Effects of a 4400 km ultra-cycling non-competitive race and related training on body composition and circulating progenitors differentiation

Abstract

Background NorthCape4000 (NC4000) is the most participated ultra-endurance cycling race. Eight healthy male Caucasian amateur cyclists were evaluated: (a) before starting the preparation period; (b) in the week preceding NC4000 (after the training period); (c) after NC4000 race, with the aim to identify the effects of ultra-cycling on body composition, aerobic capacity and biochemical parameters as well as on the differentiation of progenitor cells. Methods Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) assessed body composition; cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) evaluated aerobic capacity. Differentiation of circulating progenitor cells was evaluated by analyzing the modulation in the expression of relevant transcription factors. In addition, in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the effects of sera of NC4000 participants on adipogenesis and myogenesis. The effects of NC4000 sera on Sestrins and Sirtuin modulation and the promotion of brown adipogenesis in progenitor cells was investigated as well. Two-tailed Student’s paired-test was used to perform statistical analyses. Results We observed fat mass decrease after training as well as after NC4000 performance; we also recorded that vitamin D and lipid profiles were affected by ultra-cycling. In addition, our findings demonstrated that post-NC4000 participant’s pooled sera exerted a positive effect in stimulating myogenesis and in inducing brown adipogenesis in progenitor cells. Conclusions The training program and Ultra-cycling lead to beneficial effects on body composition and biochemical lipid parameters, as well as changes in differentiation of progenitor cells, with significant increases in brown adipogenesis and in MYOD levels.

Ultra-Cycling– Past, Present, Future: A Narrative Review

“…Valenti et al assessed whether participation in a 4,400 km ultra-cycling race (NorthCape4000) impacts on body composition and metabolic parameters involved in myogenesis [ 27 ]. They conducted bioelectrical impedance analyses and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry to measure body composition before and after the race and determined the level of myogenic progenitor cells indirectly by the level of the transcription factors required for this process.…”

“…They conducted bioelectrical impedance analyses and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry to measure body composition before and after the race and determined the level of myogenic progenitor cells indirectly by the level of the transcription factors required for this process. Fat mass, visceral adipose tissue, and truncal fat significantly decreased after the race, while lean mass significantly increased [ 27 ]. The expression of transcription factors involved in myogenesis was elevated after the race.…”

“…Due to the increasing interest in participation in ultra-cycling races, numerous studies have been published in recent years addressing various aspects of such races, including the geographical differences between races, anthropometric characteristics of ultra-cycling participants, age- and sex-related differences between cyclists [ 2 , 11 ] and methods to describe heart rate, exercise intensity and pacing [ 12 – 18 ]. In addition, research has been conducted on nutritional considerations [ 19 – 21 ], water and electrolyte disturbances during a race and rehydration [ 20 , 22 , 23 ], hematological and biochemical parameters [ 22 , 24 , 25 ], factors impacting on the performance (e.g., training status, fatigue and psychological parameters) [ 19 , 26 ], and immunological and hormonal changes, in such a race [ 27 , 28 ]..…”

Crosstalk between Bone and Muscles during Physical Activity

“…Analyses carried out on affected tissues can also be of help in fully understanding the effects of physical activity. By analyzing mesenchymal circulating progenitor cells, we recently reported that high-intensity physical activity influences the osteogenic metabolism leading to a greater expression of RUNX2 , the master gene of osteogenic differentiation [ 93 ].…”

“…Finally, we can conclude that the best evaluation of the effects of physical activity in bone–muscle crosstalk remains evaluating it directly in people who practice, or to perform ex vivo studies exploring the stimuli that have been induced by the activity itself [ 30 , 93 , 105 ].…”