Change in stature by walking and running at a preferred transition speed

This study aimed to measure stature changes during and after walking and running at a preferred transition speed (PTS) and the recovery period, and to examine differences caused by loads imposed on the spinal column. Seven males and three females aged 22-41 years took part in this study. Subjects The subjects underwent 15 minutes of walking or running on a treadmill in a random order. Stature changes were measured during each exercise at intervals of 5 minutes and after a 20 minute standing recovery period within units of 0.01 mm. Two- way ANOVA revealed that both main factors, gait (F = 5.250, P < 0.05) and elapsed time (F = 14.409, P < 0.05), had a significant effect on stature. In the post hoc test, stature shrank with time and its loss was found to be greater in running than in walking, but recovered after both exercises. In conclusion, the spinal load increases with time during both walking and running at PTS, but is greater in running than in walking. After both exercises, spinal shrinkage shows a similar recovery process and recovers faster in walking to its pre-exercise level.

Relationship between Extent of Coffee Intake and Recognition of Its Effects and Ingredients

This study examined the relationship between number of cups of coffee intake and recognition of the effects of coffee intake and its ingredients in young males and females. The subjects included 624 young people (ages 15 - 24;359 males, 265 females), who drank coffee habitually. They were classified into three groups on the basis of the number of cups of coffee consumed per day: “one cup,” “two cups,” and “over three cups.” In males, about 25% of the “over three cups” group expected “resolution of stress” from coffee, and this percentage was higher than that in the other groups. In females, about 18% of the same group had similar expectations;however, no significant group difference was found among the three groups. Few persons expected protective effects of diabetes mellitus and cancer in both genders (about 5% answer rate). About 20% of males and 18% of females in the “over three cups” group recognized the “laxative property” of coffee intake, and a significant group difference was found only in males. Even in the “one cup” group, over 77% knew that “caffeine” is an ingredient of coffee;however, few persons (under 15%) knew “poly-phenol,” which has protective effects of diabetes mellitus and cancer. In addition, no significant group difference was found in both genders. In conclusion, regardless of the coffee intake cup-number in both genders, recognition of the effects of coffee intake was low in both males and females and the recognition of effects differs by the intake cup-number in males. Only few persons knew the other ingredients in coffee apart from “caffeine.”

The effect of ornithine ingestion on carbohydrate metabolism during rest after acute resistance exercise in healthy young males

The effect of oral L-ornithine hydrochloride (0.1 g/kg BW) on energy expenditure during a rest period from 120 to 180 min after resistance exercise was evaluated by indirect calorimetry. Healthy male subjects who have no habit of resistance training underwent resistance exercise (chest press, lat pulldown, leg press, shoulder press, leg extension, and leg curl), with 3 sets of each exercise and 10 repetitions in each set at 90-s intervals, 30 min after ingestion of ornithine or placebo. Plasma ornithine levels immediately after, and 120 and 180 min after, resistance exercise were significantly greater after ingestion of ornithine than of placebo (Treatment: F = 347.1, P p2 = 0.95;Interaction: F = 160.7, P p2 = 0.95), but no significant difference in serum growth hormone levels was observed between the two treatments (Treatment: F = 0.1, P = 0.751, ηp2 = 0.01;Time: F = 1.7, P = 0.229, ηp2 = 0.16;Interaction: F = 2.4, P = 0.155, ηp2 = 0.21). Although there was no between-treatment difference in energy expenditure during the rest period 120 to 180 min after resistance exercise (Treatment: F = 0.1, P = 0.718, ηp2 = 0.02;Time: F = 0.1, P = 0.767, ηp2 = 0.01;Interaction: F = 0.1, P = 0.112, ηp2 = 0.26), with ornithine ingestion carbohydrate oxidation was significantly greater than with placebo from 170 to 180 min after exercise (Treatment: F = 0.8, P = 0.383, ηp2 = 0.09;Time: F = 9.7, P = 0.013, ηp2 = 0.52;Interaction: F = 5.8, P = 0.039, ηp2 = 0.39). Moreover, 180 min after exercise, serum free fatty acid levels after ornithine ingestion were lower than after placebo (Treatment: F = 0.3, P = 0.602, ηp2 = 0.03;Time: F = 34.6, P p2 = 0.79;Interaction: F = 5.6, P = 0.042, ηp2 = 0.38). A similar trend in 3-hydroxybutylate was observed. In conclusion, ornithine ingestion before resistance exercise may enhance post-exercise carbohydrate oxidation without changing total energy expenditure.