Effect of mountain ultra-marathon running on plasma angiopoietin-like protein 4 and lipid profile in healthy trained men.

PURPOSE: Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) regulates lipid metabolism by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase activity and stimulating lipolysis in adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to find out whether the mountain ultra-marathon running influences plasma ANGPTL4 and whether it is related to plasma lipid changes. METHODS: Ten healthy men (age 31 ± 1.1 years) completed a 100-km ultra-marathon running. Plasma ANGPTL4, free fatty acids (FFA), triacylglycerols (TG), glycerol (Gly), total cholesterol (TC), low (LDL-C) and high (HDL-C) density lipoprotein-cholesterol were determined before, immediately after the run and after 90 min of recovery. RESULTS: Plasma ANGPTL4 increased during exercise from 68.0 ± 16.5 to 101.2 ± 18.1 ng/ml (p < 0.001). This was accompanied by significant increases in plasma FFA, Gly, HDL-C and decreases in plasma TG concentrations (p < 0.01). After 90 min of recovery, plasma ANGPTL4 and TG did not differ significantly from the exercise values, while plasma FFA, Gly, TC and HDL-C were significantly lower than immediately after the run. TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C molar ratios were significantly reduced. The exercise-induced changes in plasma ANGPTL4 correlated positively with those of FFA (r = 0.73; p < 0.02), and HDL-C (r = 0.69; p < 0.05). Positive correlation was found also between plasma ANGPTL4 and FFA concentrations after 90 min of recovery (r = 0.77; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that increase in plasma FFA during mountain ultra-marathon run may be involved in plasma ANGPTL4 release and that increase in ANGPTL4 secretion may be a compensatory mechanism against fatty acid-induced oxidative stress. Increase in plasma HDL-C observed immediately after the run may be due to the protective effect of ANGPTL4 on HDL.

Standard hypothyroid treatment did not restore proper metabolic response to carbohydrate.

PURPOSE: Hypothyroidism is associated with a lower metabolic rate, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased responsiveness of sympathetic nervous system to glucose ingestion. The Levothyroxine (LT4) monotherapy is the standard treatment for hypothyroidism; however to what extent this treatment restores the patients' metabolism has not been verified. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that standard LT4 therapy may not restore proper metabolic response to carbohydrate ingestion. METHODS: Energy expenditure, glucose tolerance, and catecholamine response to glucose ingestion were compared in 18 subjects with pharmacologically compensated hypothyroidism (PCH) and controls, at baseline and during oral glucose tolerance test conditions. RESULTS: Metabolic rate was significantly lower in PCH (P < 0.0001). Glucose tolerance was decreased in this group with no differences in insulin resistance indicators between both groups. Adrenergic activity (P < 0.05) as well as adrenergic reaction to glucose ingestion (P < 0.001) were stronger in PCH. CONCLUSIONS: Standard treatment for hypothyroidism does not restore the normal metabolic reaction to carbohydrate which is observed in healthy people.

Changes in the Hormonal Profile of Athletes following a Combat Sports Performance.

RESULTS: Following fighting, the adrenaline concentration was significantly higher in all athletes, most markedly in K (p < 0.001). Baseline cortisol and BDNF levels did not differ among the groups and rose significantly in all the groups after the performance. Baseline testosterone concentration was slightly higher in K than in JSW and rose in all the groups to reach similar levels; the increase in T was significantly higher than in K. CONCLUSIONS: Despite substantial differences in the characteristics of the combat sports investigated, including the type of physical effort and the required balance between restraint and aggression, the performance in each of them gives rise to similar hormonal changes with a possible exception of karate showing higher stress hormone levels.

Thermogenic effect of glucose in hypothyroid subjects.

The importance of thyroid hormone, catecholamines, and insulin in modification of the thermogenic effect of glucose (TEG) was examined in 34 healthy and 32 hypothyroid subjects. We calculated the energy expenditure at rest and during oral glucose tolerance test. Blood samples for determinations of glucose, plasma insulin, adrenaline (A), and noradrenaline (NA) were collected. It was found that TEG was lower in hypothyroid than in control group (19.68 ± 3.90 versus 55.40 ± 7.32 kJ, resp., P < 0.0004). Mean values of glucose and insulin areas under the curve were higher in women with hypothyroidism than in control group (286.79 ± 23.65 versus 188.41 ± 15.84 mmol/L·min, P < 0.003 and 7563.27 ± 863.65 versus 4987.72 ± 583.88 mU/L·min, P < 0.03 resp.). Maximal levels of catecholamines after glucose ingestion were higher in hypothyroid patients than in control subjects (Amax-0.69 ± 0.08 versus 0.30 ± 0.07 nmol/L, P < 0.0001, and NAmax-6.42 ± 0.86 versus 2.54 ± 0.30 nmol/L, P < 0.0002). It can be concluded that in hypothyroidism TEG and glucose tolerance are decreased while the adrenergic response to glucose administration is enhanced. Presumably, these changes are related to decreased insulin sensitivity and responsiveness to catecholamine action.