Açai pulp supplementation as a nutritional strategy to prevent oxidative damage, improve oxidative status, and modulate blood lactate of male cyclists.

PURPOSE: Açai pulp is a source of phytochemicals and has been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antigenotoxic effects. This study aimed to assess the effects of açai pulp consumption on oxidative, inflammatory, and aerobic capacity markers of cyclist athletes. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind study was developed with ten male cyclists (33.5 ± 4.7 years old, body mass index of 23.9 ± 1.38 kg/m2, and training load around 1875 ± 238 AU/week). The athletes consumed 400 g/day of pasteurized açai pulp (AP) or placebo (PL) for 15 days, with a 30-day wash-out period between trials. Lipid peroxidation, serum antioxidant capacity, DNA damage in peripheral blood (Comet assay), IL-6 and TNF-alpha, blood lactate concentration during effort, anaerobic threshold intensity (ATi), maximum workload reached (Wmax), rating of perceived exertion threshold (RPET), and heart rate threshold (HRT) were evaluated before and after each intervention. Data were analyzed using a linear regression model with mixed effects (p ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: Increased serum antioxidant capacity (p = 0.006) and decreased lipid peroxidation (p = 0.01) were observed in subjects after intervention with AP. Blood lactate levels during effort significantly decreased (by 29%, p = 0.025) and ATi increased (p = 0.006) after AP. No significant effect on DNA damage was attributed to AP consumption. CONCLUSION: We found notable effects of AP intervention on antioxidant status in athletes. Both the reduction in blood lactate concentration and increase in ATi during the effort suggest an overall improvement in the aerobic capacity of the cyclists, confirming that AP consumption may influence variables associated with performance in endurance athletes.

Taurine supplementation increases irisin levels after high intensity physical training in obese women.

BACKGROUND: Irisin is a myokine/adipokine that under stimulus of physical exercise is able to improve thermogenic capacity in adipose tissue. Likewise, taurine supplementation has demonstrated similar effects on energy metabolism. Therefore, we hypothesized that taurine supplementation combined with physical training may induce an increase in irisin concentrations, optimizing energy metabolism in obese individuals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if taurine supplementation associated with a high intensity physical training program increases irisin levels in obese women. METHODS: double-blind study with 22 obese women (BMI 32.4 ±â€¯2.0 kg/m2, 36.6 ±â€¯6.4 years and sedentary) who were randomly divided into two groups, control group (GC, n = 14), exercised and supplemented with placebo (3 g of starch), and taurine group (GTAU, n = 8), exercised and supplemented with taurine (3 g). The subjects performed high intensity physical training, Deep Water Running (DWR), for 8 weeks, 3 times/week, for 50 min per training session, at 70-85% maximum heart rate. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was evaluated by indirect calorimetry, body composition by deuterium oxide, plasma taurine by HPLC, plasma irisin by Multiplex Kit, and food consumption by food records. The results were analyzed by an ANOVA two way repeated measures mixed model, with the Sidak post hoc (p < 0.05). RESULTS: No changes were observed in body composition. DWR increased RMR independent of supplementation (p < 0.001) and irisin levels (pg/mL) showed a significant difference only in the GTAU in 1 h after exercise (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DWR associated with taurine supplementation resulted in increased plasma irisin concentrations after physical training in obese adult women.

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)