Neuroendocrine responses to running in women after zinc and vitamin E supplementation
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Published on: April 7, 2014
A Singh1, D A Papanicolaou, L L Lawrence
1Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799, USA. asingh@mxc.usuhs.mil
Purpose:
The study was undertaken to determine whether acute supplementation with zinc or vitamin E would modify neuroendocrine responses to physiologic stress.
Methods:
Specifically, the effects of exhaustive running on blood glucose, lactate, ACTH, cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, catecholamine, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations were determined in 10 eumenorrheic runners after supplementation with zinc (25 mg), vitamin E (400 IU), or placebo. Subjects ran at 65-70% of their VO2max, to exhaustion, on a treadmill during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles over three cycles.
Results:
There were no significant differences associated with supplementation for any of the hormonal and metabolic measures. Exercise, however, significantly (P<0.05) increased plasma lactate, ACTH, prolactin, and catecholamine concentrations, all of which peaked immediately after exercise (POST). Plasma cortisol concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) elevated at POST, and a further increase was noted 1 h after exercise. IL-6 concentrations rose linearly throughout exercise and reached peak values at POST. Exercise-induced changes were transient in that all measures returned to baseline within 24 h.
Conclusions:
Acute supplementation with zinc or vitamin E did not influence the effects of exhaustive running on metabolic and endocrine responses in women. The effects of chronic supplementation on neuroendocrine responses to exercise remain to be determined.
