title: Comparison of Watermelon and Carbohydrate Beverage on Exercise-Induced Alterations in Systemic Inflammation, Immune Dysfunction, and Plasma Antioxidant Capacity.
abstract: Consuming carbohydrate- and antioxidant-rich fruits during exercise as a means of supporting and enhancing both performance and health is of interest to endurance athletes. Watermelon (WM) contains carbohydrate, lycopene, l-citrulline, and l-arginine. WM may support exercise performance, augment antioxidant capacity, and act as a countermeasure to exercise-induced inflammation and innate immune changes. Trained cyclists (n = 20, 48 ± 2 years) participated in a randomized, placebo controlled, crossover study. Subjects completed two 75 km cycling time trials after either 2 weeks ingestion of 980 mL/day WM puree or no treatment. Subjects drank either WM puree containing 0.2 gm/kg carbohydrate or a 6% carbohydrate beverage every 15 min during the time trials. Blood samples were taken pre-study and pre-, post-, 1 h post-exercise. WM ingestion versus no treatment for 2-weeks increased plasma l-citrulline and l-arginine concentrations (p < 0.0125). Exercise performance did not differ between WM puree or carbohydrate beverage trials (p > 0.05), however, the rating of perceived exertion was greater during the WM trial (p > 0.05). WM puree versus carbohydrate beverage resulted in a similar pattern of increase in blood glucose, and greater increases in post-exercise plasma antioxidant capacity, l-citrulline, l-arginine, and total nitrate (all p < 0.05), but without differences in systemic markers of inflammation or innate immune function. Daily WM puree consumption fully supported the energy demands of exercise, and increased post-exercise blood levels of WM nutritional components (l-citrulline and l-arginine), antioxidant capacity, and total nitrate, but without an influence on post-exercise inflammation and changes in innate immune function.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA. shanelyra@appstate.edu.|Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. shanelyra@appstate.edu.
authors.forename: R Andrew
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shanely
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA. niemandc@appstate.edu.|Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. niemandc@appstate.edu.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nieman
authors.affiliation: Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Department of Horticulture Science, North Carolina Research Campus, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA. penelope_perkins@ncsu.edu.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perkins-Veazie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. hensonda@appstate.edu.
authors.forename: Dru A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA. meaneymp@appstate.edu.|Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. meaneymp@appstate.edu.
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Meaney
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology Department, Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28274, USA. knaba@queens.edu.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Knab
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. lak99@case.edu.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cialdell-Kam
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029773:Citrullus / Q000737:chemistry*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002241:Carbohydrates
keywords: ">l-arginine; ">l-citrulline; endurance exercise performance; ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP); oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC); total nitrate