Publications

Background: Manipulation of macronutrient intake and exercise can alter overall energy consumption and potentially body composition. Aim: The purpose of this study was to manipulate the macronutrient content of breakfast before exercise to investigate the impact on exercise energy expenditure and postexercise energy intake (EI). Methods: Twelve active men were recruited, 11 finished the study protocol (age: 28 ± 9 years; VO2max: 56 ± 5 ml·kg-1·min-1). In a randomized crossover design, each participant completed 4 trials, 3 consisting of a specific breakfast (protein, PRO; carbohydrate, CHO; noncaloric; NON-CAL) followed in 1 h by a 45 minutes moderate intensity treadmill exercise protocol. The fourth trial consisted of breakfast and no exercise (CON). An ad-libitum lunch and food for the rest of the day were provided and assessed for EI. Measures included resting metabolic rate pre- and postbreakfast along with oxygen uptake (VO2) during and after exercise, along with hunger scales, and blood measures of glucose, insulin and plasma-PYY prebreakfast, pre-exercise, postexercise, and 60 minutes postexercise. Results: Fat oxidation was highest during exercise in the NON-CAL (0.57 g·min-1) trial with similar levels of fat oxidation between PRO (0.50 g·min-1) and CHO trials (0.48 g·min-1). Hunger was not affected by PRO intake or exercise, nor was appetite hormones and glucose. EI at lunch and dinner was not significantly different between trials. Conclusion: Pre-exercise PRO intake did not modify fat oxidation during exercise, did not lead to a larger VO2 versus CHO, nor did it attenuate EI postexercise.

Background: Sleep disturbances are linked with cardiovascular and metabolic disease as well as poor body composition. Aim: To investigate the use of tart cherry supplements, which are high in antioxidants and may contain melatonin, on parameters of health such as sleep, body composition, cellular health, and blood pressure (BP). Methods: Forty-four participants had completed sleep record data and were included in this analysis. Participants consumed either two 240 ml bottles per day of Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) juice or placebo or two capsules per day of powdered MTC or placebo for 30 days. Participants tracked their sleep daily via questionnaire and completed body composition and BP assessments at baseline, 14 days, and 30 days after supplementation. Results: There were no significant differences in sleep time or quality between groups, though both increased over 30 days. The capsule groups had significantly lower body mass (BM) 14 days versus baseline for placebo group (p = 0.01, mean difference: 0.70 kg) and at 30 days versus 14 days in MTC group (p = 0.02, mean difference: 0.75 kg). No other differences in body composition or cellular health were found. BP was unaffected by MTC supplementation over 30 days. Despite the potential benefits of antioxidants and melatonin, we did not find improvements in sleep time or quality, cellular health or BP in participants consuming MTC for 30 days, though BM decreased in capsule groups. Conclusion: These results conflict with previous data on MTC and sleep and BP, therefore further investigation is warranted.

UNLABELLED: Curcumin has become a popular product used to decrease inflammation and enhance recovery from exercise.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of curcumin supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle power following plyometric exercise.

METHODS: Participants ( n  = 22; five females, 17 males) consumed either curcumin (500 mg) or placebo twice daily for 10 days (6 days pre, day of and 3 days post exercise). Participants completed 5 x 20 drop jumps on day 7. Blood sampling and recovery tests were assessed at pre-supplementation, 24-hours and immediately pre-exercise, and immediately post-, 24, 48 and 72-hours post-exercise. Blood markers included serum creatine kinase (CK) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), while soreness was measured during a squat and post vertical jump.

RESULTS: Both groups experienced muscle damage post-exercise with elevated CK (403 ± 390 ul; p  < 0.01), soreness with squatting (38 ± 29 mm; p  < 0.01), and vertical jump (36 ± 30 mm; p  < 0.01). Soreness was greater in placebo vs. curcumin 48 h and 72 h post-exercise ( p  < 0.01); however, CK was not significantly different between groups ( p  = 0.28) despite being >200 IU· L -1 greater 24 hr post exercise in placebo vs. curcumin. ESR was significantly greater immediately post-exercise (6.3 ± 5.6 vs. 3.4 ± 2.6 mm/hr; p  = 0.03), however these were within the normal range for this test and not significantly different between groups ( p  = 0.25). Vertical jump decreased over time in the placebo, but not curcumin group (19.8 ± 4.8 vs. 21.4 ± 3.2 in; p  = 0.01).

CONCLUSION: These data suggest curcumin reduces soreness and maintains muscular power following plyometric exercise.

Tart cherries possess properties that may reduce inflammation and improve glycemic control, however human data on supplementation and the gut microbiota is equivocal. Processing (i.e., juice concentrate, dried, frozen) may affect the properties of tart cherries, and therefore alter their efficacious health benefits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 30 days of supplementation with Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) in concentrate or freeze-dried form on the gut microbiome and markers of inflammation and glycemic control. Healthy participants with no known disease ( n = 58, age: 28 ± 10 y, height: 169.76 ± 8.55 cm, body mass: 72.2 ± 12.9 kg) were randomly allocated to four groups and consumed either concentrate or freeze-dried capsules or their corresponding placebos for 30 days. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline, day 7, 14, and 30 and analyzed for inflammatory markers TNF-alpha, uric acid, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glycemic control markers glycated albumin, glucose and insulin. A fecal sample was provided at baseline, day 14 and 30 for microbiome analysis. TNF-alpha was significantly lower at 30 vs. 14 days ( p = 0.01), however there was no other significant change in the inflammatory markers. Insulin was not changed over time ( p = 0.16) or between groups ( p = 0.24), nor was glycated albumin different over time ( p = 0.08) or between groups ( p = 0.56), however glucose levels increased ( p < 0.001) from baseline (4.79 ± 1.00 mmol·L-1) to 14 days (5.21 ± 1.02 mmol·L-1) and 30 days (5.61 ± 1.22 mmol·L-1) but this was no different between groups ( p = 0.33). There was no significant change in composition of bacterial phyla, families, or subfamilies for the duration of this study nor was there a change in species richness. These data suggest that 30 days of MTC supplementation does not modulate the gut microbiome, inflammation, or improve glycemic control in a healthy, diverse group of adults. Clinical Trail Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04467372, identifier: NCT04467372.

Tart cherries are particularly high in anthocyanins and are believed to have many health benefits, including reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. However, comparison between dosages and formulations are lacking. Forty-eight participants were randomly allocated to one of six experimental treatment groups where they ingested tart cherry or placebo in either juice (240 ml per bottle) or powdered capsule form (480 mg per capsule) once or twice daily for 48 h and markers of inflammation (uric acid (UA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)) and oxidative capacity (plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)) were measured. There was a group x time interaction for UA (p = 0.02), which declined up to 24 h post ingestion for a single capsule dose, up to 8 h for a two capsule dose, and up to 2 h for a single juice dose. There was an increase in UA from 8 h until 48 h post ingestion in a single juice dose. Overall, there was an average 8% decrease in UA. There was no significant change over time in hsCRP (p = 0.64) or ORAC (p = 0.42) or between groups in hsCRP (p = 0.47) or ORAC (p = 0.21). Our data indicates tart cherry ingestion can transiently decrease UA and not maintained with continued supplementation. Additionally, there were differences in formulations and doses indicating a single powdered capsule is most effective for lowering UA suggesting capsules may be used by those who do not enjoy the taste of tart cherry juice. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04497077, 7/29/2020, retrospectively registered.

Curcumin has become a popular product used to decrease inflammation and enhance recovery from exercise. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of curcumin supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle power following plyometric exercise.

Tart cherries possess properties that may reduce inflammation and improve glycemic control, however human data on supplementation and the gut microbiota is equivocal. Processing (i.e., juice concentrate, dried, frozen) may affect the properties of tart cherries, and therefore alter their efficacious health benefits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 30 days of supplementation with Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) in concentrate or freeze-dried form on the gut microbiome and markers of inflammation and glycemic control. Healthy participants with no known disease (n = 58, age: 28 ± 10 y, height: 169.76 ± 8.55 cm, body mass: 72.2 ± 12.9 kg) were randomly allocated to four groups and consumed either concentrate or freeze-dried capsules or their corresponding placebos for 30 days. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline, day 7, 14, and 30 and analyzed for inflammatory markers TNF-alpha, uric acid, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glycemic control markers glycated albumin, glucose and insulin. A fecal sample was provided at baseline, day 14 and 30 for microbiome analysis. TNF-alpha was significantly lower at 30 vs. 14 days (p = 0.01), however there was no other significant change in the inflammatory markers. Insulin was not changed over time (p = 0.16) or between groups (p = 0.24), nor was glycated albumin different over time (p = 0.08) or between groups (p = 0.56), however glucose levels increased (p \textless 0.001) from baseline (4.79 ± 1.00 mmol·L−1) to 14 days (5.21 ± 1.02 mmol·L−1) and 30 days (5.61 ± 1.22 mmol·L−1) but this was no different between groups (p = 0.33). There was no significant change in composition of bacterial phyla, families, or subfamilies for the duration of this study nor was there a change in species richness. These data suggest that 30 days of MTC supplementation does not modulate the gut microbiome, inflammation, or improve glycemic control in a healthy, diverse group of adults.Clinical Trail Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04467372, identifier: NCT04467372.

Tart cherries are particularly high in anthocyanins and are believed to have many health benefits, including reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. However, comparison between dosages and formulations are lacking. Forty-eight participants were randomly allocated to one of six experimental treatment groups where they ingested tart cherry or placebo in either juice (240 ml per bottle) or powdered capsule form (480 mg per capsule) once or twice daily for 48 h and markers of inflammation (uric acid (UA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)) and oxidative capacity (plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)) were measured. There was a group x time interaction for UA (p = 0.02), which declined up to 24 h post ingestion for a single capsule dose, up to 8 h for a two capsule dose, and up to 2 h for a single juice dose. There was an increase in UA from 8 h until 48 h post ingestion in a single juice dose. Overall, there was an average 8% decrease in UA. There was no significant change over time in hsCRP (p = 0.64) or ORAC (p = 0.42) or between groups in hsCRP (p = 0.47) or ORAC (p = 0.21). Our data indicates tart cherry ingestion can transiently decrease UA and not maintained with continued supplementation. Additionally, there were differences in formulations and doses indicating a single powdered capsule is most effective for lowering UA suggesting capsules may be used by those who do not enjoy the taste of tart cherry juice. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04497077, 7/29/2020, retrospectively registered.

BACKGROUND: Individuals participating in exercise beyond their level of fitness may be at higher risk for exercise-induced muscle damage, however the impact of training status on muscle damage development is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to measure skeletal muscle damage and soreness after five days of high and low intensity exercise in previously trained and untrained individuals.

METHODS: Eighteen males and females (9 trained and 9 untrained) completed five consecutive days of high intensity (HI) exercise and five consecutive days of low intensity (LI) exercise. Blood was drawn at the initial visit and after completion of each exercise intensity period.

RESULTS: CK was elevated post exercise for both groups during both intensities, but was greater in trained vs. untrained (HI: 203.6 vs. 143.4 IU/L and LI: 156.4 vs. 109.3 IU/L; P<0.01). Myoglobin was significantly higher after exercise for both groups (P<0.01) and was higher following high vs. low intensity in trained (P<0.01), but not untrained (P=0.052). Untrained experienced soreness following one day of high intensity exercise vs. after 3 days in trained participants (P=0.04, P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that high intensity exercise results in greater muscle damage in both trained and untrained individuals vs. low intensity exercise. However untrained participants experience more pain and with earlier onset and should therefore take caution when beginning exercise programs that require consecutive sessions of high intensity exercise.