Effects of a Nutritive Administration of Carbohydrates and Protein by Foodstuffs on Skeletal Muscle Inflammation and Damage After Acute Endurance Exercise

Abstract

Ingestion of proteins and carbohydrates after exercise is believed to result in an enhancement of regeneration and physical performance after training. Mostly these nutrients are ingested by athletes via whey protein and glucose based shakes. In this study protein and carbohydrates were administrated via a meal. Effects of this meal delivered carbohydrate and protein ingestion directly after acute endurance exercise on skeletal muscle inflammation and damage were investigated. Therefore 16 subjects performed a 10km run at 80% of the individual anaerobic threshold. After exercise subjects ingested nothing (control), white bread (carbohydrates), or white bread and sour milk cheese (carbohydrates and protein). All 16 subjects were exposed to these nutritive interventions after exercise in a cross over design. Serum glucose, serum insulin, serum Creatine Kinase (CK) as a muscle damage marker and the serum levels of the inflammation markers Interleukine 6 (IL 6) and 10 (IL 10), macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α) were determined. The strongest decrease of blood glucose after exercise was observed in the protein/ carbohydrate group. Increase of serum CK measured 24 hours after exercise was significantly reduced in the protein/carbohydrate group. In the protein/carbohydrate group exercise induced increase of serum IL 6 and MIF was reduced whereas IL 10 was increased. In this group exercise increased TNF α concentrations in the serum could be antagonized by protein/carbohydrate ingestion. Our data indicate that uptake of protein and carbohydrate by food antagonizes the induction of serum CK, a marker of skeletal muscle damage and results in the reduction of pro inflammatory and an increase of anti-inflammatory markers in the serum. Therefore we conclude that a combined uptake of protein and carbohydrates also ingested by suitable food may reduce skeletal muscle damage after endurance exercise.

Comparison of Pro-Regenerative Effects of Carbohydrates and Protein Administrated by Shake and Non-Macro-Nutrient Matched Food Items on the Skeletal Muscle after Acute Endurance Exercise

“…Our observation might be interpreted as an indication that skeletal muscle damage, induced by exercise, is lower after the uptake of protein/carbohydrate combinations. This is in line with the observation of Diel et al [28] and previous described results [14]. Our data also indicate that administration of protein/carbohydrate combinations by food was as effective as administration by shake.…”

“…It was clearly visible that exercise results in an increase of blood glucose concentrations 20 min after exercise termination. This is in agreement to our previous investigations [28] and confirms observations that moderate exercise increases blood glucose concentrations in healthy non-diabetic persons when a required exercise volume is achieved [34]. As expected, blood glucose concentration after administration of the shake extended a maximum 40 min after ingestion.…”

“…Based on a statistical power analysis a total of 35 male participants (age: 23.2 ± 2.3 years; height: 181.5 ± 6 cm; weight: 77.9 ± 8.4 kg; mean ± standard deviation) were recruited for the study. Power was calculated with the program G *power (University of Düsseldorf, (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf ( HHU )), Germany) based on effect sizes measured for the biological endpoints creatine kinase (CK) IL6 and IL10 in our pilot study [28]. Power analysis revealed that a number of 15 participants would be sufficient.…”

“…Beside ingestion of isolated amino acids, effects of protein/carbohydrate combinations on skeletal muscle could also be observed after the uptake of food containing protein and carbohydrates in a ratio of 70% to 30% [27]. In previous studies, we could observe pro-regenerative effects on the skeletal muscle after exercise, by eating combinations of dairy products and white bread [28]. Based on these observations, we concluded that eating food containing suitable concentrations of protein and carbohydrates may be an alternative strategy to promote skeletal muscle regeneration after exercise.…”

The effects of alpha lipoic acid on muscle strength recovery after a single and a short-term chronic supplementation - a study in healthy well-trained individuals after intensive resistance and endurance training

“…So far, possible pro-recovery effects after training with ALA supplementation have not been described in the literature. Recent investigations have shown that the application of protein carbohydrate combinations counteracts the training induced loss of performance when administered a single application directly after exercise [45,50,51]. This could not be observed in this study for ALA (Fig.…”