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Dietary intervention and training in swimmers.
J R Cade1, R H Reese, R M Privette
1Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Summary
High-intensity training can cause muscle damage in swimmers. Consuming a glucose-electrolyte solution during exercise may help mitigate this damage compared to water.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intensive training in athletes can lead to muscle damage.
- Markers such as creatine kinase (CK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) are used to assess muscle damage.
- Fluid and dietary intake may influence exercise-induced muscle damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if high-intensity training causes muscle damage in swimmers.
- To investigate the effects of fluid and dietary manipulation on muscle damage markers.
Main Methods:
- Studied 40 university swimmers over a 6-month intensive training period.
- Monitored creatine kinase (CK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.
- Manipulated training intensity, fluid intake (water vs. glucose-electrolyte solution), and dietary supplementation.
Main Results:
- Swimmers experienced elevated CK levels during intensive training.
- Compared to water, a glucose-electrolyte solution (GES) significantly reduced CK levels when training intensity increased.
- Initial CK levels averaged 315 IU.l-1, rising to 500 IU.l-1 with increased intensity when drinking water.
Conclusions:
- High-intensity training induces muscle damage in swimmers, indicated by elevated CK and LDH.
- Fluid intake, specifically a glucose-electrolyte solution, can attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage.
- Further research is needed to explore dietary manipulation effects.