title: Effects of carbohydrate ingestion on acute leukocyte, cortisol, and interleukin-6 response in high-intensity long-distance running.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ingestion of fluids with different carbohydrate concentrations (0, 1.5, and 7%) on the acute immune stress responses after high-intensity long-distance running. Continuous 18- to 20-km run was performed at 75% of maximal oxygen uptake with carbohydrate supplementation (CHO7%, 7% carbohydrate solution) and low-carbohydrate supplementation (lowCHO1.5%, 1.5% carbohydrate solution) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA) controlled design. Seven recreational runners (4 men and 3 women) completed all 3 trials. Blood was collected at baseline (PRE) and immediately after the run (POST). The running task induced significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in leukocyte (white blood cells), neutrophil, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) counts in every trial. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in cortisol with PLA and lowCHO1.5% but not with CHO7%. Increase in total leukocyte and neutrophil concentration was significantly lower with CHO7% compared with PLA (p ≤ 0.05). Postexercise IL-6 levels were significantly elevated when compared with baseline in all conditions (p ≤ 0.05). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations did not differ significantly between trials. LowCHO1.5% sport drink did not significantly differ from PLA in measured variables, which indicated that the amount and rate of carbohydrate ingestion (15 g, 10 g·h) in low-carbohydrate sport drink was not enough to significantly protect from the stress induced by high-intensity long-distance running, whereas the ingestion of CHO7% (45 g·h) blunted the significant cortisol response and significantly decreased the leukocyte response.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland; 2Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Vierumäki, Finland; and 3Finnish Athletics Federation, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ihalainen
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vuorimaa
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puurtinen
authors.forename: Ismo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hämäläinen
authors.forename: Antti A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D015850:Interleukin-6; D006854:Hydrocortisone