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Twelve‐Week Colostrum Bovinum Supplementation Supports Aerobic Capacity but has No Effect on Body Composition in Endurance‐Trained Males: A Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Study
ABSTRACTTwenty‐eight endurance‐trained males aged 31.1 ± 10.2 years (body mass [BM] 81.9 ± 9.0 kg) completed this randomized double‐blind placebo (PLA)‐controlled crossover study investigating the effect of 12‐week Colostrum Bovinum (COL) supplementation (25gCOL·day−1) on aerobic fitness and capacity, time to exhaustion, BM and body composition (BC), and blood lactate concentration. There were four main—before/after supplementation study visits (COLPRE and COLPOST; PLAPRE, and PLAPOST). During study visits, BM and BC evaluation, incremental rowing test (IRT) to exhaustion, and evaluation of resting (REST) and post‐exercise (POST‐IRT) blood lactate concentration were performed. COL, but not PLA supplementation, significantly increased (p < 0.05) time to ventilatory threshold (TVT). Moreover, the implemented treatments had large (mL·min−1) and moderate (mL·min−1·kg−1) effects on oxygen uptake at VT (VO2VT), as well as moderate effect on power output at VT (PVT; W·kg−1) with the highest values observed at COLPOST visit. Neither significant influence of COL supplementation on time to exhaustion (TEXH) in IRT, BM, and BC on blood lactate was observed. Importantly, there were significantly (p < 0.05) higher increases in VO2VT (mL·min−1 and mL·min−1·kg−1) after COL compared to PLA supplementation. In summary, COL supplementation resulted in a favorable increase in TVT, and tended to improve some of the evaluated threshold indicators, namely VO2VT and PVT in endurance‐trained male athletes during IRT. Therefore, COL supplementation may be considered as a support to improve aerobic fitness and capacity in endurance‐trained males; however, supplementation strategy must be personalized and properly incorporated into the individual training.Trial RegistrationThe study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06390670)
Allostatic load and frailty do not covary significantly among older residents of Greater Poland
Abstract Background Physiological dysregulation/allostatic load and the geriatric syndrome frailty increase with age. As a neurophysiological response system, allostasis supports survival by limiting stressor-related damage. Frailty reflects decreased strength, endurance, and physical abilities secondary to losses of muscle and bone with age. One suggestion, based on large cohort studies of person’s ages 70 + years, is that frailty contributes to allostatic load at older ages. However, small community-based research has not confirmed this specific association. Methods To further explore possible associations between allostatic load and frailty, we enrolled 211 residents of Greater Poland aged 55–91 years living in a small village (Nekla, N = 104) and an urban center and capital of Greater Poland (Poznan, N = 107). For each, we recorded age, self-reported sex, and residence and estimated a 10-biomarker allostatic load score (ALS) and an 8-biomarker frailty index. We anticipated the following: higher ALS and frailty among men and rural residents; for frailty but not ALS to be higher at older ages; significant associations of ALS with sex and place of residence, but not with age or frailty. The significance of observed associations was evaluated by t-tests and multivariate regression. Results ALS did not vary significantly between men and women nor between Nekla and Poznan residents overall. However, women showed significantly higher frailty than men. Nekla men showed significantly higher ALS but not frailty, while Nekla women showed nonsignificantly higher ALS and lower frailty than Poznan. In multivariate analyses, neither age, nor sex, nor residence was associated with ALS. Conversely, age, sex, and residence, but not ALS, are associated significantly with frailty. In Nekla, both age and sex, but in Poznan only age, are associated with ALS. Among women, both age and residence, but among men, neither associated with ALS. In no case did ALS associate significantly with frailty. Conclusion In this sample, lifestyle factors associated with residence, age, and sex influence stress-related physiology, less so in women, while ALS and frailty do not covary, suggesting their underlying promoters are distinct. Similar complex associations of physiological dysregulation with frailty, age, sex, and residence likely exist within many local settings. Knowledge of this variation likely will aid in supporting health and healthcare services among seniors.
Does Colostrum Bovinum Supplementation Affect Swimming Performance in Endurance-Trained Males? A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study
Background/Objectives: Colostrum Bovinum (COL) is recognized for its unique composition and potential ergogenic and immunological benefits. Unlike mature milk, COL is rich in immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and various growth factors, making it one of the most potent natural immune stimulants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12-weeks of COL supplementation on swimming-specific performance (SSP) and exercise adaptations in endurance-trained male athletes. Methods: Twenty-eight male triathletes and swimmers (age: 31.1 ± 10.2 years; body mass: 81.9 ± 9.0 kg; height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA)-controlled crossover study and received 25 g∙day−1 of COL or PLA for 12 weeks. The study assessed the effects of COL on SSP (8 × 100 m performed at various intensities) and exercise adaptations [heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentrations ([La−])]. Four main study visits were conducted—before and after COL (COLPRE and COLPOST) and PLA (PLAPRE and PLAPOST) supplementation. Results: COL had no significant effect on SSP. Still, the total time of the SSP test was about ~3.04 s shorter after COL supplementation, and ~7.13 s longer after PLA supplementation. Neither COL nor PLA supplementation affected HR during the SSP test. Post-exercise blood [La−] was significantly reduced after both COL and PLA supplementation. The analysis of SSP results in the consecutive study visits revealed possible existence of the practice effect. Conclusions: Colostrum Bovinum and high-quality milk protein (PLA) seem to be comparably effective in evoking exercise adaptation in endurance-trained male athletes. Long-term crossover supplementation protocols in athletes must consider the impact of possible practice effect when interpreting the outcomes related to exercise performance, but not biochemical or physiological markers of exercise adaptation.
Effects of chronic betaine supplementation on exercise performance: Systematic review and meta-analysis
The effect of 12-week high-dose Colostrum Bovinum supplementation on immunological, hematological and biochemical markers in endurance athletes: a randomized crossover placebo-controlled study
BackgroundBovine colostrum (COL) is assumed to be one of the strongest natural immune stimulants. Regular ingestion of COL may contribute to improved immune response in athletes exposed to high training loads.MethodsTwenty-eight endurance-trained males aged 31.1 ± 10.2 years (body mass 81.9 ± 9.0 kg; height 1.82 ± 0.06 m) completed this randomized double-blind placebo(PLA)-controlled crossover study aimed at investigating the effect of 12-week COL supplementation (25gCOL·day-1) on resting (REST), exercise-induced (POST-EX), and short-term post-exercise recovery (REC; 1 h after test exercise) changes in selected saliva and blood immunoglobulins (Ig), white blood cell (WBC) count and differential; as well as blood hematological, nutritional status and muscle damage indices. The protocol assumed 4 study visits – before/after supplementation with COL (COLPRE and COLPOST) and PLA (PLAPRE and PLAPOST). During testing sessions, incremental rowing test to exhaustion and swimming-specific performance test were introduced as exercise stimuli.ResultsAt COLPOST visit the secretory IgA (SIgA) concentration in saliva was significantly higher at POST-EX and REC compared to REST (p<0.05). COL supplementation had no effect on blood IgA, IgE, IgD, IgG, and IgM concentrations. Furthermore, after COL supplementation decrease of hematocrit at REC (p<0.05) was revealed.Conclusions12-week supplementation with 25 gCOL·day-1 in endurance-trained male athletes resulted in a favorable increase in post-exercise concentration of salivary SIgA. COL seems to be a potential stimulator of local immune defense after exercise-induced homeostasis disturbances. Nevertheless, the lack of effect on blood markers indicates the need for further research in the area of mechanisms underlying the effect of the supposed COL immunological capacity.