Effect of blueberry ingestion on natural killer cell counts, oxidative stress, and inflammation prior to and after 2.5 h of running.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which may exhibit significant health benefits. Strenous exercise is known to acutely generate oxidative stress and an inflammatory state, and serves as an on-demand model to test antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. The purpose of this study was to examine whether 250 g of blueberries per day for 6 weeks and 375 g given 1 h prior to 2.5 h of running at ∼72% maximal oxygen consumption counters oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune changes. Twenty-five well-trained subjects were recruited and randomized into blueberry (BB) (N = 13) or control (CON) (N = 12) groups. Blood, muscle, and urine samples were obtained pre-exercise and immediately postexercise, and blood and urine 1 h postexercise. Blood was examined for F2-isoprostanes for oxidative stress, cortisol, cytokines, homocysteine, leukocytes, T-cell function, natural killer (NK), and lymphocyte cell counts for inflammation and immune system activation, and ferric reducing ability of plasma for antioxidant capacity. Muscle biopsies were examined for glycogen and NFkB expression to evaluate stress and inflammation. Urine was tested for modification of DNA (8-OHDG) and RNA (5-OHMU) as markers of nucleic acid oxidation. A 2 (treatment) × 3 (time) repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Increases in F2-isoprostanes and 5-OHMU were significantly less in BB and plasma IL-10 and NK cell counts were significantly greater in BB vs. CON. Changes in all other markers did not differ. This study indicates that daily blueberry consumption for 6 weeks increases NK cell counts, and acute ingestion reduces oxidative stress and increases anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Indirect calorimetry during ultradistance running: a case report.

The purpose was to determine the energy expenditure during ultradistance trail running. A portable metabolic unit was carried by a male subject for the first 64.5 km portion of the Western States 100 running race. Calibrations were done with known gases and volumes at ambient temperature, humidity and pressure (23-40.5 °C and 16-40% respectively). Altitude averaged 1692.8 ± 210 m during data collection. The male subject (36 yrs, 75 kg, VO2max of 67.0 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1)) had an average (mean ± SD) heart rate of 132 ± 9 bpm, oxygen consumption of 34.0 ± 6.8 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1), RER of 0.91 ± 0.04, and VE of 86.0 ± 14.3 L·min(-1) during the 21.7 km measuring period. This represented an average of 51% VO2max and 75% heart rate maximum. Energy expenditure was 12.6 ± 2.5 kcals·min(-1), or 82.7 ± 16.6 kcals·km(-1) (134 ± 27 kcals·mile(-1)) at 68.3 ± 12.5% carbohydrate. Extrapolation of this data would result in an energy expenditure of >13,000 kcals for the 160 km race, and an exogenous carbohydrate requirement of >250 kcal·hr(-1). The energy cost of running for this subject on separate, noncompetitive occasions ranged from 64.9 ± 8.5 to 74.4 ± 5.5 kcals·km(-1) (105 ± 14 to 120 ± 9 kcals·mile(-1)). Ultradistance trail running increases energy expenditure above that of running on nonundulating terrain, which may result in underestimating energy requirements during these events and subsequent undernourishment and suboptimal performance. Key PointsThe energy cost of running is elevated during ultradistance trail races compared to normal running conditions.This elevated energy cost results in a ~12% increase in energy expenditure for a given distance.Ad libitum energy intake may grossly underestimate the demand of ultradistance running in the conditions investigated in this paper, thus jeopardizing race performance.

Effect of daily fruit ingestion on angiotensin converting enzyme activity, blood pressure, and oxidative stress in chronic smokers.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether, daily fruit (blueberries) consumption (250 g) for three weeks or acute fruit ingestion (250 g) would attenuate angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity and reduce oxidative stress in chronic cigarette smokers. METHODS: Twenty subjects were recruited and randomized into fruit or control groups. Blood samples and blood pressure were obtained at baseline and then pre and one hour post when subjects returned to the lab three weeks later. To examine acute effects, the fruit group immediately ingested 250 g of blueberries after returning and at least one hour prior to the post blood draw. Plasma samples were analyzed for ACE activity, F(2)- isoprostanes and lipid hydroperoxides (LH) as measures of oxidative stress, and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of antioxidant potential. A 2 (treatment) x 3 (time) repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. If interaction was significant, then Student's t-tests were used to further examine this relationship. For these comparisons, a Bonferroni adjustment was made with statistical significance set at P < 0.025. RESULTS: The pattern of change between treatments was not significant for any variable except LH (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that LH are significantly reduced by daily fruit consumption, but not affected by acute ingestion. This finding could be one way in which fruit consumption contributes to prevention of cardiovascular disease.