Effects of taurine supplementation in elite swimmers performance

AIM: Taurine is considered a semi-essential amino acid characterized by having various physiological functions in the body that modulate mechanisms of action involved in the muscle contraction process, increased energy expenditure, insulin signaling pathway, carbohydrate metabolism, and scavenging free radicals. These functions are crucial for aerobic exercise performance; thus, taurine supplementation may benefit athletes' performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of taurine supplementation on the resting energy expenditure and physical performance of swimming athletes. METHODS: In a double-blind study, 14 male swimmers were randomized into two groups: the taurine group (n = 7) and the placebo group (n = 7), which received 3 g per day of taurine or placebo in capsules during 8 weeks. Resting energy expenditure, plasma taurine, physical performance, anthropometry, dietary consumption were measured and an incremental test was performed to determine their maximal front crawl swimming performances before and after the 8-week period. RESULTS: The levels of serum taurine (p < 0.0001) and lactate (p = 0.0130) showed a significant increase in the taurine group; however, the other variables were not different. No changes were observed in the resting energy expenditure, mean speed performed, and the anaerobic threshold of the swimmers post-supplementation period. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of taurine increased plasma concentrations of this amino acid, but did not lead to significant changes in food intake, rest energy expenditure, and athletes' performance. However, the supplemented group presented a higher lactate production, suggesting a possible positive effect of taurine on the anaerobic lactic metabolism.(AU)

Metabolismo lipídico durante o exercício físico: mobilização do ácido graxo / Lipid metabolism during exercise: mobilization of fatty acid / Metabolismo de los lípidos durante el ejercicio: movilización del ácido graso

É sabido que os ácidos graxos são importante fonte de energia para contração muscular. As principais fontes metabólicas de energia derivadas dos lipídios são os ácidos graxos do tecido adiposo, os triglicerídeos intramusculares e os triglicerídeos circulantes do plasma. A contribuição de cada um depende do exercício realizado,duração, intensidade e estado de treinamento do indivíduo. O treinamento de longa duração provoca adaptações no organismo, como aumento da capacidade oxidativa dos músculos esqueléticos e maior participação dos lipídios como substrato energético durante o esforço, ocasionando possível melhora no desempenho do atleta. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a regulação do metabolismo lipídico durante a realização do exercício físico.

It is known for a long time that fatty acids are important energy source for muscle contraction. The main sources of metabolic energy derived from lipids are free fatty acids from adipose tissue and intramuscular triglycerides circulating plasma triglycerides. The contribution of each one depends on the type of exercise done, duration, intensity and state of training of the individual. The endurance training provokes adaptations in the organism as, increase of the oxidative capacity of the skeletal muscles and, consequently bigger participation of the lipids as energetic substrate during realization of the effort, possibly causing an improvement in performanceof the athlete. The aim of the present study was to investigate regulationof the lipids metabolism, during the physical exercise.

Se sabe que los ácidos grasos son fuente importante de energía para la contracción muscular. Las principales fuentes de energía metabólica derivada de los lípidos son los ácidos grasos del tejido adiposo intramuscular y triglicéridos plasmáticos de triglicéridos circulantes. La contribución de cada uno depende del ejercicio realizado, duración, intensidad y nivel de entrenamiento del individuo. La formación a largo plazo provoca adaptaciones en el cuerpo, como aumento de la capacidad oxidativadel músculo esquelético y una mayor participación de los lípidos como sustrato energético durante el ejercicio, dando lugar a una posible mejora en el rendimiento deportivo. El propósito de este estudio fue investigar la regulación del metabolismo de los lípidos durante el curso del ejercicio.