Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R J Maughan

Publications and source records attributed to R J Maughan.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Effects of fluid, electrolyte and substrate ingestion on endurance capacity.

The availability of carbohydrate (CHO) as a substrate for the exercising muscles is known to be a limiting factor in the performance of prolonged cycle exercise, and provision of exogenous CHO in the form of glucose can increase endurance capacity. The present study examined the effects of ingestion of fluids and of CHO in different forms on exercise performance. Six male volunteers exercised to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer at a workload which required approximately 70% of Vo2max. After one preliminary trial, subjects performed this exercise test on six occasions, one week apart. Immediately before exercise, and at 10-min intervals throughout, subjects ingested 100 ml of one of the following: control (no drink), water, glucose syrup, fructose syrup, glucose-fructose syrup or a dilute glucose-electrolyte solution. Each of the syrup solutions contained approximately 36 g CHO per 100 ml; the isotonic glucose-electrolyte solution contained 4 g glucose per 100 ml. A randomised Latin square order of administration of trials was employed. Expired air samples for determination of Vo2, respiratory exchange ratio and rate of CHO oxidation were collected at 15-min intervals. Venous blood samples were obtained before and after exercise. Subjects drinking the isotonic glucose-electrolyte solution exercised longer (90.8 (12.4) min, mean (SEM] than on the control test (70.2 (8.3) min; p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Marathon finishers and pre-race drop-outs.

The purpose of this longitudinal questionnaire study was to investigate the effects of participation or non participation in a marathon race on future running behaviour. The majority (70 per cent) of the participants who intended to run a future marathon actually did so and only 11 per cent stopped running altogether. Fewer of the pre-race drop-outs (31 per cent) who indicated their intention to run a future marathon actually did so (P less than 0.001) and more of them (24 per cent) stopped running altogether (P less than 0.001) compared with the runners in the finishers' sample. These results suggest that the experience of running in a marathon does not negatively influence future running habits. However, failure to run in a race for which an entry has been made may lead to a reduced involvement in running. The present study also examined the reasons for pre-race drop-out. Injury (36 per cent), lack of training (31 per cent) and illness (12 per cent) were the most frequently given reasons for drop-out. Few differences were found between the pre-race drop-outs and the finishers, but the drop-outs did feel that running was less important (P less than 0.001), reported a greater number of longer term injuries (P less than 0.001) and did significantly less training (P less than 0.001) than the finishers.

Adult↗

Absorption of water and solute from glucose-electrolyte solutions in the human jejunum: effect of citrate or betaine.

The inclusion in oral rehydration solutions of solutes that are actively co-transported with sodium has been suggested as a means of increasing the effect of glucose on water absorption by the small intestine. Using a modified perfusion system we have examined water and solute absorption in the normal human intestine from two effervescent glucose-electrolyte solutions, containing either citrate or betaine hydrochloride, and compared the absorption rates with those from a commonly used bicarbonate-containing oral rehydration solution. Absorption of citrate (355 +/- 87 mumol/cm/h) and betaine (313 +/- 125 mumol/cm/h) occurred from the respective solutions. The inclusion of 46 mmol/l citrate or 36 mmol/l betaine in effervescent oral rehydration solutions had no effect on water or solute absorption.

Betaine↗

The effects of diet on muscle pH and metabolism during high intensity exercise.

Five healthy male subjects exercised for 3 min at a workload equivalent to 100% VO2max on two separate occasions. Each exercise test was performed on an electrically braked cycle ergometer after a four-day period of dietary manipulation. During each of these periods subjects consumed either a low carbohydrate (3 +/- 0%, mean +/- SD), high fat (73 +/- 2%), high protein (24 +/- 3%) diet (FP) or a high carbohydrate (82 +/- 1%), low fat (8 +/- 1%) low protein (10 +/- 1%) diet (CHO). The diets were isoenergetic and were assigned in a randomised manner. Muscle biopsy samples (Vastus lateralis) were taken at rest prior to dietary manipulation, immediately prior to exercise and immediately post-exercise for measurement of pH, glycogen, glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 1,6-diphosphate, triose phosphates, lactate and glutamine content. Blood acid-base status and selected metabolites were measured in arterialised venous samples at rest prior to dietary manipulation, immediately prior to exercise and at pre-determined intervals during the post-exercise period. There was no differences between the two treatments in blood acid-base status at rest prior to dietary manipulation; immediately prior to exercise plasma pH (p less than 0.01), blood PCO2 (p less than 0.01), plasma bicarbonate (p less than 0.001) and blood base-excess (p less than 0.001) values were all lower on the FP treatment. There were no major differences in blood acid-base variables between the two diets during the post-exercise period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Influence of a 36 h fast followed by refeeding with glucose, glycerol or placebo on metabolism and performance during prolonged exercise in man.

Five men were studied during exercise to exhaustion on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at 70% of VO2max. The four experimental treatments were as follows: fasted for 36 h (A); fasted (36 h) and refed with glucose (B) or glycerol (C); postabsorptive (overnight fast, D). In B and C the subjects were given a drink containing glucose or glycerol (1g per kg body weight) 45 min before starting exercise. A placebo drink was given 45 min before exercise on treatments A and D. Despite an increased availability of circulating free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate and glycerol exercise time to exhaustion was significantly lower after fasting (treatment A 77.7 +/- 6.8 min) compared with treatment D (119.5 +/- 5.8 min). Refeeding with glucose or glycerol did not significantly improve performance (92.4 +/- 11.8 min and 80.8 +/- 3.6 min respectively) compared with treatment A and lowered circulating levels of FFA and beta-HB during exercise compared with A. Despite the probability of low liver glycogen levels after fasting, none of the subjects became hypoglycaemic (blood glucose less than 4 mmol.l-1) during exercise and their blood lactate concentrations were not high at exhaustion. Plasma levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) decreased progressively during exercise on treatments A, B and C and were considerably lower at exhaustion compared with treatment D. Falling plasma concentrations of BCAA during prolonged exercise may be implicated in the generation of central fatigue.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Diet-induced metabolic acidosis and the performance of high intensity exercise in man.

The influence of four isolated periods of dietary manipulation upon high intensity exercise capacity was investigated in six healthy male subjects. Subjects consumed their 'normal' (N) diet (45 +/- 2% carbohydrate (CHO), 41 +/- 3% fat, 14 +/- 3% protein) for four days after which they exercised to voluntary exhaustion at a workload equivalent to 100% VO2max. Three further four-day periods of dietary manipulation took place; these were assigned in a randomised manner and each was followed by a high intensity exercise test. The dietary treatments were: a low CHO (3 +/- 1%), high fat (71 +/- 5%), high protein (26 +/- 3%) diet (HFHP); a high CHO (73 +/- 2%), low fat (12 +/- 2%), normal protein (15 +/- 1%) diet (HCLF); and a normal CHO (47 +/- 3%), low fat (27 +/- 2%), high protein (26 +/- 2%) diet (LFHP). Acid-base status and blood lactate concentration were measured on arterialised-venous blood at rest prior to dietary manipulation on each day of the different diets, immediately prior to exercise and at 2, 4, 6, 10 and 15 min post-exercise. Other metabolite concentrations were measured in the blood samples obtained prior to dietary manipulation and immediately prior to exercise. Exercise time to exhaustion after the HFHP diet (179 +/- 63 s) was shorter when compared with the N (210 +/- 65 s; p less than 0.01) and HCLF (219 +/- 69 s; p less than 0.05) diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

The effects of a glycogen loading regimen on acid-base status and blood lactate concentration before and after a fixed period of high intensity exercise in man.

Six healthy male subjects exercised after an overnight fast for a fixed 3 min period at a workload equivalent to 100% of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) on 3 separate occasions. The first test took place after subjects had consumed a mixed diet (43 +/- 3% carbohydrate (CHO), 41 +/- 5% fat and 16 +/- 3% protein) for 3 days, and was followed 2 h later by prolonged cycling to exhaustion at 77 +/- 3% VO2max to deplete muscle glycogen stores. Following this, subjects consumed a low CHO diet (4 +/- 1% CHO, 63 +/- 5% fat and 33 +/- 6% protein) for the remainder of the day and for the subsequent 2 days; on the morning of the next day a second high intensity test took place. Finally subjects followed a 3 day high CHO diet (73 +/- 7% CHO, 17 +/- 6% fat and 10 +/- 1% protein) before their last test. Acid-base status and selected metabolites were measured on arterialized-venous blood at rest prior to exercise and at intervals for 15 min following exercise. Prior to exercise, plasma pH and blood lactate concentration were higher (p less than 0.05) after the high CHO diet when compared with the low CHO diet. Pre-exercise plasma bicarbonate, blood PCO2 and blood base excess were all higher after the high (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.01, p less than 0.01 respectively) and normal (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05, p less than 0.05 respectively) CHO diets when compared with the low CHO diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Changes in red cell density and related indices in response to distance running.

The red cell population in peripheral venous blood was characterised in 7 young males before and up to 16 days after a 21.1 km road race. There was a 1.9 +/- 2.4% (mean +/- SD) reduction in plasma volume immediately post race (p less than 0.05), an increase in serum osmolality from 277 +/- 4 mOsm.kg-1 to 291 +/- 14 mOsm.kg-1 (p less than 0.05) and a reduction in red cell water (64.4 +/- 0.3% to 63.4 +/- 0.4%, p less than 0.001). The latter was consistent with alterations in the manually derived MCV and MCHC values although the same Coulter derived values were unaltered. A concomitant increase in median red cell density in whole blood (1.1045 +/- 0.0009 g.ml-1 pre race to 1.1057 +/- 0.012 g.ml-1 immediate post race, p less than 0.05) was recorded by centrifugation through phthalate esters of different density. The changes in creatine content of the red cells suggested that during the race younger cells were released into the circulation but that 24 h to 72 h after the race the mean red cell age had increased. Similarly, fractionation of the red cells on discontinuous Percoll density gradients indicated that the cell population was significantly denser in all post race samples up to 72 h but had normalized by a 16 day sample; the osmotic fragility was similarly affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Influence of a 24 h fast on high intensity cycle exercise performance in man.

The influence of a 24 h fast on endurance performance and the metabolic response to maximal cycle exercise was investigated in 6 healthy men (mean +/- SD: age = 27 +/- 7 years; weight = 73 +/- 10 kg; VO2max = 46 +/- 10 ml.kg-1.min-1). Subjects performed in randomised order two exercise bouts to exhaustion separated by one week. Test rides were performed in fasted (F) and post-absorptive (normal-diet, ND) conditions on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at a workload equivalent to 100% of VO2max. Acid-base status and selected metabolites were measured on arterialised venous blood at rest prior to exercise and at intervals for 15 mins following exercise. Exercise time to exhaustion was shorter after F compared with ND (p less than 0.01). Pre-exercise blood bicarbonate (HCO3-) concentration, PCO2 and base excess (BE) were lower after F compared with ND (p less than 0.05). Prior to exercise, circulating concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (B-HB) and glycerol were higher after F compared with ND (p less than 0.01) but blood glucose and lactate concentration were not different. On the F treatment, after exercise, blood pH, HCO3-, and BE were all significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than on ND; blood lactate concentration was significantly lower for the whole of the post-exercise period after F compared with ND (p less than 0.01). Circulating levels of FFA and B-HB after exercise on the F treatment fell but levels of these substrates were not altered by exercise after ND.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Plasma high density lipoprotein subfractions in subjects with different coronary risk indices as assessed by plasma lipoprotein concentrations.

The distribution of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions was determined in 2 groups of healthy male subjects with different coronary risk indices (CI) as assessed by the ratio of total plasma cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol. The subjects in the 2 groups were of similar age and fitness (as assessed by VO2max). The higher risk group (CI greater than 4.0) contained a lower relative concentration of a specific HDL subfraction, HDL2b, separated by gradient gel electrophoresis, and a lower level of an apo E-rich HDL fraction, isolated by affinity chromatography, than the lower risk group (CI less than 4.0). The concentration of total HDL-cholesterol was higher in the lower risk group due to a difference in HDL2-cholesterol when separation was achieved by polyanion precipitation, but not when separation was made by ultracentrifugation. These observations suggest that the level of these specific HDL subfractions might, when taken in conjunction with plasma cholesterol concentration, provide a better index of coronary risk than that of total HDL as conventionally employed.

Adult↗

The acute effect of prolonged walking and dietary changes on plasma lipoprotein concentrations and high-density lipoprotein subfractions.

The effect of diet on exercise-induced changes in the plasma concentrations of lipoproteins was examined in six healthy male subjects during walks of 37 km on each of four successive days. With a high-carbohydrate diet (85% of the calories as carbohydrate) there was an increase (P less than .05) in the concentration of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol and VLDL-triglyceride and a decrease (P less than .01) in the concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, due mainly to a decrease in HDL3-cholesterol (P less than .01), and HDL-protein (P less than .001). In contrast, a high-fat diet (75% fat) produced a decrease (P less than .01) in the concentration of VLDL-cholesterol and VLDL-triglyceride with increases (P less than .01) in HDL-protein concentration and in HDL-cholesterol concentrations that arose largely from an increase (P less than .001) in HDL2-cholesterol. Gradient gel electrophoretic analysis showed an increase (P less than .01) in the relative concentration of HDL2b (subspecies of diameter 10.57 nm) with a decrease (P less than .01) in the concentration of HDL2a (9.16 nm) plus HDL3a (8.44 nm) with the high-fat diet, but no significant or consistent change with the high-carbohydrate diet. There was no change in the level of the apolipoprotein E-rich HDL subfraction with either diet. Plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity decreased (P less than .05) with the high-fat diet but not with the high-carbohydrate diet. Thus, diet can strongly influence the changes that occur in plasma lipoprotein concentrations during prolonged low-intensity exercise.

Adult↗

Fluid homoeostasis during prolonged low-intensity walking on consecutive days.

1. The effect on fluid homoeostasis of walking 37 km on each of 4 consecutive relatively cool days was studied in six male subjects. The daily exercise intensity was consistent and was equivalent to 17(1)% [mean (SE)] of maximum oxygen uptake for these subjects. 2. The diet during the study consisted of a mainly carbohydrate breakfast, consumed immediately before each day's exercise, and unrestricted access to a normal mixed diet after completion of each day's exercise. Water was allowed ad libitum during the walk. Food and fluid intake were recorded. 3. Body weight remained constant over the 4-day walk. The difference between total daily fluid intake and the corresponding 24 h urine output was 1684 (250) ml, 1621 (522) ml, 1107 (252) ml and 1406 (208) ml, respectively, on each of the 4 exercise days. 4. There was a calculated increase of 21.3(6.6)% in plasma volume over the 4-day walk; the largest daily change [11.3(2.9)%] occurred during the walk on day 1. The increase in plasma volume was maintained for at least 4 days after completion of the walk. 5. From day 2, serum sodium concentration tended to increase during the exercise period and fell to the pre-exercise concentration during the overnight rest periods. The concentration of the other measured serum constituents remained relatively constant, and serum osmolality did not alter over the study period.

Blood Proteins↗

Effects of prior exercise on the performance of intense isometric exercise.

The influence of a regimen designed to lower the muscle glycogen content on the capacity to perform a single brief isometric contraction has been studied. Eight male subjects performed a single exhausting isometric contraction of the knee extensor muscles at a tension corresponding to 60% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). This was followed by prolonged cycling exercise at a work rate equivalent to approximately 75% of maximum oxygen uptake in order to reduce the muscle glycogen content. A diet low in carbohydrate was consumed for the remainder of this day in order to retard the resynthesis of muscle glycogen. The isometric contraction at 60% of MVC was repeated on the following day. Endurance time on the first day was 53.8 +/- 8.4 s (mean +/- SD); this was reduced (45.8 +/- 12.1 s; p less than 0.02) on the second day. From previously published data on rates of muscle glycogen utilisation during isometric exercise, it seems probable that insufficient glycogen is available in the muscle under the low carbohydrate condition to enable maximum performance to be achieved.

Adult↗

Effects of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on delayed onset muscle soreness and indices of damage.

Twenty untrained male volunteers were required to run downhill for 45 minutes on a motor driven treadmill to induce muscle soreness. The volunteers took diclofenac or placebo before and for 72 hours after two runs 10 weeks apart, in a randomised double blind crossover design. Subjective soreness was assessed before and at intervals up to 72 hours after each run; venous blood samples, collected at the same time intervals, were used to estimate serum activities of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase and serum concentrations of creatinine and urea. Subjective soreness and the biochemical parameters increased after both runs, although the serum enzyme response to the second run was reduced. Diclofenac had no influence on the serum biochemical response to downhill running. Although overall soreness was not affected by diclofenac, individual soreness measurements were reduced by diclofenac at the first period of the study. These results suggest that diclofenac does not influence muscle damage, but may slightly reduce the associated soreness.

Adolescent↗

Effect of bicarbonate or base precursor on water and solute absorption from a glucose-electrolyte solution in the human jejunum.

A modified perfusion technique was used to examine the effect on water and solute absorption in the healthy human jejunum of replacing bicarbonate (18 mmol/l) by equivalent amounts of different base precursors in a glucose-electrolyte solution. Acetate, citrate and lactate were absorbed from the perfusion solutions. Absorption of these base precursors appeared to have no effect on water uptake, but greater sodium (p less than 0.05) absorption occurred from solutions containing either acetate or lactate compared with the bicarbonate-containing solution. These data suggest that oral rehydration solutions with base precursors other than bicarbonate are as effective as bicarbonate-containing solutions in promoting absorption of water and electrolytes.

Acetates↗

Experimental models for the investigation of water and solute transport in man. Implications for oral rehydration solutions.

For patients suffering from mild to moderate dehydration, oral rehydration therapy has proved a simple and efficacious treatment. There remains, however, a need to develop improved oral rehydration solutions (ORS), and suitable experimental models are required to develop and assess new formulations. The ideal model for such investigations would take into account rates of gastric emptying, influx and efflux of water and solutes in the intestine, and the consequent changes in body composition. As no such definitive model is currently available, a variety of techniques are used to examine parts of the process of intestinal absorption. Clinical studies which assess the recovery of dehydrated patients during therapy using different ORS will ultimately evaluate the efficacy of treatment. However, ethical considerations, the relative insensitivity of this technique and the exacting nature of such studies make this approach unsuitable for the development of specific ORS. Gastric emptying of solutions can be determined by a variety of techniques, among which the radioactive tracer method offers the advantage of having no direct effect on the emptying rate, giving almost continuous measurement and allowing the use of relatively small volumes of fluids. Perfusion techniques allow measurement of the net flux of water and solute in predetermined sections of the intact human intestine. Measurement of the rate of accumulation in the circulation of orally ingested tracer molecules for water and solutes can estimate unidirectional flux. This method allows for the rates of gastric emptying and intestinal absorption of the test substance, but the rate of efflux of the tracer from the vascular space must be known to calculate net uptake. Each of these models has limitations, and care must be taken in interpreting the results in a clinical context. However, their use in the development of improved formulations is well established.

Fluid Therapy↗

Faecal blood loss in response to exercise.

Recently qualitative tests have indicated that gastrointestinal bleeding during exercise may be an important contributory factor in sports anaemia. In six healthy men who walked 37 km on four consecutive days faecal haemoglobin content remained normal (reference range 0.10-2.53 mg/g faeces) with no significant differences between values. In 28 marathon runners who refrained from taking drugs or food containing blood the median faecal haemoglobin content increased by 0.42 mg/g faeces (95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.83 mg/g) from 1.06 (0.86 to 1.31) mg/g before the race. In 13 runners who had taken drugs before the race the corresponding increase in the median faecal haemoglobin content was 0.87 (-0.03 to 2.20) mg/g from the value before the race of 0.93 (0.46 to 1.55) mg/g. Prolonged walking had no effect on gastrointestinal blood loss. Intense endurance exercise in the form of marathon running induced a significant but clinically unimportant increase. This may be exaggerated by the ingestion of drugs and assume importance in causing iron deficiency and sports anaemia. The use of drugs, particularly analgesics, by marathon runners should be actively discouraged.

Adult↗