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This study investigated the test–retest reliability of running economy (RE) and metabolic and cardiorespiratory parameters related to endurance running performance using a multistage incremental treadmill test. On two occasions separated by 21–28 days, 12 male middle- and long-distance runners ran at 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 km/hr for 8 min each stage, immediately followed by a ramp test to volitional exhaustion. Carbohydrate (10% maltodextrin solution) was consumed before and during the test to provide ∼1 g/min of exercise. RE, minute ventilation ( V ˙ E), oxygen consumption ( V ˙ O 2 ), carbon dioxide production ( V ˙ CO 2 ), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood glucose and lactate concentrations were recorded for each stage and at volitional exhaustion. Time-to-exhaustion (TTE) and peak oxygen consumption ( V ˙ O 2 peak) during the ramp test were also recorded. Absolute reliability, calculated as the coefficient of variation (CV) between repeated measures, ranged from 2.3% to 3.1% for RE, whereas relative reliability, calculated as the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), ranged from.42 to.79. V ˙ E , V ˙ O 2 , V ˙ O 2 peak , V ˙ CO 2 , RER, and HR had a CV of 1.1%–4.3% across all stages. TTE and RPE had a CV of 7.2% and 2.3%–10.8%, respectively, while glucose and lactate had a CV of 4.0%–17.8%. All other parameters, except for blood glucose, were demonstrated to have good-to-excellent relative reliability assessed by ICC. Measures of RE, V ˙ O 2 peak , and TTE were reliable during this two-phase multistage incremental treadmill test in a cohort of trained and highly trained male middle- and long-distance runners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated within-subject variability in the circulating metabolome under controlled conditions, and whether divergent exercise training backgrounds were associated with alterations in the circulating metabolome assessed in resting samples. Thirty-seven men comprising of endurance athletes (END; body mass, 71.0 ± 6.8 kg; fat-free mass index, 16.9 ± 1.1 kg/m²), strength athletes (STR; 94.5 ± 8.8 kg; 23.0 ± 1.8 kg/m²), and recreationally active controls (CON; 77.6 ± 7.7 kg; 18.1 ± 1.0 kg/m²) provided blood samples after an overnight fast on two separate occasions controlled for time of day of sampling, recent dietary intake, time since last meal, and time since last exercise training session. A targeted profile of metabolites, performed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry on plasma samples, identified 166 individual metabolites and metabolite features, which were analyzed with intraclass correlation coefficients, a multilevel principal component analysis, and univariate t tests adjusted for multiple comparisons. The median intraclass correlation coefficient was .49, with 46 metabolites displaying good reliability and 31 metabolites displaying excellent reliability. No difference in the abundance of any individual metabolite was identified within groups when compared between visits, but a combined total of 44 metabolites were significantly different (false discovery rate <0.05) between groups (END vs. CON, 42 metabolites; STR vs. CON, 10 metabolites; and END vs. STR, five metabolites). Under similar measurement conditions, the reliability of resting plasma metabolite concentrations varies largely at the level of individual metabolites with ~48% of metabolites displaying good-to-excellent reliability. However, a history of exercise training was associated with alterations in the abundance of ~28% of metabolites in the targeted profile employed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous ketone supplements are a potential augmentation strategy for cognitive resilience during acute hypoxic exposure due to their capacity to attenuate the decline in oxygen (O2) availability, and by providing an alternative substrate for cerebral metabolism. Utilizing a single‐blind randomized crossover design, 16 male military personnel (age, 25.3 ± 2.4 year, body mass, 86.2 ± 9.3 kg) performed tests of cognitive performance at rest in three environments: room air (baseline), normoxia (20 min; 0 m; 20.9% O2) and hypoxia (20 min; 6096 m, 9.7% O2) using a reduced O2 breathing device (ROBD). (R)‐3‐Hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (R‐BD R‐βHB) ketone monoester (KME; 650 mg/kg, split dose given at 30 min prior to each exposure) or taste‐matched placebo (PLA) was ingested prior to normoxia and hypoxic exposure. Blood R‐βHB and glucose concentrations, cognitive performance and O2 saturation (SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$) were collected throughout. KME ingestion increased blood R‐βHB concentration, which was rapid and sustained (>4 mM 30 min post; P < 0.001) and accompanied by lower blood glucose concentration (∼20 mg/dL; P < 0.01) compared to PLA. Declines in cognitive performance during hypoxic exposure, assessed as cognitive efficiency during a Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) code substitution task, were attenuated with KME leading to 6.8 (95% CL: 1.0, 12.6) more correct responses per minute compared to PLA (P = 0.018). The decline in SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ during hypoxic exposure was attenuated (6.40% SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$; 95% CL: 0.04, 12.75; P = 0.049) in KME compared to PLA (KME, 76.8 ± 6.4% SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$; PLA, 70.4 ± 7.4% SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$). Acute ingestion of KME attenuated the decline in cognitive performance during acute severe hypoxic exposure, which coincided with attenuation of declines in O2 saturation. What is the central question of this study?Can exogenous ketosis act as a countermeasure to declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance during acute severe hypoxic exposure at rest?What is the main finding and its importance?Acute exogenous ketosis via ingestion of a drink containing the (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester prior to acute severe hypoxic exposure attenuated hypoxia‐induced declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance at rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute ingestion of exogenous ketone supplements in the form of a (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (R‐BD R‐βHB) ketone monoester (KME) can attenuate declines in oxygen availability during hypoxic exposure and might impact cognitive performance at rest and in response to moderate‐intensity exercise. In a single‐blind randomized crossover design, 16 males performed assessments of cognitive performance before and during hypoxic exposure with moderate exercise [2 × 20 min weighted ruck (∼22 kg) at 3.2 km/h at 10% incline] in a normobaric altitude chamber (4572 m, 11.8% O2). The R‐BD R‐βHB KME (573 mg/kg) or a calorie‐ and taste‐matched placebo (∼50 g maltodextrin) were co‐ingested with 40 g of dextrose before exposure to hypoxia. The R‐βHB concentrations were rapidly elevated and sustained (>3 mM; P < 0.001) by KME. The decline in oxygen saturation during hypoxic exposure was attenuated in KME conditions by 2.4%–4.2% (P < 0.05) compared with placebo. Outcomes of cognitive performance tasks, in the form of the Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) code substitution task, the Stroop color and word task, and a shooting simulation, did not differ between trials before and during hypoxic exposure. These data suggest that the acute exogenous ketosis induced by KME ingestion can attenuate declining blood oxygen saturation during acute hypoxic exposure both at rest and during moderate‐intensity exercise, but this did not translate into differences in cognitive performance before or after exercise in the conditions investigated. What is the central question of this study?Can exogenous ketosis act as a countermeasure to declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance during acute hypoxic exposure while performing a weighted ruck exercise?What is the main finding and its importance?Acute exogenous ketosis via ingestion of a drink containing the (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester prior to acute hypoxic exposure attenuated hypoxia‐induced declines in blood oxygen saturation but had no effect on cognitive performance during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective communication and rapport building with athletes are key tenets of coaching. As the majority of empirical evidence to date has adopted an androcentric view of strength and conditioning, a potential knowledge gap exists regarding sex-related differences in physical preparation and coaching approaches. Therefore, this study explored the attitudes, beliefs and practices of strength and conditioning coaches (n = 8; M/F, 6/2) in elite level (international) women's rugby union using semi-structured interviews (mean ±standard deviation duration 59 ± 15 min). The interviews explored differences in coaching practices for elite female rugby players compared to males, with a specific focus on the interpersonal aspects of the athlete-coach relationship. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate a rich qualitative dataset. The analysis resulted in the identification of higher order themes: athlete engagement, and interpersonal approach. The coaches in this study consistently perceived important differences between male and female players in factors related to engagement and interpersonal approach. Coaches adopted differing coaching practices for male and female athletes. This study provides important contextual evidence for the understanding of differences in the interpersonal relationships of female rugby players compared to male athletes from the perspective of elite-level strength coaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media supplemented with sera from acutely exercised men has been shown to have 'anti‐cancer' effects on prostate and breast cancer cell lines. This study investigated whether media supplemented with plasma samples taken at rest (≥30 h since the most recent exercise session) from men who were endurance‐trained (END), strength‐trained (STR) or recreationally active controls (CON) impacted the results of four assays that mimic hallmarks of cancer (proliferation, migration, extracellular matrix invasion and anoikis resistance) in the BT‐549 breast cancer cell line. Compared to control conditions of either serum‐free media or fetal bovine serum as appropriate, BT‐549 cells cultured with plasma‐supplemented media regardless of group resulted in greater cell proliferation (∼20–50%) and cell migration (∼15–20%), and lower extracellular matrix invasion (∼10–20%) and anoikis resistance (∼15–20%). Supplementing media with plasma from END or STR did not impact any outcomes of these assays compared to plasma from CON. Media supplemented with human plasma can impact functional assays reflective of cancer hallmarks in BT‐549 cells, but effects of exercise on proliferation, migration, extracellular matrix invasion and anoikis resistance were not evident in resting blood samples of individuals with a prior history of exercise training. What is the central question of this study?Little is known regarding the effects of media supplemented with resting plasma from exercise‐trained individuals, despite the established bioactive effects of acutely exercised samples. Does media supplemented with resting plasma from endurance‐trained, strength‐trained or recreationally active controls impact hallmarks of cancer in BT‐549 cells?What is the main finding and its importance?Supplementing media with plasma from these trained athletes did not impact proliferation, migration, invasion or anoikis resistance compared to plasma from recreationally‐active controls. These findings suggest that 'anti‐cancer' effects of exercise are not present in resting blood samples of exercise‐trained individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute Ingestion of a Ketone Monoester without Co-ingestion of Carbohydrate Improves Running Economy in Male Endurance Runners. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 56, No. 1, pp. 134-142, 2024. Purpose: Acute ingestion of a ketone monoester, with and without co-ingestion of carbohydrate, was investigated for effects on running economy (RE), time to exhaustion (TTE), and other related indices of endurance running performance. Methods: Using a three condition, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover design, 11 male middle- and long-distance runners ran at five submaximal speeds (10–14 km·h−1 ) on a motorized treadmill for 8 min each, immediately followed by a ramp test to volitional exhaustion. Participants consumed either a 10% carbohydrate solution (CHO), a 10% carbohydrate solution with 750 mg·kg−1 body mass of an (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester (CHO + KE), or 750 mg·kg−1 body mass of the ketone monoester in flavored water (KE) before (two-thirds of the dose) and during (one-third of the dose) exercise. Results: β-hydroxybutyrate concentration averaged 1.8 ± 0.3 and 2.1 ± 0.3 mM during exercise in CHO + KE and KE, respectively. RE was lower at each submaximal running speed (effect size = 0.48–0.98) by an average of 4.1% in KE compared with CHO, but not between CHO + KE and CHO. TTE did not differ between CHO (369 ± 116 s), CHO + KE (342 ± 99 s), or KE (333 ± 106 s) (P = 0.093). Conclusions: Acute ingestion of a ketone monoester without carbohydrate, but not when coingested with carbohydrate, improved RE in middle- and long-distance runners at a range of submaximal running speeds and did not alter TTE in a short-duration ramp test to volitional exhaustion. Further investigation is required to examine if these differences translate into positive performance outcomes over longer durations of exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated, episodic bouts of skeletal muscle contraction undertaken frequently as structured exercise training are a potent stimulus for physiological adaptation in many organs. Specifically, in skeletal muscle, remarkable plasticity is demonstrated by the remodeling of muscle structure and function in terms of muscular size, force, endurance, and contractile velocity as a result of the functional demands induced by various types of exercise training. This plasticity, and the mechanistic basis for adaptations to skeletal muscle in response to exercise training, are underpinned by activation and/or repression of molecular pathways and processes in response to each individual acute exercise session. These pathways include the transduction of signals arising from neuronal, mechanical, metabolic, and hormonal stimuli through complex signal transduction networks, which are linked to a myriad of effector proteins involved in the regulation of pre- and posttranscriptional processes, and protein translation and degradation processes. This review therefore describes acute exercise-induced signal transduction and the molecular responses to acute exercise in skeletal muscle including emerging concepts such as epigenetic pre- and posttranscriptional regulation and the regulation of protein translation and degradation. A critical appraisal of methodological approaches and the current state of knowledge informs a series of recommendations offered as future directions in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]