Influence of carbohydrate on immune function following 2 h cycling.
The influence of carbohydrate compared with placebo ingestion on changes in immune cell counts and functions following 2 h intensive cycling was studied in 12 trained cyclists who functioned as their own controls. The subjects performed two tests 2 weeks apart where they cycled for 2 h at approximately 64% Watts(max) while receiving 4 mL x kg(-1) x 15 min(-1) carbohydrate (6%) (Cho) or placebo (Pla) beverages. Blood samples were collected 30 min preexercise, and immediately and 1 h postexercise. The samples were assayed for plasma cortisol and epinephrine, blood leukocyte subset counts, PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation, and natural killer cell activity (NKCA). Compared with Pla ingestion, Cho attenuated exercise-induced changes in plasma cortisol, blood neutrophil, and monocyte counts, but not in total blood lymphocyte, T cell, and NK cell counts, PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation, and NKCA. Thus despite a strong attenuating influence of carbohydrate ingestion on exercise-induced changes in plasma cortisol and blood neutrophil and monocyte counts, other immune measures related to lymphocyte subset counts, and function were unaffected.
Nieman
David C
DC
Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Fischer Hamilton/Nycom Biochemistry Laboratory, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, USA. niemandc@appstate.edu
Henson
Dru A
DA
Gojanovich
Greg
G
Davis
J Mark
JM
Murphy
E Angela
EA
Mayer
Eugene P
EP
Pearce
Steven
S
Dumke
Charles L
CL
Utter
Alan C
AC
McAnulty
Steven R
SR
McAnulty
Lisa S
LS
D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000097:blood
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D004837:Epinephrine