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Intensive training periods may negatively influence immune function, but the immunological consequences of specific high-intensity training (HIT) prescriptions are not well defined. Purpose: This study explored whether three different HIT prescriptions influence multiple health-related biomarkers and whether biomarker responses to HIT were associated with upper respiratory illness (URI) risk. Methods: Twenty-five male cyclists and triathleteswere randomised to three HIT groups and completed twelve HIT sessions over four weeks. Peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak) was determined using an incremental cycling protocol, while resting serum biomarkers (cortisol, testosterone, 25(OH)D and ferritin), salivary immunoglobulin-A (s-IgA) and energy availability (EA) were assessed before and after the training intervention. Participants self-reported upper respiratory symptoms during the interventionand episodes of URI were identified retrospectively. Results: Fourteen athletes reported URIs, but there were no differences in incidence, duration or severity between groups. Increased risk of URI was associated with higher s-IgA secretion rates (odds ratio=0.90, 90% CI:0.83-0.97). Lower pre-intervention cortisol and higher EA predicted a 4% increase in URI duration. Participants with higher V̇O2peak reported higher total symptom scores (incidence rate ratio=1.07, 90% CI:1.01-1.13). Conclusions: Although multiple biomarkers wereweakly associated with risk of URI, the direction of associations between s-IgA, cortisol, EA and URI risk were inverse to previous observations and physiological rationale. There was a cluster of URIs within the first week of the training intervention, but no samples were collected at this time-point. Future studies should incorporate more frequent sample time-points, especially around the onset of new training regimes, and include athletes with suspected or known nutritional deficiencies.

Objectives: Serum neurofilament light protein (NfL) is a promising marker of disease onset and progression in Huntington's disease (HD). This study investigated associations between lifestyle factors and NfL levels in HD mutation carriers compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Materials and Methods: Participants included 29 HD mutation carriers and 15 healthy controls. Associations between serum NfL concentrations and lifestyle factors, including cardiorespiratory fitness, social network size and diversity, physical activity, cognitive reserve, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, were examined using a stepwise multivariable linear regression model. Results: Higher NfL levels were associated with lower cognitive reserve, social network size and diversity and cardiorespiratory fitness in HD mutation carriers. Group × lifestyle factor effects were observed between lower serum NfL levels and a greater social network diversity. Conclusion: These findings highlight a relationship between lifestyle factors and NfL levels in HD mutations carriers; however, longitudinal studies are required to confirm if these observed relationships persist over time. © 2020 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Purpose: To provide a descriptive account of the warm up strategies (WU) employed by cross country skiers prior to distance and sprint competitions at a national championship; analyze the skiers’ planned WU; compare skiers’ planned and actual WUs carried out prior to the respective competitions. Methods: Twenty-one national- and international-level skiers (11 females and 10 males) participated. Skiers submitted WU plans prior to the competitions and reported any deviations from the plans after the respective competitions. Participants used personal hear rate (HR) monitors to record HR and were instructed to start the recording upon starting the WU and end the data collection following their cool down after the competition. Results: Skiers’ planned WU for the distance and sprint competitions were of similar content and planned time in HR derived intensity zones. Skiers spent similar durations within the lowest zone (A1, 60–74% peak HR) as planned for distance and sprint competitions. Prior to the sprint competition skiers spent significantly (p < 0.05) less time than planned in the highest intensity domain (A3+, >95% peak HR). Forty five % of female and 20% of male skiers reported their WU was not carried out as planned. Conclusions: Planned WU were not sufficiently tailored for the differing demands of distance and sprint competition. Prior to the sprint competition skiers failed to accumulate the planned volume of high intensity work (time in A3+). Practical applications: Skiers examined here would benefit from more bespoke WU, tailored to the specific demands of distance and sprint competition.

Purpose: This study explored whether three different HIT prescriptions influence multiple health-related biomarkers and whether biomarker responses to HIT were associated with upper respiratory illness (URI) risk.Methods: Twenty-five male cyclists and triathletes were randomised to three HIT groups and completed twelve HIT sessions over four weeks. Peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak) was determined using an incremental cycling protocol, while resting serum biomarkers (cortisol, testosterone, 25[OH]D and ferritin), salivary immunoglobulin-A (s-IgA) and energy availability (EA) were assessed before and after the training intervention. Participants self-reported upper respiratory symptoms during the intervention and episodes of URI were identified retrospectively.Results: Fourteen athletes reported URIs, but there were no differences in incidence, duration or severity between groups. Increased risk of URI was associated with higher s-IgA secretion rates (odds ratio=0.90, 90% CI:0.83-0.97). Lower pre-intervention cortisol and higher EA predicted a 4% increase in URI duration. Participants with higher V̇O2peak reported higher total symptom scores (incidence rate ratio=1.07, 90% CI:1.01-1.13).Conclusions: Although multiple biomarkers were weakly associated with risk of URI, the direction of associations between s-IgA, cortisol, EA and URI risk were inverse to previous observations and physiological rationale. There was a cluster of URIs within the first week of the training intervention, but no samples were collected at this time-point. Future studies should incorporate more frequent sample time-points, especially around the onset of new training regimes, and include athletes with suspected or known nutritional deficiencies.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare performance and pacing strategies between elite male and female cross-country skiers during a sprint competition on snow using the skating technique. Methods: Twenty male and 14 female skiers completed an individual time-trial prolog (TT) and three head-to-head races (quarter, semi, and final) on the same 1,572-m course, which was divided into flat, uphill and downhill sections. Section-specific speeds, choice of sub-technique (i.e., gear), cycle characteristics, heart rate and post-race blood lactate concentration were monitored. Power output was estimated for the different sections during the TT, while metabolic demand was estimated for two uphill camera sections and the final 50-m flat camera section. Results: Average speed during the four races was ∼12.5% faster for males than females (P < 0.001), while speeds on the flat, uphill and downhill sections were ∼11, 18, and 9% faster for the males than females (all P< 0.001 for terrain, sex, and interaction). Differences in uphill TT speed between the sexes were associated with different sub-technique preferences, with males using a higher gear more frequently than females (P < 0.05). The estimated metabolic demand relative to maximal oxygen uptake (V˙" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative; outline: 0px !important;">V˙V˙O2max) was similar for both sexes during the two uphill camera sections (∼129% of V˙" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; ma

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does 14 days of live-high, train-low simulated altitude alter an individual's metabolomic/metabolic profile? What is the main finding and its importance? This study demonstrated that ∼200 h of moderate simulated altitude exposure resulted in greater variance in measured metabolites between subject than within subject, which indicates individual variability during the adaptive phase to altitude exposure. In addition, metabolomics results indicate that altitude alters multiple metabolic pathways, and the time course of these pathways is different over 14 days of altitude exposure. These findings support previous literature and provide new information on the acute adaptation response to altitude. ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of 14 days of normobaric hypoxic simulated altitude exposure at 3000 m on the human plasma metabolomic profile. For 14 days, 10 well-trained endurance runners (six men and four women; 29 ± 7 years of age) lived at 3000 m simulated altitude, accumulating 196.4 ± 25.6 h of hypoxic exposure, and trained at ∼600 m. Resting plasma samples were collected at baseline and on days 3 and 14 of altitude exposure and stored at -80°C. Plasma samples were analysed using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry to construct a metabolite profile of altitude exposure. Mass spectrometry of plasma identified 36 metabolites, of which eight were statistically significant (false discovery rate probability 0.1) from baseline to either day 3 or day 14. Specifically, changes in plasma metabolites relating to amino acid metabolism (tyrosine and proline), glycolysis (adenosine) and purine metabolism (adenosine) were observed during altitude exposure. Principal component canonical variate analysis showed significant discrimination between group means (P < 0.05), with canonical variate 1 describing a non-linear recovery trajectory from baseline to day 3 and then back

This study investigated whether commercially available compression garments (COMP) exerting a moderate level of pressureand/or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) accelerate recovery following a cross-country sprint skiing competitioncompared with a control group (CON) consisting of active recovery only. Twenty-one senior (12 males, 9 females) and 11junior (6 males, 5 females) Swedish national team skiers performed an outdoor sprint skiing competition involving foursprints lasting ∼3–4 min. Before the competition, skiers were matched by sex and skiing level (senior versus junior) andrandomly assigned to COMP (n = 11), NMES (n = 11) or CON (n = 10). Creatine kinase (CK), urea, countermovementjump (CMJ) height, and perceived muscle pain were measured before and 8, 20, 44 and 68 h after competition. NeitherCOMP nor NMES promoted the recovery of blood biomarkers, CMJ or perceived pain post-competition compared withCON (all P > .05). When grouping all 32 participants, urea and perceived muscle pain increased from baseline, peaking at8 h (standardised mean difference (SMD), [95% confidence intervals (CIs)]): 2.8 [2.3, 3.2]) and 44 h (odds ratio [95%CI]: 3.3 [2.1, 5.1]) post-competition, respectively. Additionally, CMJ was lower than baseline 44 and 68 h postcompetitionin both males and females (P < .05). CK increased from baseline in males, peaking at 44 h (SMD: 1.4 [−0.4,0.9]), but was decreased in females at 20 h post-competition (SMD: −0.8 [−1.4, −0.2]). In conclusion, cross-countrysprint skiing induced symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage peaking 8–44 h post-competition. However, neitherCOMP nor NMES promoted physiological or perceptual recovery compared with CON.

Purpose Iron is integral for erythropoietic adaptation to hypoxia, yet the importance of supplementary iron compared with existing stores is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to compare the magnitude of the hemoglobin mass (Hb(mass)) in response to altitude in athletes with intravenous (IV), oral, or placebo iron supplementation. Methods Thirty-four, nonanemic, endurance-trained athletes completed 3 wk of simulated altitude (3000 m, 14 hd(-1)), receiving two to three bolus iron injections (ferric carboxymaltose), daily oral iron supplementation (ferrous sulfate), or a placebo, commencing 2 wk before and throughout altitude exposure. Hb(mass) and markers of iron regulation were assessed at baseline (day -14), immediately before (day 0), weekly during (days 8 and 15), and immediately, 1, 3, and 6 wk after (days 22, 28, 42, and 63) the completion of altitude exposure. Results Hb(mass) significantly increased after altitude exposure in athletes with IV (mean % [90% confidence interval (CI)], 3.7% [2.8-4.7]) and oral (3.2% [2.2-4.2]) supplementation and remained elevated at 7 d postaltitude in oral (2.9% [1.5-4.3]) and 21 d after in IV (3.0% [1.5-4.6]) supplementation. Hb(mass) was not significantly higher than baseline at any time point in placebo. Conclusions Iron supplementation appears necessary for optimal erythropoietic adaptation to altitude exposure. IV iron supplementation during 3 wk of simulated live high-train low altitude training offered no additional benefit in terms of the magnitude of the erythropoietic response for nonanemic endurance athletes compared with oral supplementation.

The integrity of the athlete biological passport (ABP) is underpinned by understanding normal fluctuations of its biomarkers to environmental or medical conditions, for example, altitude training or iron deficiency. The combined impact of altitude and iron supplementation on the ABP was evaluated in endurance-trained athletes (n = 34) undertaking 3 weeks of simulated live-high: train-low (14 h.d(-1), 3000 m). Athletes received either oral, intravenous (IV) or placebo iron supplementation, commencing 2 weeks prior and continuing throughout hypoxic exposure. Venous blood was sampled twice prior, weekly during, and up to 6 weeks after altitude. Individual ABP thresholds for haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), reticulocyte percentage (%retic), and OFF score were calculated using the adaptive model and assessed at 99% and 99.9% specificity. Eleven athletes returned values outside of the calculated reference ranges at 99%, with 8 at 99.9%. The percentage of athletes exceeding the thresholds in each group was similar, but IV returned the most individual occurrences. A similar frequency of abnormalities occurred across the 3 biomarkers, with abnormal [Hb] and OFF score values arising mainly during-, and %retic values mainly post-altitude. Removing samples collected during altitude from the model resulted in 10 athletes returning abnormal values at 99% specificity, 2 of whom had not triggered the model previously. In summary, the abnormalities observed in response to iron supplementation and hypoxia were not systematic and mostly in line with expected physiological adaptations. They do not represent a uniform weakness in the ABP. Nevertheless, altitude training and iron supplementation should be carefully considered by experts evaluating abnormal ABP profiles.

High-intensity interval training (HIT) encompasses a wide range of training prescriptions where up to nine variables can be manipulated (Buchheit and Laursen, 2013, Sports Medicine, 43(5), 313–338). Four weeks of HIT with longer intervals and accumulated work durations (AWD) has been shown to elicit greater improvements in peak oxygen consumption (V O 2peak ) despite more modest physiological, hormonal and perceptual responses (Sylta et al., 2017, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(6), 1137–1146). However, immunological responses to different HIT pre- scriptions have rarely been investigated. The purpose of this study was to compare the cumulative effects of a four-week HIT intervention, performed either as short or long intervals with the same AWD, on V O 2peak , the immunological biomarker salivary secretory IgA (s-IgA) and upper respiratory illness (URI) incidence. In addition, we explored the influence of HIT on serum cortisol, testosterone, 25(OH)D and ferritin as biomarkers related to immune competence. Following local ethics committee approval, twenty-five well-trained male cyclists and triath- letes provided written consent to take part and were randomised to one of three HIT groups (Long Intervals [LI]: 4 × 8min; Short Intervals 1 [SI1]: 4×[12 × 40/20s]; Short Intervals 2 [SI2]: 4×[8 ×40/20s]). Participants per- formed three cycling HIT sessions per week for four weeks at maximal session effort (“isoeffort”) intensity, supplemented with ad libitumlow-intensity training. Participants recorded upper respiratory symptoms (URS) daily using the Jackson Common Cold Scale; episodes of URI were identified retrospectively. V O 2peak as well as rested saliva and blood biomarkers were analysed before and after the training period. Fourteen of twenty-five participants reported an episode of URI (LI: 4/8, SI1: 4/8, SI2: 6/9) but there were no differences in URI incidence, severity or duration between groups. Following the train- ing intervention, we obs

Intensified training periods may increase incidence of upper respiratory illness (URI) in athletes (Meeusen et al., 2013,Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 45(1), 186–205). Many physiological and nutritional risk factors have beenassociated with increased risk of URI (Bermon et al., 2017, Exercise Immunology Review, 23, 8–50), including reductionsin salivary IgA (sIgA), elevated cortisol, vitamin D insufficiency, iron deficiency and low energy availability (EA). However, few studies have explored the relative importance of each of thesehealth-related biomarkers in a multivariate model. Our aimwas therefore to investigate the relationship between multiplebiological risk factors for illness and incidence, duration andseverity of URIs that present during intensified training. 3815Twenty-five well-trained male cyclists and triathletes (age 30 ± 9 y, VO2peak 64 ± mL· kg−1· min−1) performed one ofthree different high-intensity interval training (HIT) programmes for three sessions per week over four weeks in November-December. The study received local ethical approval and participants provided written, informed consentto participate. Participants performed each HIT session at “isoeffort” intensity and sessions were matched for total accumulated work duration. Participants logged upper respiratorysymptoms (URS) daily using the Jackson Common Cold Scale; episodes of URI were identified retrospectively using the followinga priori criteria: weekly symptom score > 14 or selfreportedcommon cold for > 2 consecutive days (Jacksonet al., 1958, American Medical Association Archives of Internal Medicine, 101, 267–278). Before commencing the training period, VO2peak was determined using an incremental maximal cycling protocol and participants provided rested, fasted blood and saliva samples prior to the training period foranalysis of plasma 25(OH)D, ferritin, cortisol, testosterone and sIgA secretion rate. EA was calculated based on a 3-day registration of energy intak

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the pacing strategies, choice of sub-technique (i.e., gear) and overall performance between elite male and female cross-country (XC) skiers during a ski-skating sprint time-trial (TT) on snow. METHODS: Thirty-four elite XC skiers (20 males and 14 females: age, 23 ± 4 and 21 ± 3 yr; body mass, 76 ± 8 and 64 ± 5 kg; height, 183 ± 7 and 171 ± 5 cm; sprint FIS points, 86 ± 42 and 90 ± 54) performed a 1.6 km TT, which was 56% flat (or undulating), 21% uphill and 22% downhill. The sprint course was measured with a differential global navigation satellite system and divided into four flat, three uphill and two downhill sections. Race time was measured with the EMIT timing system (Emit AS, Oslo, Norway) and one 25-m uphill (4°) section was filmed continuously with a fixed camcorder (50 Hz). All skiers used a similar stone-grind and all skis were glide-waxed similarly. The air temperature was +1°C (fresh snow at ±0°C), relative humidity was 90% and the friction coefficient between ski and snow was estimated to 0.045 (i.e., very slow). RESULTS: Average speed during the TT was 25 ± 1 and 22 ± 1 km/h (TT time: 227 ± 11 and 254 ± 10 s) for males and females, respectively (P < 0.001, Cohen’s d effect size [ES] = 2.6). Average relative power output (PO) was estimated to 3.9 ± 0.3 and 3.3 ± 0.2 W/kg for males and females, respectively (P < 0.001, ES = 2.5). Average heart rate was 95 ± 2% and 96 ± 1% of maximum for males and females (P = 0.51), with a 2-min post-race blood lactate concentration of 10 ± 2 mmol/L for both sexes (P = 0.64). Within-athlete coefficient of variation in speed between sections was 20 ± 2% for males and 24 ± 1% for females (P < 0.001, ES = 2.6). Speeds on the flat, uphill and downhill sections were 26 ± 1, 19 ± 1 and 32 ± 1 km/h for males and 23 ± 1, 16 ± 1 and 30 ± 1 km/h for females (main effects for terrain, sex and interaction, all P < 0.01) corresponding to 9%, 16% and 8% slower speeds on fl