Search

Background: Inflammation in the body may be exacerbated by food intolerances, which often go undiagnosed due to delayed symptoms and improper testing. The antigen leukocyte cellular activation test (Alcat), a food intolerance test, determines leucocytic response to specific foods. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of an Alcat-guided elimination diet on pro-inflammatory markers, body composition, and self-reported medical symptoms. Methods: In this pre-test/post-test double-blind experiment, subjects were randomly assigned to either the treatment group (TX; n = 87) or the placebo group (PL; n = 46). Subjects followed a four-week Alcat-guided elimination diet. The TX group eliminated foods to which they tested "sensitive," and the PL eliminated foods to which they tested "not sensitive." Blood samples, body composition measurements, and Medical Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) were completed on days 1 and 30. Results: Repeated-measures analysis of variance found an interaction effect for serum amyloid A (SAA), with values decreased for the TX and increased for the PL over time (P < 0.035). Body mass index (BMI) and MSQ scores decreased over time for both groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), but decreases were significantly greater for the TX for both BMI (P = 0.003) and MSQ scores (P < 0.001). There were main effects for time for myeloperoxidase (P < 0.001), interleukin-6 (P < 0.03), and percent body fat (P < 0.001), but no interaction effects or main effects for elimination diet. Conclusion: Elimination of Alcat-identified inflammatory foods had a positive impact on SAA, BMI, and MSQ scores, suggesting that Alcat-guided dietary changes reduced body inflammation, body weight, and negative medical symptoms associated with food intolerances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: β-Alanine (βA) has been shown to improve performance during cycling. This study was the first to examine the effects of βA supplementation on the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) during incremental treadmill running. Methods: Seventeen recreationally-active men (mean ± SE 24.9 ± 4.7 yrs, 180.6 ± 8.9 cm, 79.25 ± 9.0 kg) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pre/post test 2-treatment experimental design. Subjects participated in two incremental treadmill tests before and after 28 days of supplementation with either βA (6.0 g·d- 1)(βA, n = 8) or an equivalent dose of Maltodextrin as the Placebo (PL, n = 9). Heart rate, percent heart rate maximum (%HRmax), %VO-2max@OBLA (4.0 mmol.L-1 blood lactate concentration) and VO-2max (L.min-1) were determined for each treadmill test. Friedman test was used to determine within group differences; and Mann-Whitney was used to determine between group differences for pre and post values (p < 0.05). Results: The βA group experienced a significant rightward shift in HR@OBLA beats.min-1 (p < 0.01) pre/post (161.6 ± 19.2 to 173.6 ± 9.9) but remained unchanged in the PL group (166.8 ± 15.8 to 169.6 ± 16.1). The %HRmax@OBLA increased (p < 0.05) pre/post in the βA group (83.0% ± 9.7 to 88.6% ± 3.7) versus no change in the PL group (86.3 ± % 4.8 to 87.9% ± 7.2). The %VO-2max@OBLA increased (p < 0.05) in the βA group pre/post (69.1 ± 11.0 to 75.6 ± 10.7) but remained unchanged in the PL group (73.3 ± 7.3 to 74.3 ± 7.3). VO-2max (L.min-1) decreased (p < 0.01) in the βA group pre/post (4.57 ± 0.8 to 4.31 ± 0.8) versus no change in the PL group (4.04 ± 0.7 to 4.18 ± 0.8). Body mass kg increased (p < 0.05) in the βA group pre/post (77.9 ± 9.0 to 78.3 ± 9.3) while the PL group was unchanged (80.6 ± 9.1 to 80.4 ± 9.0). Conclusions: βA supplementation for 28 days enhanced sub-maximal endurance performance by delaying OBLA. However, βA supplemented individuals had a reduced aerobic capacity as evidenced by the decrease in VO-2max values post supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]