Metabolomics-Based Analysis of Banana and Pear Ingestion on Exercise Performance and Recovery

Abstract

Bananas and pears vary in sugar and phenolic profiles, and metabolomics was utilized to measure their influence on exercise performance and recovery. Male athletes (N = 20) cycled for 75 km while consuming water (WATER), bananas (BAN), or pears (PEAR) (0.6 g carbohydrate/kg each hour) in randomized order. UPLC-MS/MS and the library of purified standards maintained by Metabolon (Durham, NC) were used to analyze metabolite shifts in pre- and postexercise (0-h, 1.5-h, 21-h) blood samples. Performance times were 5.0% and 3.3% faster during BAN and PEAR versus WATER (P = 0.018 and P = 0.091, respectively), with reductions in cortisol, IL-10, and total leukocytes, and increases in blood glucose, insulin, and FRAP. Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) showed a distinct separation between trials immediately (R(2)Y = 0.877, Q(2)Y = 0.457) and 1.5-h postexercise (R(2)Y = 0.773, Q(2)Y = 0.441). A total of 107 metabolites (primarily lipid-related) increased more than 2-fold during WATER, with a 48% and 52% reduction in magnitude during BAN and PEAR recovery (P < 0.001). Increases in metabolites unique to BAN and PEAR included fructose and fruit constituents, and sulfated phenolics that were related to elevated FRAP. These data indicate that BAN and PEAR ingestion improves 75-km cycling performance, attenuates fatty acid utilization and oxidation, and contributes unique phenolics that augment antioxidant capacity.

Comparison of Watermelon and Carbohydrate Beverage on Exercise-Induced Alterations in Systemic Inflammation, Immune Dysfunction, and Plasma Antioxidant Capacity

“…We have previously shown that carbohydrate compared to water ingestion during 75 km cycling trials results in muted post-exercise inflammation, and this study would have been strengthened had the research design included a water-only condition. Nonetheless, contrary to our hypothesis, WM ingestion did not add to the well-known anti-inflammatory effects associated with carbohydrate ingestion during exercise [13,40]. …”

“…Despite significantly higher plasma antioxidant capacity, l -arginine, nitrate, and citrulline, WM ingestion was not associated with alterations in the pattern of change in inflammation and immune measures. Performance times were comparable between WM and CHO beverage ingestion, supporting previous findings in our lab that high-fructose fruit ingestion supports intensive, long duration exercise to the same degree as sports beverages [12,13]. …”

“…These findings were confirmed and extended in a comparison of banana or pear (fructose:glucose ratio of 1:0.44) consumption versus water only during a cycling time trial [13]. Pear consumption during exercise supported performance nearly as well as banana consumption, and both carbohydrate sources resulted in higher blood glucose and carbohydrate oxidation rates, elevated antioxidant capacity, and attenuated post-exercise inflammation compared to water [13]. These data indicate that fruit consumption supports the carbohydrate requirements of prolonged vigorous endurance exercise with the added advantage of augmenting antioxidant capacity.…”

“…Recently, we demonstrated that consuming bananas during a simulated mountainous 75 km cycling time trial resulted in equal performance, maintenance of blood glucose levels, elevated antioxidant capacity, and similar post-exercise inflammation compared to a standard 6% carbohydrate sports drink [12]. These findings were confirmed and extended in a comparison of banana or pear (fructose:glucose ratio of 1:0.44) consumption versus water only during a cycling time trial [13]. Pear consumption during exercise supported performance nearly as well as banana consumption, and both carbohydrate sources resulted in higher blood glucose and carbohydrate oxidation rates, elevated antioxidant capacity, and attenuated post-exercise inflammation compared to water [13].…”

Metabolic Phenotyping of Diet and Dietary Intake

“…The acute effect of banana intake compared to 6% carbohydrate drink during and after 75-km cycling performance and post exercise resulted in no detectable differences in performance, blood glucose levels, oxidative stress, inflammation and innate immune levels (146). However, further studies compared the effect of the ingestion of banana, water and pear before and during 75-km cycling indicated that banana and pear intake was associated with a meaningful performance enhancement, diminished inflammation, decreased fatty acid mobilization and oxidation and contributes unique phenolics that elevate antioxidant capacity (147).…”