Effets du repas précompétitif sur la perception de l'effort et sur la glycémie lors d'un exercice de pédalage

The first purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of three different preexercise meals on perceived exertion and glycaemia during a one-hour bicycle exercise at 80% VO₂ max. The second purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between glycaemia and perceived exertion. Eight athletes (age: 24.6 ± 2.7 years, weight: 78.0 ±6.8 kg, height: 182.6 ± 9.9 cm) completed three assessment sessions, each being preceeded by one of the following meals, ingested 3 h before exercise: 400 mL of water, 400 mL of water and 75 g of glucose, and 100 mL of water and 375 g of potatoes. The subjects 'perceived exertion were measured at times 6, 15, 30, 45, 60 min and glycaemia at 0, 30, 60 min of the exercise. The results showed that perceived exertion (RPE and ETL) of each meal increased as a function of time (P <- 0.05) whereas glycaemia did not differ except for the glucose meal between 30 min and 1 h(P < 0.02). There was no significant difference in ratings of perceived exertion among any meal whereas glycaemia was different between the three conditions only at the beginning and the middle of the exercises (P < 0.04 and P < 0.02, respectively). Moreover, the vectorial angles between the variables ofperceived exertion and the glycaemia are close to 90 °. These results would suggest that perceived exertion does not seem to be affected by the three preexercise meals used in our study. Perceived exertion is not correlated to glycaemia changes during one-hour high intensity exercise. The results would, therefore, suggest that glycaemia is not a contributor signal of perceived exertion in this study. It seems that physiological factors other than glycaemia may have mediated the perceptual intensity at exhaustion. The respiratory-metabolic signals of exertion which are most pronounced at high relative exercise intensity are suggested to influence the perceptual signal of exertion.     

Oxidation of corn starch, glucose, and fructose ingested before exercise

The purpose of this study was to compare the metabolic and endocrine responses, and the amounts of exogenous carbohydrate oxidized, during prolonged moderate cycle ergometer exercise (120 min, 60% VO2max), preceded by ingestion of 13C enriched glucose (G), fructose (F), or pure corn starch (S) (1,592 kJ ingested with 400 ml of water, 60 min before the beginning of exercise) in six healthy young male subjects. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations significantly increased in response to G and S feeding. The high plasma insulin values resulted in a significant transient reduction in plasma glucose concentration in the first hour of exercise and blunted the response of plasma free fatty acid and glycerol concentrations, when compared to the values observed with F ingestion, which did not modify plasma glucose or insulin concentrations. Over the 2 h exercise period, the percentages of exogenous G (67 +/- 9%) and S (73 +/- 8%) oxidized were not significantly different but were significantly higher than the percentage of exogenous F oxidized (54 +/- 6%). These results confirm that 1) exogenous F is less readily available for oxidation than G or S and 2) pure corn starch does not offer any advantage over glucose as a pre-exercise meal.     

Effets de l'entraînement sur les potentiels aérobie et anaérobie de jeunes nageurs. Exercice réalisé avec les brasEffect of training on aerobic and anaerobic capacity in young swimmers. Exercise performed with arms

Aims – Investigate the influence of exercise training on the aerobic and anaerobic capacities of young swimmers.Methods – Ten male swimmers aged 15.2 ± 3.8 years participated: five sprint specialists and five middle-distance specialists. Each subject performed, an arm ergocycle, two laboratory tests, a maximal incremental exercise test and a force–velocity test, once in February (T1) and then again in June (T2).Results – For all subjects combined (n=10), the results showed a significant increase in maximal anaerobic power (p < 0.01) between T1 and T2. Aerobic capacity did not change significantly between the two tests in either group.Conclusion – This study demonstrates the interest of evaluating aerobic and anaerobic capacity in young swimmers during arm exercise. The change in results over the 5-month period between the two tests indicates the importance of scheduling exercise tests during the course of athletic training programs.     

Étude comparative de l'analyse spectrale de la fréquence cardiaque au cours de l'exercice sur ergocycle et de l'entraînement en judoHeart rate comparative study by spectral analysis between two exercises: ergocycle vs judo randori

Aim – Heart rate comparative study by spectral analysis between a 6 minutes judo randori et a 4 minutes ergocycle exercise at .Materials and methods – By ten male judokas, both time series were analyzed by short term Fourier transform (time/frequency analysis). Each 512 RR time series drawn from ECG was subdivided by Hanning windowing in 13 samples of 128 values (32 RR periods step). For each sample, both exercise types, means of the ten spectrograms have been computed, yielding two mean spectrograms for each sample.Results – 1) Despite a near maximal heart rate (HR) level between the two exercise types, the spectral energy computed from judo randori was significantly more important than ergocycle spectral energy. This phenomenon yields a qualitative effect of the exercise type (judo or ergocycle) on HRV. 2) the normalized spectral powers of low frequency and high frequency bands respectively, were not significantly different between both exercise types.Conclusion – The autonomie nervous control on HR would depend rather on exercise load than on exercise type.     

High oxidation rates from combined carbohydrates ingested during exercise

Studies that have investigated oxidation of a single carbohydrate (CHO) during exercise have reported oxidation rates of up to 1 g x min(-1). Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that a mixture of glucose and sucrose or glucose and fructose ingested at a high rate (1.8 g x min(-1)) leads to peak oxidation rates of approximately 1.3 g x min(-1) and results in approximately 20 to 55% higher exogenous CHO oxidation rates compared with the ingestion of an isocaloric amount of glucose. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to examine whether a mixture of glucose, sucrose and fructose ingested at a high rate would result in even higher exogenous CHO oxidation rates (>1.3 g x min(-1)). METHODS: Eight trained male cyclists (VO2max: 64 +/- 1 mL x kg(-1) BM x min(-1)) cycled on three different occasions for 150 min at 62 +/- 1% VO2max and consumed either water (WAT) or a CHO solution providing 2.4 g x min(-1) of glucose (GLU) or 1.2 g x min(-1) of glucose + 0.6 g x min(-1) of fructose + 0.6 g x min(-1) of sucrose (MIX). RESULTS: High peak exogenous CHO oxidation rates were found in the MIX trial (1.70 +/- 0.07 g x min(-1)), which were approximately 44% higher (P < 0.01) compared with the GLU trial (1.18 +/- 0.04 g x min(-1)). Endogenous CHO oxidation was lower (P < 0.05) in MIX compared with GLU (0.76 +/- 0.12 and 1.05 +/- 0.06 g x min(-1), respectively). CONCLUSION: When glucose, fructose and sucrose are ingested simultaneously at high rates (2.4 g x min(-1)) during cycling exercise, exogenous CHO oxidation rates can reach peak values of approximately 1.7 g x min(-1) and estimated endogenous CHO oxidation is reduced compared with the ingestion of an isocaloric amount of glucose.     

Augmentation de la fréquence d’apparition de l’hypoxémie induite par l’exercice chez des rameurs de haut-niveau

Objectifs. – Évaluer la fréquence d’apparition de l’hypoxémie induite par l’exercice (HIE) chez un groupe de rameurs de haut-niveau.Méthodes. – Sept rameurs de haut-niveau ont participé à l’étude (19,14 ± 1,3 ans). Les sujets ont effectué une épreuve d’effort à charge croissante sur un rameur ergométrique lors de laquelle les échanges gazeux et la saturation de l’hémoglobine en oxygène (SpO₂) ont été mesurés.Résultats. – Les sujets avaient une VO₂max de 61,68 ± 1,65 ml/min par kilogramme. Tous ont présenté une HIE avec des chutes de SpO₂ comprises entre 5 et 11 %. Cette chute était significative dès 70 % VO₂max. Le volume d’entraînement réduit des athlètes testés par rapport aux autres athlètes endurants semble indiquer que le phénomène est indépendant du volume d’entraînement.Conclusion. – Cette étude a permis de mettre en évidence que 100 % des rameurs de haut-niveau présentaient une HIE. La limitation ventilatoire et l’importante masse musculaire mise en jeu spécifiques à l’aviron seraient les hypothèses explicatives.Aim. – To access the frequency of exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH) in elite oarsmen.Method. – Seven elite oarsmen participated (19.14 ± 1.3 year) in this study. Subjects performed an incremental exercise testing on a rowing ergometer. Gas exchanges and pulse oxymetric saturation in oxygen (SpO₂) were measured during exercise.Results. – Subjects exhibited a mean of VO₂max of 61.68 ± 1.65 ml min^–1 kg^–1. All rowers showed an EIH with a SpO₂ ranging between 5% and 11%. This SpO₂ fall was significant from 70% VO₂max. The reduced training volume of our athletes compared with others endurance trained athletes seems indicate that phenomenon is not dependent of training volume.Conclusion. – This study showed that 100% of elite oarsmen exhibit EIH. Mechanical limitation in ventilation and great muscle mass involved in rowing could be the explicative hypothesis.     

Superior endurance performance with ingestion of multiple transportable carbohydrates

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ingesting a glucose plus fructose drink compared with a glucose-only drink (both delivering carbohydrate at a rate of 1.8 g.min(-1)) and a water placebo on endurance performance. METHODS: Eight male trained cyclists were recruited (age 32 +/- 7 yr, weight 84.4 +/- 6.9 kg, .VO(2max) 64.7 +/- 3.9 mL.kg(-1).min(-1), Wmax 364 +/- 31 W). Subjects ingested either a water placebo (P), a glucose (G)-only beverage (1.8 g.min(-1)), or a glucose and fructose (GF) beverage in a 2:1 ratio (1.8 g.min(-1)) during 120 min of cycling exercise at 55% Wmax followed by a time trial in which subjects had to complete a set amount of work as quickly as possible (approximately 1 h). Every 15 min, expired gases were analyzed and blood samples were collected. RESULTS: Ingestion of GF resulted in an 8% quicker time to completion during the time trial (4022 s) compared with G (3641 s) and a 19% improvement compared with W (3367 s). Total carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation was not different between GF (2.54 +/- 0.25 g.min(-1)) and G (2.50 g.min(-1)), suggesting that GF led to a sparing of endogenous CHO stores, because GF has been shown to have a greater exogenous CHO oxidation than G. CONCLUSION: Ingestion of GF led to an 8% improvement in cycling time-trial performance compared with ingestion of G.     

Évolution des erreurs techniques et de quelques variables physiologiques pendant la course d'orientation

During orienteering, the accumulation of technical errors (TE) can be an important factor of handicap at the arrival. In the same conditions of championships, ten voluntary national runners (age: 29.2 ± 3 years, height: 176.8 ± 3.5 cm, body mass: 65.0 ±6.8) participed to the study. Firstly in laboratory the subjects performed a treadmill test in order to study their physical capacity (aerobic fitness and oxygen consumption). The initial speed (12 km·h⁻¹) increased by 1 km·h⁻¹ every 4 minutes. During the last minute of each step a blood sample (50 μl) was taken on a finger for lactate analyze (Kontron). Two days later the subjects participed in an orienteering race (OR) of four loops (Bi₁, B₂, B₃, B₄) stepping in a central point; the first and third loops (B₁, B3) were technical orienteering while the second and the fourth (B₂, B₄) were rough orienteering. During the race the heart rate (HR) was recorded by means of a Sport Tester PE 4 000. The nature, the number and the moment of TE were determined with the help of the map area of each subject and time keeping. During OR the subject's physical capacity (running speed, HR, lactates, carbohydrate) was evaluated when the runners arrived at the crossing point of the loops. The results give some evidence that the anaerobic threshold quickly is reached during technical orienteering (B₁) and stay at a level hihger than 4 mmoles.l⁻¹ during the whole field test, suggesting that the energy expenditure was very high. It is difficult to compare the physical capacity and the psychological behavior of the subjects during OR yet two distinctive critical pediods have been observed for TE in OR (B₃, B₄); nevertheless our study confirms that the number of TE (which is a picture of the mental performance) is linked to the decrease of the physical capacity. Indeed the increase of HR (HRmax-HRmin) during OR stabilized in the first three loops (B₁, B₂, B₃) at 25 beats, min⁻¹, then the increase of HR was about 31 beats.min⁻¹ in B4. This increase of HR (HRmax-HRmin), is due to the muscular fatigue, the subjects must have some rest and they run slowly because the carbohydrates decrease, excepted for the best runners. Thus the consequences of an insufficient warm-up in the first quarter of the race and/or supply of energetics substrates during the whole OR has been brought to attention.     

Réponses corticotropes à un stress intense en fonction de l'entraînement chez deux souches de rats. Résultats préliminairesCorticotropic responses to acute stress according to exercise training in different rat strains: preliminary results

Aims – Determine the corticotropic responses to acute stress with or without prior exercise training and following the corticotropic phenotype of the rats.Methods and results – Lewis and SHR strains were selected for their opposite corticotropic responsiveness characteristics (high and low in SHR and Lewis strain, respectively). This study shows that exercise training induces opposite adrenal responses in SHR strain and in Lewis strain (which decrease increase its corticosterone concentration, respectively).Conclusion – This suggests that genetic may play an key role in pituitary-adrenal adaptations to exercise training.     

Effects of ingesting a sports bar versus glucose polymer on substrate utilisation and ultra-endurance performance.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ingestion of a sports bar (BAR) containing a mixture of fat (7 g), protein (14 ) and carbohydrate (CHO; 19 ) improved ulta-endurance cycling performance compared to when an equicaloric amount of CHO was consumed. On two occasions separated by a minimum of 7 days, six highly trained (peak power output [PPO] 414 +/- 8 W) endurance cyclists rode for 330 min at approximately 50% of PPO (203 +/- 8 W) while ingesting either the BAR or just CHO, before performing a 400 k] time trial as fast as possible. Rates of fat oxidation were significantly greater at the end of the submaximal ride when subjects ingested the BAR compared to CHO (1.09 +/- 0.08 vs 0.73 +/- 0.08g x min(-1); P<0.05), and accordingly total fat oxidation was significantly higher (280 +/- 24 vs 203 +/- 25 g, P < 0.05). However, two subjects failed to complete the time trial after they consumed the BAR during the prolonged, submaximal ride, whereas all subjects managed to finish the time trial when ingesting CHO. In conclusion, ingestion of the sports bar enhanced fat metabolism during prolonged, submaximal exercise, but impaired subsequent high-intensity time-trial performance.     

Evolution des taux plasmatiques des LDH (lacticodeshydrogénase), CPK (créatine phosphokinase) et de la myoglobine à l'issue d'une course de 100 km et d'un triathlon

The elevation of plasma levels of lactate dehydrogense (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and myoglobin under the effect of prolonged physical exercise is considered as a biochemical index of muscle cell destruction. These biochemical parameters were used to evaluate the comparative effects of a 100 km race and a triathlon of the same duration upon muscle function. Venous blood samples were drawn from 8 long distance runners (the 100 km race at Belvès) and 8 participants in the Nice triathlon (swim 3 km, cycle 120 km, run 32 km) before the events, at the end and 4 days after. Leg muscle function was evaluated, using an isokinetic dynamometer CYBEX II before both events and 4 days later.The results show significant increases in these three parameters at the end of the competitive events. The plasma levels observed were higher at the end of the 100 km run (CPK: 700 ± 200 VS 180 ± 90; LDH: 411 ± 30 VS 200 ± 5; myoglobin 1100 ± 100 VS 730 + 400). The measurements made 4 days after these sporting events with the CYBEX revealed no change in the maximal effort of leg extensors and flexors. However, a slight reduction in the duration of exertion at this maximal level was noted. Foru days after these events, the CPK levels remained above the resting level for both groups studied, whereas the myoglobin values returned to basal levels in the triathletes, and the LDH values were the same as those observed at rest for both populations. These findings suggest that for a physical exertion lasting between 9 h 8 min and 8 h 20 min, the 100 km race causes more muscular lesions than the triathlon. The reduced time of exertion at maximal effort during the recovery period noted for both groups is an index representing a perturbation of the muscle function capacity, in spite of the normalization of the two biochemical parameters, LDH and myoglobin. The persistence of the slightly elevated CPK values suggests that this parameter is a better index of muscular lesions during the recovery phase.     

Fécondité féminine et activité physique intense et répétéeFemale fertility and intensive physical activity

Aims – To estimate the effects of intensive physical activity on female fertility.Current knowledge – Since twenty to thirty years ago, women have regularly participated in intense physical sports. The first Olympic Marathon for women took place at Los Angeles (United-States) in 1984 and many clinical studies concerning the incidence of menstrual disturbances among sportswomen, were concomitant of the dramatic increase in female participation in endurance sports, either as recreational or professional sportswomen. Most of these studies were focused on secondary amenorrhea. Later, etiological studies have shown that a range of disturbances, from an apparently normal menstrual cycle, irregular menstruation, oligomenorrhea to the complete blockage of the ovarian function were observed.Points of views and plans – It is very likely that the physiological process leading to menstrual troubles among sportswomen include disturbances of GnRH pulsatility at hypothalamic level. It has been shown that a session of training at an intensity greater than 60% during at least 40 min leads to the secretion of neuromediators able to interfere with GnRH pulsatility. Repetitiveness of daily sessions of training (i.e., more than five sessions a week) associated with marginal energy intake or strictly vegetarian food may contribute to disturb the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis in female athletes.     

Oxidation and metabolic effects of fructose or glucose ingested before exercise

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of fructose (F) and glucose (G) intake before exercise on oxidation of the ingested substrate, glycogen utilization, work output, and metabolic changes. Ten trained subjects ingested F or G (1 g/kg), both of which were naturally enriched in 13C. After 1 h of rest, they exercised on an ergometer at 61% of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) for 45 min, which was immediately followed by 15 min at their maximal voluntary output. During the resting hour, blood insulin and glucose were lower (p less than 0.05) and respiratory quotient and blood lactate higher (p less than 0.01) after F. During exercise, the differences disappeared, apart from a transient but moderate (4.3 mmol/l) hypoglycemia after G compared to F. No difference between F and G was observed for uric acid, glycerol, FFA, and glucagon. Glycogen decrements in the vastus lateralis muscle were 67 +/- 9 (F) and 97 +/- 15 (G) mmol/kg, values not significantly different from each other (P greater than 0.05). The maximal voluntary work produced during the last 15 min did not differ between treatments. During the 2 h after sugar ingestion, 30 +/- 3 g of F and 26 +/- 3 g of G were oxidized to 13CO2. These findings indicate that fructose ingested before exercise was utilized at least as well as glucose, allowed a more stable glycemia, and did not modify performance.     

Modèles mathématiques et physiologiques de la performance humaine

Summary

Introduction

In this century, empirical and bioenergetic endurance modelling (i.e., the relationship between time and velocity) have been proposed to predict and explain performance over short and long distances, in running especially. The purpose of this article is to present an historical review of these modelling and applying some of them to middle- and long- distance running.

Current knowledge and key points

The limit of each of these models is considered as the inter-individual variability of time to exhaustion (time limit) at the maximal oxygen consumption. In the same manner, none of them take into account the oxygen slow component, which appeared for supra-lactate threshold exercise.

Future prospects and projects

In the future, the oxygen slow component and variability of time to exhaustion at the maximal oxygen consumption should be taken into account to better individualize this bioenergetic profile via the endurance model.     

Oxidation of exogenous carbohydrate during prolonged exercise in fed and fasted conditions

The oxidation of glucose and fructose ingested during moderate exercise performed on a cycle ergometer (120 min, 52% VO2max) was compared in ten young males fasted (n = 5) or fed (n = 5) before exercise. The subjects ingested randomly 1.33 g/kg body weight (approximately 96 +/- 9 g) of either enriched 13C-glucose (G), 13C-fructose (F), or water only (W); the solutions were evenly distributed over the exercise period. The fasted subjects began the three exercises with a lower blood glucose (P less than or equal to 0.05 for F only) and insulin (P less than or equal to 0.05) levels and a higher free fatty acid (FFA) concentration (P less than or equal to 0.05) than the fed ones. Throughout the exercise period, blood glucose level was maintained in fasted as well as in fed group for G and F ingestions, while it decreased (P less than or equal to 0.05 at the 100th min in fasted subjects) with water ingestion. Insulin level was similar in both fed and fasted conditions with F and W ingestions and lower than G trials for the fed subjects. For the three ingestions, FFA was lower (P less than or equal to 0.05) in the fasted than in the fed group over the exercise period. Over the 2-h period of exercise, a greater (P less than or equal to 0.05) amount of exogenous F was oxidized in the fasted (49 +/- 6 g) than in the fed (36 +/- 5 g) group, which represent 31% and 20% of the total carbohydrate energy supply, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence de l''hydratation sur la sécrétion d''hormone de croissance induite par l''exerciceHydration influence on exercise-induced growth hormone secretion

Aim – Study was then to investigate hydration influence on exercise-induced GHh secretion.Methods and results – Seven healthy men underwent a submaximal rectangular cycling exercise for 30 minutes to 150 watts during two sessions. A first one without any water intake and a second one with ingestion of spring water corresponding to the volume of water lost during the first session. Plasma volume decrease was significantly higher during the first session (p < 0.05). Total GH secretion was significantly lower during this session (p < 0.05).Conclusion – A moderate dehydration decreases exercise-induced GH response. Thus, hypovolemia may exert a negative feed back on GH secretion, during exercise.     

L''hémorhéologie permet-elle de comprendre le « paradoxe de l''hématocrite » lors de l’entraînement et du surentraînement ?Does hemorheology explain the paradox of hematocrit in training and overtraining?

Purpose. – Doping with EPO increases both hematocrit and performance. On the opposite, training reduces hematocrit due to plasma volume extension and overtraining both increases hematocrit and decreases performance. This apparent paradox seems to be explained by a new concept proposed interpreting the interactions between viscosity factors and blood flow.Facts. – Viscosity factors exert a non linear “all or none” effect that can be described according to the “ percolation theory”. Blood viscosity has no hemodynamic relevance by its own, but viscosity factors (hematocrit, red cell deformability and aggregability, plasma viscosity) can result according to flow conditions in self-potentiating phenomena of quick transition between a state of high fluidity and a state of red cell aggregate clumping. In muscle, this model predicts that: (a) during exercise the only viscosity factor that could influence flow is plasma viscosity; (b) at rest all viscosity factors (including high hematocrit) may induce a self-potentiating “viscidation” process.Conclusion. – According to these concepts, supraphysiologic hematocrit values are probably unable to disturb muscular perfusion at exercise, but are likely to promote self-potentiated stasis at rest and thus to increase the risk of thrombosis.     

Dose-response effects of ingested carbohydrate on exercise metabolism in women

PURPOSE: The effect of different quantities of carbohydrate (CHO) intake on CHO metabolism during prolonged exercise was examined in endurance-trained females. METHOD: On four occasions, eight females performed 2 h of cycling at approximately 60% .VO2max with ingestion of beverages containing low (LOW, 0.5 g.min(-1)), moderate (MOD, 1.0 g.min(-1)), or high (HIGH, 1.5 g.min(-1)) amounts of CHO, or water only (WAT). Test solutions contained trace amounts of [U-13C] glucose. Indirect calorimetry combined with measurement of expired 13CO2 and plasma 13C enrichment enabled calculation of exogenous CHO, liver-derived glucose, and muscle glycogen oxidation during the last 30 min of exercise. RESULTS: The highest rates of exogenous CHO oxidation were observed in MOD, with no further increases in HIGH (peak rates of 0.33 +/- 0.02, 0.50 +/- 0.03, and 0.48 +/- 0.05 g.min(-1) for LOW, MOD, and HIGH, respectively; P < 0.05 for LOW vs MOD and HIGH). Endogenous CHO oxidation was lowest in MOD (0.99 +/- 0.06, 0.82 +/- 0.08, 0.70 +/- 0.07, and 0.89 +/- 0.09 g.min(-1); P < 0.05 for MOD vs all other trials). Compared with WAT, CHO ingestion reduced liver glucose oxidation during exercise by approximately 30% (P < 0.05 for WAT vs all CHO). Differential rates of muscle glycogen oxidation were observed with different CHO doses (0.57 +/- 0.07, 0.53 +/- 0.08, 0.41 +/- 0.07, and 0.60 +/- 0.09 g.min(-1) for WAT, LOW, MOD, and HIGH respectively; P < 0.05 for MOD vs HIGH). CONCLUSION: In endurance-trained women, the highest rates of exogenous CHO oxidation and greatest endogenous CHO sparing was observed when CHO was ingested at moderate rates (1.0 g.min(-1), 60 g.h(-1)) during exercise.     

Composante lente de VO2 chez l''enfant prépubère lors d''exercices rectangulaires d''intensité élevéeThe slow component of VO2 uptake kinetics during high-intensity exercise in prepubertal children

Aim – The aim of the present study was to investigate the VO2 uptake slow component in prepubertal children of different aerobic capacity during high intensity exercise.Method – Twenty three (12 well-trained and 11 untrained) prepubertal children took part in two constant-power tests performed at intensities corresponding to 80% of the anaerobic threshold and 90% of maximal aerobic power. VO2 kinetics during both constant-power tests was determine using a monoexponential + linear term model.Results/conclusion – Our results demonstrated the existence of a slow component during heavy intensity exercise in prepubertal children, as previously described in adults. The magnitude of this slow component did not differ between trained swimmers and untrained children exercising at the same relative intensity, provided that the whole VO2 response was considered.     

Pratique sportive et oligoéléments: conséquences nutritionnelles

Trace elements are scarce in our body, where as some of them are implicated in various metabolic processes. Regular exercise alters the levels and increases outputs and requirements of some of them. Zinc losses through sweat, urine and feces are increased in response to chronic and acute exercise. Chromium losses, mainly via the urinary tract, increase following training and simple carbohydrate intake, a common situation among sportsmen. Copper losses increase in sweat. Recommended daily allowances are not always satisfied, depending upon the trace element being considered. Zinc and chromium intakes are often marginal, while copper does not seem to be present in sufficient amounts in a high percentage of athletes. It is not the same for manganese, always delivered in sufficient amounts. Selenium intake mainly depends on its rate in the soil, this factor varying the most from one country (and one average diet) to another. So precise recommendations such as three servings of meat per week seem to be justified. Some diets are not adequate towards some trace element intakes, and this abnormality enhances the probability that deficiencies appear. Complex interrelationships enhance or impede supplementation. For instance, copper, zinc and iron inhibit each other's absorption at gut's level. These interrelationships make nutritional strategy harder to implement. Some trace elements (selenium, zinc, copper or manganese — the latter at the mitochondrion level) act as free radical scavengers. Thus increased intakes at appropriate levels may be required. Changes in dietary habits, improving “nutritional density” is one possible strategy. But for some elements, the required amounts are not currently available in our diet. Thus supplementation becomes necessary in some cases. As far as vanadium and silicon are concerned, and though they are implicated in some physiological processes linked to sports, it is not possible to recommend at present precise amounts, even though future research will certainly show that their intake is to be increased.