Almond intake alters the acute plasma dihydroxy-octadecenoic acid (DiHOME) response to eccentric exercise

Abstract

IntroductionThis investigation determined if 4-weeks ingestion of nutrient-dense almonds mitigated post-exercise inflammation and muscle soreness and damage.MethodsAn acute 90-min of eccentric exercise (90-EE) was used to induce muscle damage in 64 non-obese adults not engaging in regular resistance training (ages 30–65 years, BMI < 30 kg/m2). Using a parallel group design, participants were randomized to almond (AL) (57 g/d) or cereal bar (CB) (calorie matched) treatment groups for a 4-week period prior to the 90-EE (17 exercises). Blood and 24-h urine samples were collected before and after supplementation, with additional blood samples collected immediately post-90-EE, and then daily during 4 additional days of recovery. Changes in plasma oxylipins, urinary gut-derived phenolics, plasma cytokines, muscle damage biomarkers, mood states, and exercise performance were assessed.ResultsThe 90-EE protocol induced significant muscle damage, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), inflammation, reduced strength and power performance, and mood disturbance. Interaction effects (2 group × 7 time points) supported that AL vs. CB was associated with reduced post-exercise fatigue and tension (p = 0.051, 0.033, respectively) and higher levels of leg-back strength (p = 0.029). No group differences were found for post-90-EE increases in DOMS and six cytokines. AL was associated with lower levels of serum creatine kinase immediately- and 1-day post-exercise (p = 0.034 and 0.013, respectively). The 90-EE bout increased plasma levels immediately post-exercise for 13 oxylipins. Interaction effects revealed significantly higher levels for AL vs. CB for 12,13-DiHOME (p < 0.001) and lower levels for 9,10-DiHOME (p < 0.001). Urine levels increased in AL vs. CB for seven gut-derived phenolics including 5-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone that was inversely related to changes in plasma 9,10-DiHOME (r = −0.029, p = 0.021).DiscussionThese data support some positive effects of almond intake in improving mood state, retaining strength, decreasing muscle damage, increasing the generation of gut-derived phenolic metabolites, and altering the plasma oxylipin DiHOME response to unaccustomed eccentric exercise in untrained adults. The elevated post-exercise plasma levels of 12,13-DiHOME with almond intake support positive metabolic outcomes for adults engaging in unaccustomed eccentric exercise bouts.

Blueberry Intake Elevates Post-Exercise Anti- inflammatory Oxylipins: A Randomized Trial

“…During recovery from 75-km cycling in trained endurance athletes, for example, blueberry intake mitigated exercise-induced increases in pro-inflammatory oxylipins but did not elevate anti-inflammatory omega 3-generated oxylipins [22]. In a similar design to the current study, we recently reported that 4weeks intake of 57 g/d almonds was related to a significant post-exercise increase in 12,13-diHOME and a decrease in 9,10-diHOME, with no significant effects on other oxylipins [23]. This disparate diHOME response to eccentric-based exercise may have in part been related to the unique nutrient and polyphenol profile of almonds [23].…”

“…Relatively few acute and chronic exercise-based studies have been conducted using oxylipins as a primary outcome measure [5,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. In general, the acute post-exercise increase in plasma levels of oxylipins is more diverse and greater with prolonged and intensive cardiorespiratory exercise (e.g., 2-3 h of cycling and running) than with resistance-based exercise bouts [5,[16][17][18][22][23][24]. After 2-3 h of intensive cycling or running, plasma oxylipins peak between 0-and 1.5 h post-exercise and then fall to near-pre-exercise levels by 5 h post-exercise [22].…”

“…Nutrition supplements including arachidonic fatty acids, sports beverages, bananas, blueberries, almonds, aronia citrus juice, and astaxanthin been investigated for their potential influence on the oxylipin response to varying exercise modes and workloads [5,15,18,[22][23][24]. Carbohydrate intake from sports beverages or bananas consumed during exercise (0.8 g/kg each hour of exercise) exerted strong effects in reducing plasma concentrations of ARA-CYP proinflammatory oxylipins after exhausting endurance exercise [5,22].…”

“…Emerging evidence indicates that lipid mediators are involved in initiating, mediating, and resolving exercise-2 induced muscle tissue injury, inflammation, and metabolic stress [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Previous studies indicate that increases in inflammatory cytokines and oxylipins following prolonged and intensive running or cycling can be countered through carbohydrate ingestion, with the largest effects seen for ARA-CYP-derived oxylipins [5,22].…”

“…Common exercises that cause an eccentric muscle contraction include going down several flights of stairs, running downhill, lowering weights, stop-and-go sports like basketball and tennis, and the downward motion of squats, push-ups, or pull-ups. Eccentric muscle activity, especially in relatively untrained individuals, causes extensive and prolonged muscle damage and soreness [23]. Many individuals experience this type of muscle damage and soreness during unaccustomed exercise bouts on weekends or vacations.…”