Influence of carbohydrate on immune function following 2 h cycling

David C. Nieman, Dru A. Henson, Greg Gojanovich, J. Mark Davis, E. Angela Murphy, Eugene P. Mayer, Steven Pearce, Charles L. Dumke, Alan C. Utter, Steven R. McAnulty, Lisa S. McAnulty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 ∼64% Wattsmax while receiving 4 mL·kg-1·15 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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)225-237
Number of pages13
JournalResearch in Sports Medicine
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2006

Keywords

  • Exercise
  • Lymphocytes
  • Natural killer cells
  • T cells

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Influence of carbohydrate on immune function following 2 h cycling'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this