Oxidative stress, inflammation, psychological status, and severity of respiratory infections are negatively affected during the pre-contest period in amateur bodybuilders

Abstract

We examined whether off-season (OffS) and pre-contest (PreC) periods affect blood oxidative stress, inflammatory, immunological, and psychological markers in 20 bodybuilders. The athletes recorded their food intake (3-day record), physical activities, mood states (Profile of Mood States, POMS), recovery-stress (Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes, RESTQ-Sport), and upper respiratory symptoms (Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey, WURSS-21), and blood was obtained for biochemical analysis. Almost all athletes were in positive energy balance during OffS, while bodybuilders presented markedly restricted energy intake (∼45%) leading to loss of weight (–9%) and fat mass (–45%) with preservation of fat-free mass in PreC. Protein intake was high during both periods, while lipid and carbohydrate intakes were reduced ∼50% in PreC. Almost all athletes consumed 100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for micronutrients in OffS, while 45% and 75% of the athletes had intakes below the RDA for vitamins A and E in PreC. Oxidative damage to lipids (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS), protein carbonyls, and the TBARS/total antioxidant capacity ratio increased in PreC (32%, 27%, 60%), as did plasma tumor necrosis factor α (4-fold) and WURSS-21 scores (25%). There were no significant changes in serum catalase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase activities nor in interleukin 1β and immunoglobulins. In PreC, POMS showed negative changes in vigor (–20%), fatigue (23%), and total mood disturbance (35%), and RESTQ-Sport showed alterations for general and sport stress (34% and 50%, respectively) and sport recovery (–23%). Thus, PreC negatively affects nutrient intake, which may worsen oxidative stress, inflammation, psychological status, and the severity of respiratory infections in bodybuilders.

Training Programs Designed for Muscle Hypertrophy in Bodybuilders: A Narrative Review

“…Observational evidence may also indicate that some athletes choose to maintain high loads, decreasing the training volume, while using some sets near to failure, and with intraset rest intervals due to fatigue and tiredness induced by severe caloric restriction. The weeks before competing also involve protocols to induce dehydration and a very low carbohydrate intake, which may also contribute to these training strategies [ 27 ].…”

The Impact of Diabetes Mellitus in COVID-19: A Mechanistic Review of Molecular Interactions

“…It plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of various complications of DM as well as viral respiratory disorders [ 51 – 54 ]. In addition to damaging various biological molecules in the respiratory tract, this pathologic milieu initiates and progresses other molecular mechanisms involved in respiratory infections such as uncontrolled apoptosis or necrotic processes [ 53 , 55 ]. Using antioxidant supplements could sometimes help as adjuvant therapy for the management of certain respiratory infections [ 55 ].…”

A Useful Blood Flow Restriction Training Risk Stratification for Exercise and Rehabilitation

“…The same strategy of negative energy balance occurs in other sport disciplines associated with pre-contest periods, such as in Taekwondo ( Rhyu et al, 2014 ). Such strategies might initiate negative mood alterations, autonomic deregulation, compromised force-generating capacity, as well as elevations in cortisol and reductions in testosterone levels ( de Moraes et al, 2019 ). Moreover, the pre-contest period might induce damage to cell components and greater severity of upper respiratory tract infections from an increase of inflammatory mediators and pro-oxidant markers ( Fry et al, 2008 ).…”

“…Recently, a study showed that severe restriction energy intake during the pre-contest period was associated with an increase in oxidative stress markers (TBARS, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls), impaired upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione reductase, catalase activity, and superoxide dismutase), and decreased plasma total antioxidant capacity ( Rhyu et al, 2014 ; de Moraes et al, 2019 ). Moreover, a previous study revealed that during the pre-contest preparation period, different strategies (AS, clenbuterol, thyroid hormone, and ephedrine) might result in maladaptive effects on the lipid profile and alteration of transaminases, increasing the atherosclerotic heart disease risk and liver dysfunction ( de Souza et al, 2018 ).…”