The potential role of physical activity and a healthy diet in increasing nitric oxide during COVID-19 outbreak

The potential role of physical activity and a healthy diet in increasing nitric oxide during COVID-19 outbreak. This manuscript presents a perspective which provide new insights about the promising role of nitric oxide on COVID-19. Demonstration that nitric oxide was an important cornerstone against viral infections, including SARS-CoV-1 in 2009. Thus, given the concern that higher NO⁻ could improve endothelial health and might be a protection factor against COVID-19, should we critically consider non-pharmacological strategies that increase NO⁻ bioavailability as medicine for COVID-19? From this perspective, we highlight the potential effect of physical activity and healthy diet in stimulating the increase of NO⁻ bioavailability.

Acute resistance exercise is more effective than aerobic exercise for 24h blood pressure control in type 2 diabetics

AIM

The study aimed to analyze blood pressure (BP) responses in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) over a 24h period following resistance (RES) and aerobic (AER) exercise.

METHODS

Ten adults with T2D (age: 55.8 ± 7.7 years; weight: 79.4 ± 14.0 kg; fasting glucose: 133.0 ± 36.7 mg.dL⁻¹) underwent: (1) AER: 20 min of cycling at 90% lactate threshold (90% LT); (2) RES: three laps of a circuit of six exercises with eight repetitions at 70% 1-RM and 40s of recovery; and (3) a control session of no exercise. Heart rate (HR), and systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial (MAP) and pulse (PP) BP, as well as lactataemia (Lac), VO(2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at rest, during exercise and control (CON) periods, and 60min after interventions. After each session, BP was also monitored over a 24h period.

RESULTS

Peak Lac (RES: 6.4 ± 1.4mM; AER: 3.8 ± 1.2mM), RER (RES: 1.1 ± 0.1; AER: 0.9 ± 0.1) and RPE (RES: 14.0 ± 1.3; AER: 11.0 ± 2.3) were higher following the RES session (P < 0.05). Similar VO₂ (~70% VO(₂peak)) was reached during AER and RES sessions (14.0 ± 3.0 vs 14.3 ± 1.6 mL.kg.min⁻¹; P > 0.05). Compared with CON, only RES elicited post-exercise BP reduction that lasted 8h after exercise. Also, in comparison to pre-exercise rest, the BP dip during sleep was greater following RES (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

A single exercise bout decreases BP in T2D patients over a 24h period, with RES being more effective than AER exercise for BP control.

Effect of type 2 diabetes on plasma kallikrein activity after physical exercise and its relationship to post-exercise hypotension

AIM

The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of type 2 diabetes (T2D) on plasma kallikrein activity (PKA) and postexercise hypotension (PEH).

METHODS

Ten T2D patients (age: 53.6±1.3 years; body mass index: 30.6±1.0kg/m(2); resting blood glucose: 157.8±40.2mgdL(-1)) and 10 non-diabetic (ND) volunteers (age: 47.5±1.0 years; body mass index: 28.3±0.9kg/m(2); resting blood glucose: 91.2±10.5mgdL(-1)) underwent two experimental sessions, consisting of 20min of rest plus 20min of exercise (EXE) at an intensity corresponding to 90% of their lactate threshold (90LT) and a non-exercise control (CON) session. Blood pressure (BP; Microlife BP 3AC1-1 monitor) and PKA were measured during rest and every 15min for 135min of the postexercise recovery period (RP).

RESULTS

During the RP, the ND individuals presented with PEH at 30, 45 and 120min (P<0.05) while, in the T2D patients, PEH was not observed at any time. PKA increased at 15min postexercise in the ND (P<0.05), but not in the T2D patients.

CONCLUSION

T2D individuals have a lower PKA response to exercise, which probably suppresses its hypotensive effect, thus reinforcing the possible role of PKA on PEH.

Polynomial modeling for the identification of lactate minimum velocity by different methods

AIM

The lactate minimum (LM) protocol has been used to assess aerobic fitness and to predict exercise intensity associated with the maximal blood lactate steady state. The aim of this study was to compare different methods to identify the lactate minimum velocity (LMV) on cycling.

METHODS

Fourteen male cyclists (26.8+/-4.5 years; 173.2+/-6.1 cm; 67.3+/-5.2 kg; 5,8+/-2.9 years of training) performed the LM test in a velodrome. The protocol consisted of an all out 2 km time trial to elevate blood lactate (bLAC), followed by 8 min of recovery and then 6 bouts of 2 km starting 5 kmxh(-1) below the individual mean velocity for the 6 km performance. The velocity was incremented by 1 kmxh(-1) at each bout with 25 microL of capillary blood being collected for bLAC measurements (YSI 2700 STAT). The LMV was identified visually (vLMV), and by applying a second grade polynomial function on 6 (pLMV(6)) and 3 (pLMV(3)) incremental bouts. Additionally, a method where the bLACx work velocity(-1) quotients (LMVQ) were plotted against the correspondent velocity during the incremental test, identified the LMV by considering 6 (LMVQ(6)) or 3 bouts (LMVQ(3)).

RESULTS

ANOVA showed no differences between vLMV (33.1+/-2.5 kmxh(-1)), pLMV(6) (32.9+/-2.5 kmxh(-1)), pLMV(3) (33.2+/-2.3 kmxh(-1)), LMVQ(6) (32.8+/-2.5 kmxh(-1)) and LMVQ(3) (33.4+/-2.3 kmxh(-1)), with high correlation among them.

CONCLUSIONS

It was possible to identify the LMV by the methods proposed in the present study, even when the results of only 3 bouts of the test were modeled by polynomial function. Such an approach enables a more practical and economical test in addition to minimizing the discomfort due to several blood collections.

Relationships and significance of lactate minimum, critical velocity, heart rate deflection and 3 000 m track-tests for running

AIM

The running velocities associated to lactate minimum (V(lm)), heart rate deflection (V(HRd)), critical velocity (CV), 3.000 m (V(3000)) and 10 000 m performance (V10km) were compared. Additionally the ability of V(lm) and V(HRd) on identifying sustainable velocities was investigated.

METHODS

Twenty runners (28.5+/-5.9 y) performed 1) 3,000 m running test for V3000; 2) an all-out 500 m sprint followed by 6x800 m incremental bouts with blood lactate ([lac]) measurements for V(lm); 3) a continuous velocity-incremented test with heart rate measurements at each 200 m for V(HRd); 4) participants attempted to 30 min of endurance test both at V(lm)(ETV(lm)) and V(HRd)(ETV(HRd)). Additionally, the distance-time and velocity-1/time relationships produced CV by 2 (500 m and 3 000 m) or 3 predictive trials (500 m, 3,000 m and distance reached before exhaustion during ETV(HRd)), and a 10 km race was recorded for V10km.

RESULTS

The CV identified by different methods did not differ to each other. The results (m.min(-1)) revealed that V(lm) (281+/-14.8)<CV (292.1+/-17.5)=V10km (291.7+/-19.3)<V(HRd) (300.8+/-18.7)=V3000 (304+/-17.5) with high correlation among parameters (P<0.001). During ETVlm participants completed 30 min of running while on the ETV(HRd) they lasted only 12.5+/-8.2 min with increasing [lac].

CONCLUSIONS

We evidenced that CV and Vlm track-protocols are valid for running evaluation and performance prediction and the parameters studied have different significance. The V(lm) reflects the moderate-high intensity domain (below CV), can be sustained without [lac] accumulation and may be used for long-term exercise while the V(HRd)overestimates a running intensity that can be sustained for long-time. Additionally, V3000 and V(HRd) reflect the severe intensity domain (above CV).

Blood glucose responses in humans mirror lactate responses for individual anaerobic threshold and for lactate minimum in track tests

The equilibrium point between blood lactate production and removal (La-(min)) and the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) protocols have been used to evaluate exercise. During progressive exercise, blood lactate [La-]b, catecholamine and cortisol concentrations, show exponential increases at upper anaerobic threshold intensities. Since these hormones enhance blood glucose concentrations [Glc]b, this study investigated the [Glc] and [La-]b responses during incremental tests and the possibility of considering the individual glucose threshold (IGT) and glucose minimum (Glc(min)) in addition to IAT and La-(min) in evaluating exercise. A group of 15 male endurance runners ran in four tests on the track 3000 m run (v3km); IAT and IGT - 8 x 800 m runs at velocities between 84% and 102% of v3km; La-(min) and Glc(min) - after lactic acidosis induced by a 500-m sprint, the subjects ran 6 x 800 m at intensities between 87% and 97% of v3km; endurance test (ET) - 30 min at the velocity of IAT. Capillary blood (25 microl) was collected for [La-]b and [Glc]b measurements. The IAT and IGT were determined by [La-]b and [Glc]b kinetics during the second test. The La-(min) and Glc(min) were determined considering the lowest [La-] and [Glc]b during the third test. No differences were observed (P < 0.05) and high correlations were obtained between the velocities at IAT [283 (SD 19) and IGT 281 (SD 21) m. x min(-1); r = 0.096; P < 0.001] and between La-(min) [285 (SD 21)] and Glc(min) [287 (SD 20) m. x min(-1) r = 0.77; P < 0.05]. During ET, the [La-]b reached 5.0 (SD 1.1) and 5.3 (SD 1.0) mmol x l(-1) at 20 and 30 min, respectively (P > 0.05). We concluded that for these subjects it was possible to evaluate the aerobic capacity by IGT and Glc(min) as well as by IAT and La-(min).