostic markers in males and females during rest and exercise.

BACKGROUND: Saliva is a useful diagnostic tool for analysis in sports, exercise and nutrition research, as collection is easy and non-invasive and it contains a large number of analytes affected by a range of physiological and pathological stressors and conditions. This study examined key salivary electrolytes and stress and immune markers in males and females at rest and during exercise. METHODS: Unstimulated whole saliva from 20 healthy, recreationally active participants (8 males and 12 females) was analysed for flow rate, osmolality, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), α-amylase activity and cortisol during both rest and moderate intensity (70% peak power) cycling exercise in a randomised crossover design. Each trial lasted 60 min and sampling was carried out at 15 and 45 min after the start of the trial. Saliva was collected using the gold-standard drool method; participants were required to provide at least 1 mL sample over 2 or 3-min period. RESULTS: Females showed a greater response to steady-state exercise stress than males, with significant increases in osmolality (P < 0.001), α-amylase activity (P = 0.001) and secretion rate (P = 0.023) and SIgA secretion rate (P = 0.023), with trends for an increase in K+ (P = 0.053) and decrease in Cl- (P = 0.067). There were no differences between rest and exercise for any salivary analytes in males. In addition, females showed a trend for higher levels of cortisol than males at both rest (P = 0.099) and exercise (P = 0.070), as well as a higher heart rate (P < 0.001) and greater ratings of perceived exertion (P < 0.001) during the exercise trial. The coordination of the two stress response pathways (α-amylase vs cortisol) was positive in males (r = 0.799; P = 0.017) yet negative in females (r = -0.475; P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Males and females show a markedly different response to steady-state exercise stress as measured in unstimulated whole saliva.

The Effects of Accentuated Eccentric Loading on the Drop Jump Exercise and the Subsequent Postactivation Potentiation Response.

The aims of this study were (a) to investigate the acute effects of different drop jump (DJ) accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) protocols and (b) to investigate the effect of these AEL DJ protocols on subsequent countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. The subjects were 12 strength-trained athletes; initially, baseline CMJ performance was assessed and individual optimal DJ drop height identified. In subsequent weeks, subjects completed 1 set of 5 DJs with no additional load or an AEL of 10, 20, or 30% of their individual body mass (BM) using dumbbells to provide the extra load. After the AEL DJ protocols, 3 CMJs were completed after 2, 6, and 12 minutes rest. A generalized linear mixed model was used to investigate the effects of AEL load and time post-DJs on CMJ height, peak power, and ground reaction force. The 20% AEL condition resulted in greater CMJ height in comparison with all other conditions (p < 0.001). CMJ height was significantly greater after 2 and 6 minutes rest compared with 12 minutes (p < 0.001 and p ≤ 0.05 respectively). Greater peak power was also found during the CMJs after the 20% AEL condition compared with baseline, BM, and 10% AEL (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, 5 DJs with 20% AEL followed by a 2 minutes recovery period resulted in significant enhancement in CMJ height and peak power.

Acute Responses to Resistance and High-Intensity Interval Training in Early Adolescents.

Harris, NK, Dulson, DK, Logan, GRM, Warbrick, IB, Merien, FLR, and Lubans, DR. Acute responses to resistance and high-intensity interval training in early adolescents. J Strength Cond Res 31(5): 1177-1186, 2017-The purpose of this study was to compare the acute physiological responses within and between resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) matched for time and with comparable effort, in a school setting. Seventeen early adolescents (12.9 ± 0.3 years) performed both RT (2-5 repetitions perceived short of failure at the end of each set) and HIIT (90% of age-predicted maximum heart rate), equated for total work set and recovery period durations comprising of 12 "sets" of 30-second work followed by 30-second recovery (total session time 12 minutes). Variables of interest included oxygen consumption, set and session heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion, and change in salivary cortisol (SC), salivary alpha amylase, and blood lactate (BL) from presession to postsession. Analyses were conducted to determine responses within and between the 2 different protocols. For both RT and HIIT, there were very large increases pretrial to posttrial for SC and BL, and only BL increased greater in HIIT (9.1 ± 2.6 mmol·L) than RT (6.8 ± 3.3 mmol·L). Mean set HR for both RT (170 ± 9.1 b·min) and HIIT (179 ± 5.6 b·min) was at least 85% of HRmax. V[Combining Dot Above]O2 over all 12 sets was greater for HIIT (33.8 ± 5.21 ml·kg·min) than RT (24.9 ± 3.23 ml·kg·min). Brief, repetitive, intermittent forays into high but not supramaximal intensity exercise using RT or HIIT seemed to be a potent physiological stimulus in adolescents.

The Effect of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Physiology and Performance in Trained Cyclists.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of dietary nitrate (NO3-) supplementation on physiology and performance in well-trained cyclists after 6-8 d of NO3- supplementation. METHODS: Eight competitive male cyclists (mean ± SD age 26 ± 8 y, body mass 76.7 ± 6.9 kg, VO2peak 63 ± 4 mL · kg-1 · min-1) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-design study in which participants ingested 70 mL of beetroot juice containing ~4 mmol NO3- (NIT) or a NO3--depleted placebo (PLA), each for 8 d. Replicating pretreatment measures, participants undertook an incremental ramp assessment to determine VO2peak and first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory thresholds on d 6 (NIT6 and PLA6), moderate-intensity cycling economy on d 7 (NIT7 and PLA7), and a 4-km time trial (TT) on d 8 (NIT8 and PLA8). RESULTS: Relative to PLA, 6 d of NIT supplementation produced unclear effects for VO2peak (mean ± 95% confidence limit: 1.8% ± 5.5%) and VT1 (3.7% ± 12.3%) and trivial effects for both VT2 (-1.0% ± 3.0%) and exercise economy on d 7 (-1.0% ± 1.6%). However, effects for TT performance time (-0.7% ± 0.9%) and power (2.4% ± 2.5%) on d 8 were likely beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: Despite mostly unclear outcomes for standard physiological determinants of performance, 8 d of NO3- supplementation resulted in likely beneficial improvements to 4-km TT performance in well-trained male endurance cyclists.