Carbohydrate consumption after workouts benefits your immune system

BY NARATTAPAT WATCHARAPARIYAPAT ID:5580081

MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE (MUIC)

Introduction (1)

• Immune System• B-cells (B-lymphocytes)• T-cells (T-lymphocytes)

• Carbohydrates (CHO)• Cm(H2O)n• Most basic is glucose (C6H12O6)• Complex CHO Simple CHO Glucose

• Cells use glucose as main energy source

(1) Campbell N, Reece J. Biology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings; 2002.

From http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/mph-modules/eh/eh_immunity_b/HumoralVersusTCellTable.png

T-cells & Glucose (2)

• Survival

• Activation

• Proliferation into various types

• Cytokine Production• IL-2 (Interleukin-2)

(2) Maciver N, Jacobs S, Wieman H, Wofford J, Coloff J, Rathmell J. Glucose metabolism in lymphocytes is a regulated process with significant effects on immune cell function and survival. Journal Of Leukocyte Biology [serial on the Internet]. (2008, Oct), [cited March 26, 2014]; 84 (4): 949-957. Available from: MEDLINE.

From http://www.nature.com/

Methods

• e-Database (Mahidol University)

• VPN@Mahidol

• Search Engine (Google)

• Endnote X7.0

Results

Paper 1• Subjects: 13 volunteered men

Characteristic Mean SD Range

Age, year 20.38 1.61 18.00–24.00

Height, cm 180.28 6.13 165.10–190.60

Body mass, kg 71.81 5.01 64.80–75.00

Percent body fat, % 7.87 3.20 4.22–12.77

VO2 max, ml/kg/min 59.79 5.13 50.30–69.30

VO2max measured via an ergometer

From http://www.physedandrec.ualberta.ca/

Paper 1• Protocol:• 2 trails; Carbohydrate (CHO) and Placebo• CHO Trail consumed carbohydrate drinks (15g

CHO/250 ml)• Placebo Trail consumed water (250 ml)

• Same exercise routine• 1 hour exercise on an ergometer • At 75-80% of VO2 max

• Blood Collection• Pre-exercise Post-exercise 2 hours later 4

hours later

Paper 1• Results (original)

Means ± SD for helper T-cells Means ± SD for cytotoxic T-cells

McFarlin B, Flynn M, Stewart L, Timmerman K. Carbohydrate intake during endurance exercise increases natural killer cell responsiveness to IL-2. Journal Of Applied Physiology [serial on the Internet]. (2004, Jan 1), [cited March 26, 2014]; 96(1): 271-275. Available from: Scopus®.

Paper 1• Results (cont.)

Means ± SD for NK cells (Natural Killer cells)

McFarlin B, Flynn M, Stewart L, Timmerman K. Carbohydrate intake during endurance exercise increases natural killer cell responsiveness to IL-2. Journal Of Applied Physiology [serial on the Internet]. (2004, Jan 1), [cited March 26, 2014]; 96(1): 271-275. Available from: Scopus®.

Paper 2

• Subjects: 6 well-trained male cyclists

Characteristic Range

Age, year 25 ± 5

Height, meter 1.82 ± 0.06

Body mass, kg 74.00 ± 8.00

Mean max. Heart Rate, beats/min 181.00 ± 8.00

VO2 max, ml/kg/min 56.00 ± 2.00

Green K, Croaker S, Rowbottom D. Carbohydrate supplementation and exercise-induced changes in T-lymphocyte function. Journal Of Applied Physiology [serial on the Internet]. (2003, Sep 1), [cited March 27, 2014]; 95(3): 1216-1223. Available from: Scopus®.

Paper 2• Protocols:• 2 trails; Carbohydrate (CHO) and Placebo• CHO Trail consumed carbohydrate drinks (3.2g

CHO/kg of mass)• Placebo Trail consumed artificially sweetened

drinks

• Same exercise routine• 5 min warm-up 150 min cycling at 85% VO2 max

• Blood Collection• Pre-exercise (T1) 60 min into cycling (T2) Post-

exercise (T3) 60 min after post-exercise

Paper 2 Results (abstracted)

Cell Subtype Trail T1 T2 T3 T4

CD3+ cells CHO 1.27 1.64 1.41 0.95

Placebo 1.27 1.84 1.39 0.84

CD4+ cells CHO 0.89 1.04 0.93 0.68

Placebo 0.89 1.15 0.89 0.60

CD8+ cells CHO 0.38 0.60 0.48 0.27

Placebo 0.38 0.69 0.50 0.24

Mean Values (in no. of cells x 10^9/liter) of cell counts with CHO and placebo ingestion

Green K, Croaker S, Rowbottom D. Carbohydrate supplementation and exercise-induced changes in T-lymphocyte function. Journal Of Applied Physiology [serial on the Internet]. (2003, Sep 1), [cited March 27, 2014]; 95(3): 1216-1223. Available from: Scopus®.

Discussion

• Number of test subject is quite small• Subjects are sex-specific• Hormonal differentiation also plays a role• Testosterone• Cortisol, etc.

• Human errors are unavoidable• Artificial sweeteners may have biochemical reactions• T-cells are not the sole indicators of immune function

Conclusion

• Both papers show controversial results• Theoretical facts about immune system still

hold• No living cell can live without energy • Glucose is the simplest form of bioenergetics

fuels• Glucose is the most preferred form of fuels• More research is needed to make

confirmation• Consuming CHO after workouts does affect

the function of immune system