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Adam J. Wells, Adam M. Gonzalez, Gerald T. Mangine, Nadia S. Emerson, William P. McCormack, Adam R. Jajtner, Jeremy R. Townsend, Tyler C. Scanlon, Edward H. Robinson IV, Jeffrey R. Stout, FACSM, Jay R. Hoffman, FACSM, and Maren S. Fragala

Institute of Exercise Physiology & Wellness, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA,

ABSTRACT

RESULTS

METHODS

REFERENCES

Phosphatidylserine (PS) supplementation may play a role in attenuating the adverse effects of physical fatigue on cognition, mood, and motor function. However, the results from recent investigations remain equivocal. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of ingesting a supplement (S) containing PS (400 mg·day-1) and caffeine (100 mg·day-1) for 14 days, on measures of cognitive function (CF), reaction time (RT), and mood (MD), following an acute exercise stress. METHODS: Twenty-one recreationally trained men and women (age: 22.5 ± 3.4 yrs; height: 1.76 ± 1.0 m; weight: 77.6 ± 12.6 kg; body fat: 14.6 ± 6.6 %) volunteered for this double-blind, controlled study. Participants completed two acute bouts of resistance exercise (T1 and T2), separated by two weeks of supplementation with S or control (C). Measures of RT (Dynavision D2), CF (Serial Subtraction Test), and MD (Profile of Mood States) were assessed pre and post exercise at T1 and T2. A 2 x 2 (time x treatment) repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: When collapsed across groups, a significant decrease (p = 0.05) in RT performance (# of strikes) was seen in the 60-second reaction drill from pre to post exercise at T1. All other RT tests were similar from pre to post exercise at T1. RT was not significantly changed in response to PS (p > 0.05), and no significant between group differences were noted at T2. When collapsed across groups, a significant increase in the number of correct answers, and a significant decrease in time to answer was seen from pre to post workout at T1 (p = 0.004 and p = 0.007, respectively) and T2 (p = 0.004 and 0.018, respectively) in the CF test. A significant increase in total mood score was observed for C but not for S (p = 0.034). Additionally, C experienced a 13% greater increase (p = 0.031) in pre to post exercise perception of fatigue compared to S. A significant decrease in confusion was observed in S at T2 (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: Ingestion of 400 mg·day-1 PS and 100 mg·day-1 of caffeine for 14-days appears to attenuate post-exercise MD scores and perception of fatigue, but does not improve reaction time in recreationally trained individuals following acute resistance exercise. An acute bout of resistance exercise may improve CF; however, PS provides no further benefit.

INTRODUCTION

• 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) was determined in the bench-press and barbell back squat exercises. A 10-RM was determined for deadlift, incline bench-press and bent-over row exercises.

• Statistical analysis of the data was accomplished using a 2 x 2 (time x treatment) repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) at T1 and T2. In the event of a significant F-ratio, Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used for pairwise comparisons.

• To examine the effects of 2 weeks supplementation with 400 mg·day-1 PS on measures of cognitive function, reaction time and mood in healthy young adults, following an acute exercise stress designed to elicit fatigue.

PURPOSE

Measures

• Visual and motor and physical reaction time were assessed with the Dynavision® D2 Visuomotor training device.

• Cognitive function was assessed using a verbally administered Serial Subtraction Test.

• Mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States Questionnaire (POMS).

• PS is a phospholipid found predominantly in the myelin of brain tissue.• Prior research indicates that PS is a key activator of protein kinases responsible for

the modulation of nerve cell integrity [1,2].• Previous studies have shown that PS can significantly enhance cognition [3] and

time to exhaustion [4,5]. • The integration of supplemental PS into cellular membranes may stimulate neural

amplification, possibly augmenting both cognition and motor function [6,7], however the efficacy of supplemental PS remains equivocal.

• Differences in the findings of previous studies may be related to the level of fatigue associated with the protocol.

SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

THE EFFECTS OF A SUPPLEMENT DESIGNED TO ATTENUATE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF FATIGUE

• Ingestion of 400 mg·day-1 of PS for 14-days attenuates post-exercise mood scores and perception of fatigue.

• Participants ingesting PS were able to maintain TMS from pre to post exercise, while participants consuming a control experienced a significant increase in total mood disturbance.

• Perception of fatigue from pre to post-exercise was significantly attenuated in participants ingesting PS.

• An acute bout of resistance exercise appears to improve cognitive performance; however PS provides no further benefit.

• Supplementing with PS does not appear to improve reaction time.

Serial Subtraction Test. Two-minute timed verbal test in which participants were required to

subtract the number 7 from a random computer generated four-digit number.

Table 1: Reaction Time

* = Main effect p = ≤ 0.05. Data presented as Mean ± SD.

* = Main effect p = ≤ 0.05. Data presented as Mean ± SD.

Table 2: POMS

T1 (Pre-Ingestion)

T2 (Post-Ingestion)

Test Measure Pre Exer Post Exer Pre Exer Post Exer

Serial Subtraction Test

Number of correct answers

CON 34.2 ± 8.8 36.3 ± 10.5* 36.8 ± 12.1 39.3 ± 11.6*

SUP 30.7 ± 9.3 34.5 ± 9.5*

32.8 ± 9.6 35.3 ± 10.3*

Avg. Time per Answer

(s)

CON 3.8 ± 1.1 3.6 ± 1.1*

3.8 ± 1.6 3.4 ± 1.5*

SUP 4.2 ± 1.3 3.8 ± 1.1* 3.9 ± 1.0 3.7 ± 1.1*

1

Table 3: Serial Subtraction Test

* = Main effect p = ≤ 0.05. Data presented as Mean ± SD.

Dynavision D2 Visuomotor Training Device

METHODS CONT.

• Twenty-one healthy resistance trained men (n=17) and women (n=4); age: 22.5 ± 3.4 yrs; height: 1.76 ± 1.0 m; weight: 77.6 ± 12.6 kg; body fat: 14.6 ± 6.6 %; completed two acute bouts of resistance exercise.

• Measures of reaction time, cognition and mood state were assessed immediately pre and post workout at T1 and T2.

• The exercise protocol consisted of 4 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of 1-RM with 90 s rest between sets and exercises.

RESULTS CONT.

Study Design Schematic

RESULTS CONT.

Reaction Time• No significant differences were seen in visual, motor, or physical RT from PRE to

POST workout at T1 (p = 0.853, p = 0.224 and p = 0.294 respectively) or T2 (p = 0.502, p = 0.841 and p = 0.646 respectively).

Cognition• A significant increase in the number of correct answers was seen pre to post exercise

at both T1 (p = 0.004) and T2 (p = 0.004) in the serial subtraction test. A significant decrease in time to answer was seen at both T1 (p = 0.007) and T2 (p = 0.018).

• No differences were noted between groups at T1 or T2 in any of the serial subtraction tests.

MoodT1• At T1, significant increases were seen in total mood score (TMS; p = 0.000), fatigue

(p = 0.000), tension (p = 0.034) and depression (p = 0.048), with a significant decrease in vigor (p = 0.021 from PRE to POST workout.

• No changes were noted in confusion or anger at T1.T2• A significant interaction (p=0.034) for TMS was observed at T2. Post-hoc analysis

demonstrated a significant increase in TMS for CON (p = 0.003) however, no significant change was observed for SUP (p = 0.166).

• Significant elevations in fatigue were observed in CON (p=0.00) and SUP (p=0.016) following the workout at T2. However, significant interaction (p=0.031) indicates that the magnitude of change in fatigue was greater in CON (+29%) compared to SUP (+16%).

T1 (Pre-Ingestion)

T2 (Post-Ingestion)

Test Measure Pre Exer Post Exer Pre Exer Post Exer

Profile of Mood States

(POMS)

Total Mood Score

CON 231.7 ± 18.5 260.5 ± 16.6* 227.3 ± 12.8 254.2 ± 20.6*$

SUP 233.6 ± 9.3 249.3 ± 13.1*

234.5 ± 10.2 241.8 ± 13.7*

Fatigue CON 38.9 ± 6.9 54.2 ± 9.7*

36.5 ± 5.6 51.7 ± 9.5*$

SUP 35.7 ± 3.4 47.9 ± 8.4*

38.0 ± 4.9 45.1 ± 7.6*

Tension CON 39.0 ± 3.8 41.5 ± 6.1*

35.5 ± 4.1 39.3 ± 7.7

SUP 39.4 ± 6.0 42.8 ± 8.7*

38.5 ± 5.4 38.1 ± 4.0

Vigor CON 56.4 ± 13.7 45.2 ± 9.9*$

52.8 ± 14.5 44.4 ± 12.8

SUP 52.8 ± 13.5 52.2 ± 17.7

52.5 ± 12.3 50.6 ± 14.1

Depression CON 37.0 ± 0.0 37.3 ± 0.5*

37.0 ± 0.0 37.18 ± 0.4

SUP 37.0 ± 0.0 37.1 ± 0.3*

37.0 ± 0.0 37.0 ± 0.0

Confusion CON 35.2 ± 1.4 35.1 ± 2.7

33.6 ± 2.4 33.0 ± 1.8

SUP 35.8 ± 3.4 34.9 ± 3.6

35.3 ± 2.4 33.7 ± 3.2*

Anger CON 38.0 ± 1.6 37.7 ± 1.3

37.5 ± 1.3 37.4 ± 0.8

SUP 38.5 ± 2.4 38.8 ± 2.6 38.2 ± 2.0 38.5 ± 2.4

T1 (Pre-Ingestion)

T2 (Post-Ingestion)

Test Measure Pre Exer Post Exer Pre Exer Post Exer

Simple RT (s)

Visual CON 0.37 ± 0.04 0.36 ± 0.04 0.36 ± 0.04 0.35 ± 0.04

SUP 0.34 ± 0.05 0.34 ± 0.06

0.33 ± 0.04 0.33 ± 0.04

Motor CON 0.22 ± 0.04 0.23 ± 0.06

0.19 ± 0.04 0.19 ± 0.04

SUP 0.23 ± 0.05 0.26 ± 0.07

0.25 ± 0.07 0.25 ± 0.06

Physical CON 0.58 ± 0.04 0.59 ± 0.07

0.56 ± 0.05 0.54 ± 0.05

SUP 0.57 ± 0.07 0.60 ± 0.11 0.58 ± 0.09 0.58 ± 0.06

60 s Reaction Test

Strikes CON 89.5 ± 10.7 83.6 ± 12.2* 92.6 ± 7.8 89.5 ± 12.8

SUP 91.7 ± 7.9 89.4 ± 10.5*

92.5 ± 9.3 91.5 ± 8.5

Avg. Time per Strike

(s)

CON 0.68 ± 0.08 0.72 ± 0.12

0.64 ± 0.05 0.68 ± 0.12

SUP 0.66 ± 0.06 0.68 ± 0.08 0.65 ± 0.07 0.65 ± 0.06

60 s Reaction Test w/ Cognitive Stress

Strikes CON 75.1 ± 14.8 70.9 ± 12.7 80.5 ± 9.7 78.9 ± 16.9

SUP 78.1 ± 12.4 76.4 ± 12.9 81.0 ± 8.7 82.4 ± 9.5

Pre Workout Post Workout Pre Workout Post WorkoutCON SUP

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

227.27 254.18 233.00 241.00

Change in Total Mood score – T2

Tota

l Moo

d Sc

ore

p = 0.003 p = 0.166

Pre Workout Post Workout Pre Workout Post WorkoutCON SUP

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

36.45 51.73 38.00 46.00

Change in Fatigue T-Score – T2

Fatig

ue T

-Sco

re

* $ 29% * 16%

Figure 1: Changes in mood disturbance from pre to post workout following 14 days supplementation with 400 mg·day-1 PS and 100 mg·day-1 of caffeine.

Figure 2: Changes in mood disturbance from pre to post workout following 14 days supplementation with 400 mg·day-1 PS and 100 mg·day-1 of caffeine. * Significant change within groups p = ≤ 0.05; $ Significant interaction between groups p = ≤ 0.05