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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(12): 1003-1009
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038753
Immunology

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pre-Exercise Carbohydrate Status Influences Carbohydrate-Mediated Attenuation of Post-Exercise Cytokine Responses

A. J. Cox1 , 2 , D. B. Pyne3 , G. R. Cox4 , R. Callister2 , M. Gleeson2
  • 1Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Belconnen, Australia
  • 2School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
  • 3Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia
  • 4Department of Sports Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision June 4, 2008

Publication Date:
09 July 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Most studies investigating the effects of acute carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion on post-exercise cytokine responses have involved fasted athletes. This study characterised the effects of acute CHO beverage ingestion preceded by consumption of a CHO-containing pre-exercise meal. Sixteen highly-trained male cyclists/triathletes (age: 30.6 ± 5.6 y; V˙O2max: 64.8 ± 4.7 ml · kg · min−1 [mean ± SD]) undertook two cycle ergometry trials involving randomised consumption of a 10 % CHO beverage (15 mL · kg−1 · hr−1) or water (H2O). Trials were undertaken 2 h after a breakfast providing 2.1 g CHO · kg−1 body mass (BM) (48 kJ · kg−1 BM) and consisted of 100 min steady state cycle ergometry at 70 % V˙O2max followed by a time trial of ∼ 30 min duration. Blood samples were collected pre-, post- and 1 h post-exercise for measurement of Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-1ra. Time-trial performance was not substantially different between CHO and H2O trials (4.5 %, p = 0.42). Neither IL-6 nor IL-8 responses were substantially reduced in the CHO compared to the H2O trial. There was a substantial reduction in IL-10 (32 %, p = 0.05) and IL-1ra (43 %, p = 0.02) responses at 1 h post-exercise with CHO compared to H2O ingestion. In conclusion, the previously shown attenuating effects of CHO ingestion during exercise on cytokine responses appear reduced when athletes consume a CHO-containing pre-exercise meal.

Key words

immunity - carbohydrate - athlete - exercise

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Amanda Cox

Australian Institute of Sport
Department of Physiology

PO Box 176

Belconnen 2616

Australia

Email: amanda.cox@newcastle.edu.au