BackgroundThe effect of deep mineral water (DMW) with moderate mineralization on the recovery of physical performance after prolonged dehydrating aerobic exercise in the heat was studied in nine healthy, physically active (VO2max = 45.8 ± 8.4 mL kg−1 min−1) women aged 24.0 ± 3.7 years.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover human study to evaluate the effect of ingestion of natural mineral water extracted from a depth of 689 m on recovery from prolonged fatiguing aerobic running conducted at 30°C.ResultsMean body weight decreased by 2.6–2.8% following dehydrating exercise. VO2max was 9% higher after 4 h of recovery after rehydrating with DMW compared with plain water. Leg muscle power recovered better during the slow phase of recovery and was significantly higher after 48 h of recovery after rehydrating with DMW compared with plain water.ConclusionsDMW with moderate mineralization was more effective in inducing recovery of aerobic capacity and leg muscle power compared with plain water following prolonged dehydrating aerobic running exercise.

Background Recent evidence indicates that elevating plasma nitrites through dietary nitrates (NO 3 − ) supplementation is associated with enhanced muscle efficiency, fatigue resistance and performance. Beetroot (in various forms) is the dominant source of dietary NO 3 − primarily due to its vast availability and the simple form of preparation suitable for final consumption. After a few years of research and experimentation, our scientific team identified alternative source rich with dietary NO 3 − as possible nitric oxide precursor, amaranth ( Amaranthus hypochondriacus ) with a standardized concentration 9–11% of NO 3 − . This study aimed to evaluate the effect of single-dose (±400 mg of dietary NO 3 − ) and long-term (6 days) supplementation of amaranth concentrate derived dietary NO 3 − on aerobic capacity in physically active young people. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study. Thirteen healthy and physically active young male participants were randomized into experimental and placebo groups. The aerobic capacity was tested during increasing cycling exercise (ICE) with pulmonary gas exchange recording and analysis. Results The peak power of the ICE, the maximum oxygen consumption and the first ventilatory threshold were significantly increased after long-term consumption of dietary amaranth (from 4.44 ± 0.50 to 4.55 ± 0.43 W/kg; from 37.7 ± 2.7 to 41.2 ± 5.4 mL/kg/min and from 178.6 ± 30.3 to 188.6 ± 35.2 W, p < 0.05; respectively) in experimental group. Conclusions Long-term (6 days) use of dietary NO 3 − from amaranth may improve the aerobic capacity during ICE in young physically active male persons. It can be recommended as the nutritional supplement during last week of preparation for competition in endurance events.

Abstract. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 have beneficial effects on different blood, cardiovascular parameters and physical performance. However, the effect of low-dose omega-3 fatty acid supplementation remains unclear. 84 office workers aged 40–60 years, participated in a 16-week open, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. The experimental group received 330 mg of omega-3 fatty acid and 0.005 mg (200 IU) of vitamin D3 per day and the control group received placebo. Anthropometric, biochemical blood and respiratory indices were measured at 12 and 16 weeks. Body mass (BM) and body mass index (BMI) significantly reduced in both the experimental (BM from 74.4 ± 13.04 to 73.2 ± 13.02 kg, p < 0.001; BMI from 25.8 ± 4.1 to 25.4 ± 4.3 kg/m2, p < 0.001) and the placebo groups (BM from 69.5 ± 11. to 68.7 ± 11.4 kg, p < 0.05; BMI from 24.1 ± 4.0 to 23.8 ± 4.2 kg/m2, p < 0.05). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation significantly improved glucose (from 5.12 ± 0.55 to 4.97 ± 0.62 mmol/l; p = 0.05), total cholesterol (from 5.86 ± 1.0 to 5.32 ± 1.55 mmol/l; p = 0.003), and vitamin D levels (from 35.07 ± 21.65 to 68.63 ± 25.94 nmol/l; p = 0.000). Maximal oxygen consumption (from 33.7 ± 2.4 to 36.6 ± 3.2 ml/kg/min, p = 0.035), forced vital capacity (from 3.5 ± 0.6 to 3.9 ± 0.9 l, p = 0.044), forced expiratory volume (from 3.2 ± 0.6 to 3.5 ± 0.7 l, p = 0.014), and peak expiratory flow (from 6.7 ± 1.4 to 7.5 ± 1.6 l/s, p = 0.019) also slightly improved in the omega-3 fatty acid group. Daily supplementation of 330 mg of omega-3 fatty acids had a slight positive impact on total cholesterol and glucose level, while there was no effect on low and high density lipoproteins, and triglycerides levels. Therefore, dose of 330 mg per day seems as insufficient.

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Research background and hypothesis. Motor learning is characterized by specific set of changes in performance parameters which occur gradually over a course of learning period.Research aim. The aim of the study was to establish and compare the characteristics of learning speed-accuracy movements of children and adults. Research methods. The research participants were 13 healthy boys, 16 girls, 5 healthy men and 7 women. The research was carried out applying the analyzer of dynamic parameters of human leg and arm movement (DPA-1). We registered maximal and average movement speed, the reaction time and the movement trajectory of the right hand. Research results. We established signifi cant differences (p < 0.05–0.001) in reaction time (RT), average movement speed (Va), maximal movement speed (Vm) and movement trajectory (S) between children and adults. Discussion and conclusions. Motor adaptation in timescales of minutes is supported by two distinct processes: one process when a person learns slowly from errors but has strong retention, and another process is when a person learns rapidly from errors but has poor retention (Ethier et al., 2008). We might only speculate that children used the second strategy more than adults. The time of fast learning in a speed-accuracy task was different between children and adults. The accuracy was most improved by children at the expense of the quickness, while adults improved only the average velocity of their performance. Besides, most of the variability of performance variables changed more signifi cantly in children than in adults.