Increases in the incremental exercise mean response time across the steady state domain:Implications for exercise testing&prescription

We hypothesized that slowed oxygen uptake(VO_(2))kinetics for exercise transitions to higher power outputs(PO)within the steady state(SS)domain would increase the mean response time(MRT)with increasing exercise intensity during incremental exercise.Fourteen highly trained cyclists(mean±standard deviation[SD]);age(39±6)years[yr];and VO_(2) peak=(61±9)mL/kg/min performed a maximal,ramp incremental cycling test and on separate days,four 6-min bouts of cycling at 30%,45%,65%&75% of their incremental peak PO(Wpeak).SS trial data were used to calculate the MRT and verified by mono-exponential and linear curve fitting.When the ramp protocol attained the value from SS,the PO,in Watts(W),was converted to time(min)based on the ramp function W to quantify the incremental MRT(iMRT).Slope analyses for the VO_(2) responses of the SS versus incremental exercise data below the gas exchange threshold(GET)revealed a significant difference(p=0.003;[0.437±0.08]vs.[0.382±0.05]L·min^(-1)).There was a significant difference between the 45%Wpeak steady state VO_(2)(ss VO_(2))([3.08±0.30]L·min^(-1),respectively),and 30% Wpeak ss VO_(2)(2.26±0.24)(p<0.0001;[3.61±0.80]vs.[2.20±0.39]L·min^(-1))and between the iMRT for 45% and 30% Wpeak ss VO_(2) values([50.58±36.85]s vs.[32.20±43.28]s).These data indicate there is no single iMRT,which is consistent with slowed VO_(2) kinetics and an increasing VO_(2) deficit for higher exercise intensities within the SS domain.

Effects of Rhodiola rosea supplementation on mental performance,physical capacity,and oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy men

Purpose： The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic Rhodiola rosea （R. rosea） supplementation on mental and physical performance, as well as hormonal and oxidative stress biomarkers. Methods： Twenty-six healthy male students received either R. rosea extract （600 mg/day; RR） or placebo （PL） in a randomized double-blind trial. Prior to supplementation （Term I） and following 4 weeks of supplementation （Term II）, the students underwent psychomotor tests for simple and choice reaction time, included in the Vienna Test System. Also, the subjects performed VO2peak test. Blood samples were obtained before and after the test to measure the hormonal profile （cortisol, testosterone, and growth hormone）, as well as the biomarkers of oxidative stress （lipid hydroperoxides, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase） and muscle damage （creatine kinase）. Results： R. rosea ingestion shortened reaction time and total response time. Moreover, a greater relative increase in the number of correct responses was observed in RR group as compared to the PL group. No changes in endurance exercise capacity and hormonal profile were observed after R. rosea ingestion. R. rosea ingestion raised plasma total antioxidant capacity. It did not, however, affect other measured parameters. Conclusion： Chronic R. rosea ingestion does not affect physical performance, but can improve the results of some psychomotor tests （simple and choice reaction time） in young, healthy, and physically active men. The improvements in mental performance, however, at least in our study, seem not to be related to changes in cortisol release or antioxidant activity of R. rosea extract. Thus, the specific mechanisms responsible for these effects still need to be elucidated.2018 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. （http：//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/）.