The Combined Effects of Exercise, Diet, and a Multi-Ingredient Dietary Supplement on Body Composition and Adipokine Changes in Overweight Adults.

BACKGROUND: Very few weight and fat loss supplements undergo finished-product research to examine efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an 8-week diet and exercise program on body composition, hip and waist girth, and adipokines and evaluate whether a dietary supplement containing raspberry ketone, capsaicin, caffeine, garlic, and Citrus aurantium enhanced outcomes. METHODS: Overweight men and women completed this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Participants consumed 4 capsules/d of supplement (EXP; n = 18) or placebo (PLA; n = 18). Participants underwent 8 weeks of daily supplementation, calorie restriction (500 kcal < RMR [resting metabolic rate] × 1.2), and supervised progressive exercise training 3 times a week. Body composition, girth, and adipokines were assessed at baseline and postintervention (T1 and T2). RESULTS: Significant decreases in weight (-2.6 ± 0.57 kg, p < 0.001), fat mass (-1.8 ± 0.20 kg; p < 0.001), and percentage body fat (-3.7% ± 0.29%, p < 0.001) and a significant increase in lean body mass (LBM; 1.5 ± 0.26 kg; p < 0.001) were seen from T1 to T2 in both groups. For men, only those in the EXP group increased LBM from T1 to T2 (1.3 ± 0.38 kg; p < 0.05). Hip girth was also reduced, with the women in the EXP group (-10.7 ± 2.15 cm, p < 0.001) having a greater reduction. There was a time by group interaction, with significant decreases in leptin (p < 0.001) and significant increases in adiponectin (p < 0.05) in the EXP group. CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvements in adipokines and leptin support the utility of exercise, diet, and fat loss for impacting inflammatory biomarkers. The improvement in adiponectin with EXP may suggest a unique health mechanism.

Acute Physiological Responses to an Intensity-And Time-Under-Tension-Equated Single- vs. Multiple-Set Resistance Training Bout in Trained Men.

Cintineo, HP, Freidenreich, DJ, Blaine, CM, Cardaci, TD, Pellegrino, JK, and Arent, SM. Acute physiological responses to an intensity-and time under-under-tension-equated single- vs. multiple-set resistance training bout in trained men. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3310-3318, 2018-Regardless of the setting, proper manipulation of resistance training program design variables is pivotal in eliciting the desired physiological adaptations. Furthermore, how these variables, especially volume and intensity, work together to affect training outcomes is a major topic of investigation. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute biochemical, physiological, and hormonal responses of a single-set accentuated eccentric high-intensity training (HIT) protocol to a traditional 3-set protocol to better understand the acute effects of volume. Resistance-trained male college students (N = 19; age = 21.11 ± 2.5 years; height = 174.33 ± 6.83 cm; body mass = 76.72 ± 10.24 kg; %BF = 15.53 ± 6.35%) participated in this study and were randomly assigned to either the 1-set HIT protocol (HIT) or the 3-set traditional (3ST) protocol. Heart rate (HR), blood lactate, salivary testosterone, and salivary cortisol levels were measured before, during, and at multiple time points after the exercise bout. Results showed no differences in average HR or testosterone at any time point between the 2 groups. However, the 3ST group exhibited higher values of peak HR, blood lactate during exercise, and cortisol during and 30 minutes after exercise than the HIT group. This indicated that the 3ST protocol induced greater metabolic stress and disrupted the homeostatic balance to a greater magnitude than the HIT protocol despite similar time under tension. These results show that even when training to momentary muscular failure, volume seems to be a key driver of the training stimulus.

The Effects of Caffeine on Arousal, Response Time, Accuracy, and Performance in Division I Collegiate Fencers.

Doyle, TP, Lutz, RS, Pellegrino, JK, Sanders, DJ, and Arent, SM. The effects of caffeine on arousal, response time, accuracy, and performance in Division I collegiate fencers. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3228-3235, 2016-Caffeine has displayed ergogenic effects on aerobic performance. However, sports requiring precision and quick reaction may also be impacted by central nervous system arousal because of caffeine consumption. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of caffeine on arousal, response time (RT), and accuracy during a simulated fencing practice. Using a randomized, within-subjects, placebo-controlled, double-blind design, Division I male and female college fencers (N = 13; 69.1 ± 3.5 kg) were administered caffeine doses of 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, or 7.5 mg·kg during separate testing days. Performance was assessed via RT and accuracy to a 4-choice reaction task. A total of 25 trials were performed each day using a random 2- to 8-s delay between trials. Arousal was assessed using the activation-deactivation adjective check list. Results of repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant dose effect (p = 0.02) on performance. Follow-up analyses indicated this was due to a significant effect for RT (p = 0.03), with the dose-response curve exhibiting a quadratic relationship. Response time was significantly faster (p < 0.01) for the 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 mg·kg conditions than for the placebo condition. Results also indicated a significant dose effect for composite RT + accuracy performance (p < 0.01). The dose-response curve was again quadratic, with performance beginning to deteriorate at 7.5 mg·kg. Energetic arousal, tiredness, tension, and calmness all significantly changed as a function of caffeine dose (p ≤ 0.05). Based on these results, caffeine improves RT and overall performance in fencers, particularly as doses increase up to 4.5-6.0 mg·kg. Above this level, performance begins to deteriorate, consistent with an "inverted-U" model of arousal and performance.

The effects of a combined resistance training and endurance exercise program in inactive college female subjects: does order matter?

Although both endurance (E) and resistance (R) exercise improve various health and fitness variables, there is still debate regarding the optimal ordering of these modes of exercise within a concurrent bout. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of performing E before R (E-R) or R before E (R-E) on strength, VO2max, and body composition over the course of an 8-week exercise program. Inactive college female subjects (N = 23; 19.8 ± 0.22 years; 61.0 ± 2.5 kg) were randomly assigned to either an E-R (n = 13) or an R-E (n = 10) group. Subjects trained 4 d·wk over the 8-week study. The E portion consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at 70-80% heart rate reserve (HRR). The R portion used a 3-way split routine with subjects performing 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions for 5-6 different exercises using a load equal to 90-100% 10 repetition maximum. There were 2 days of testing before and after 8 weeks of training to determine performance and body composition. There were significant improvements in chest press (p < 0.001), leg press (p < 0.001), VO2max (p < 0.001), and lean body mass (LBM) (p = 0.005) across both groups. Weight significantly increased (p = 0.038), but percent body fat did not change (p = 0.46). There were no differences as a function of group (p > 0.267). There were significant improvements in performance and LBM over an 8-week concurrent training program in inactive college female subjects, regardless of the order in which R and E were performed. It seems that fitness markers improve similarly regardless of the order of R or E in a 4 d·wk-1 program in inactive female subjects. Therefore, the order of these modalities for beginning exercisers should be based on personal preference and to facilitate adherence.

The exercise metabolome: acute aerobic and anaerobic signatures.

Background: Exercise modality differentially alters body composition and physical performance. Metabolic changes underlying these outcomes can be tracked through assessment of circulating metabolites. Here, global responses to an acute bout of aerobic or anaerobic exercise were compared in the serum of male and female subjects using a discovery-based metabolomics platform. Methods: On separate days, 40 healthy, active participants completed 45 min of aerobic cycling or resistance exercise, and blood samples were collected at rest, immediately after (T1) and 1 hour post-exercise (T2) to examine the serum metabolomic landscape. Results: The two exercise metabolomes appeared more similar than different in this healthy cohort. Overall, metabolomic signatures of both exercise modalities were markedly altered from rest at T1, and returned toward baseline by T2. Metabolomic perturbations at T1 and the T1-T2 rate of recovery post-exercise were greater following aerobic cycling than resistance exercise. Shared signatures included elevations in purine metabolism, substrate catabolism and mobilization, and inflammatory signaling. Aerobic exercise resulted in greater substrate diversity and use of fatty acids, whereas resistance exercise displayed higher purine turnover and glycolytic flux. Discussion: Individual metabolite differences between conditions were seen in magnitude but not direction. Metabolomic signatures of the exercise responses appeared fairly robust across exercise modalities. An initial perturbation and subsequent shift toward recovery by an hour post-exercise defined the signature in our healthy cohort. The expedited recovery following aerobic cycling may be explained by globally elevated lipid metabolism.

Assessment of Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Practices, and Sources of Nutrition Information in NCAA Division III Collegiate Athletes.

Nutrition knowledge is a critical component of meeting sport nutrition guidelines. The present study aimed to evaluate the sport nutrition knowledge of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III (DIII) athletes using a validated questionnaire, and to assess the dietary practices and sources of nutrition information in this population. A total of 331 student-athletes (n = 149 males, n = 181 females, n = 1 no sex indicated) completed the questionnaire. The mean score for total sport nutrition knowledge was 6.49 ± 8.9 (range -49 to 49) with a mean percent (%) correct score of 36.9 ± 19.1%. Athletes who had a previous college-level nutrition course (n = 62) had significantly higher (p < 0.05) total sport nutrition, carbohydrate, and hydration knowledge compared to those who did not (n = 268). Individual sport athletes (n = 90) scored significantly higher (p < 0.05) on hydration and micronutrients knowledge than team sport athletes (n = 237), while females scored higher than males for hydration knowledge (p < 0.05). The majority of athletes reported sensible dietary habits, such as not frequently skipping meals and eating carbohydrate and protein foods peri-workout. Athletes also reported their primary sources of nutrition information, the top three sources being social media, coaches, and athletic trainers, despite most frequently rating registered dietitians/nutritionists as "extremely knowledgeable". Despite low sport nutrition knowledge, NCAA DIII collegiate athletes practiced seemingly prudent dietary habits but lacked exposure to high-quality sources of nutrition information.

Nutritional supplementation, performance, and oxidative stress in college soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in performance and metabolic parameters in collegiate soccer players during preseason preparation and to determine the impact of a nutraceutical blend proposed to reduce oxidative stress. Male Division I college soccer players (n = 22) performed a progressive maximal treadmill test at the beginning and end of preseason to assess changes in Vo2max, velocity at lactate threshold (VLT), time-to-exhaustion, lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), 8-isoprostane, and creatine kinase (CK) response. After baseline testing, athletes were randomly assigned to receive the nutraceutical blend (EXP; n = 12) or an isocaloric equivalent (CON; n = 10) for 20 days of preseason training. DeltaVo2max (2.1 +/- 3.3 ml.kg.min, p = 0.007), DeltaVLT (0.8 +/- 1.4 km.h, p = 0.045), and Deltatime-to-exhaustion (39.4 +/- 77.4 seconds, p = 0.033) were improved across groups, but a significant effect of supplementation on performance was not seen. Changes in resting levels of CK from the beginning to end of preseason were significantly lower (p = 0.044) in EXP (64.8 +/- 188.4 U.L) than in CON (292.8 +/- 304.8 U.L). Additionally, EXP demonstrated a significant decrease in the magnitude of the 8-isoprostane response at Trial 2 compared with Trial 1 (effect size [ES] = -0.74), whereas CON had an increased response (ES = 0.20). A similar pattern was seen for LPO (p = 0.067). Preseason training in male college soccer players resulted in significant improvements in Vo2max, VLT, and time-to-exhaustion. Supplementing with a proprietary antioxidant and nutraceutical blend may enhance some of these effects as indicated by magnitude of the responses. However, it appears that the most notable effects of supplementation were seen for reduced CK and oxidative stress, at least with short-term supplementation.

The Effects of Exercise Dose on Stereotypical Behavior in Children with Autism.

INTRODUCTION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurological disorder in children characterized by restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior that place an added burden on everyday functions. Aerobic exercise has the propensity to reduce stereotypic behaviors in children with ASD. This study sought to quantify the acute effect of exercise and to assess the influence of duration and intensity on the frequency of stereotypic behaviors in children with ASD. METHODS: Participants in this study (N = 7, Mage = 13.0 ± 1.4 yr, Mheight = 1.64 ± 0.01 m, and Mweight = 60.1 ± 13.7 kg) underwent five separate days of treatments, including a control condition (C), a low-intensity 10-min condition (10L), a high-intensity 10-min condition (10H), a low-intensity 20-min condition (20L), and a high-intensity 20-min condition (20H) in which intensity was quantified using HR as well as RPE. Before and 60 min after exercise, the frequency of stereotypic behaviors was recorded. RESULTS: Results indicated a reduction in behaviors in response to exercise compared with the C trial throughout all conditions except 20H. Interestingly, the most exhaustive exercise session led to increased stereotypic behaviors at all postexercise periods compared with the other exercise trials (P < 0.10). The 10L condition showed the greatest reduction at 60 min postexercise compared with the 20H or the control trial's response (P < 0.05). Examining the behavioral responses to exercise using effect sizes indicated the 10L condition showed the greatest reduction in frequency throughout all four time points (ESrange = -0.87 to -1.03) compared with baseline. CONCLUSION: Although it appears high-intensity aerobic exercise may exacerbate stereotypic behaviors in children with ASD, low- to moderate-intensity exercise produces significant and large reductions in these behaviors. This provides an easily administered and cost-effective way to positively impact these individuals.