Influence of Periodizing Dietary Carbohydrate on Iron Regulation and Immune Function in Elite Triathletes
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Australian Institute of Sport
Western Australian Institute of Sport
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Australian Catholic University
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Australian Catholic University
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Western Australian Institute of Sport
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Geert Grooteplein
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Geert Grooteplein
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Triathlon Australia
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Sleeping with low carbohydrate (CHO) availability is a dietary strategy that may enhance training adaptation. However, the impact on an athlete’s health is unclear. This study quantified the effect of a short-term “sleep-low” dietary intervention on markers of iron regulation and immune function in athletes. In a randomized, repeated-measures design, 11 elite triathletes completed two 4-day mixed cycle run training blocks. Key training sessions were structured such that a high-intensity training session was performed in the field on the afternoon of Days 1 and 3, and a low-intensity training (LIT) session was performed on the following morning in the laboratory (Days 2 and 4). The ingestion of CHO was either divided evenly across the day (HIGH) or restricted between the high-intensity training and LIT sessions, so that the LIT session was performed with low CHO availability (LOW). Venous blood and saliva samples were collected prior to and following each LIT session and analyzed for interleukin-6, hepcidin 25, and salivary immunoglobulin-A. Concentrations of interleukin-6 increased acutely after exercise (p < .001), but did not differ between dietary conditions or days. Hepcidin 25 increased 3-hr postexercise (p < .001), with the greatest increase evident after the LOW trial on Day 2 (2.5 ± 0.9 fold increase ±90% confidence limit). The salivary immunoglobulin-A secretion rate did not change in response to exercise; however, it was highest during the LOW condition on Day 4 (p = .046). There appears to be minimal impact to markers of immune function and iron regulation when acute exposure to low CHO availability is undertaken with expert nutrition and coaching input.
McKay and Peeling are with the School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia. McKay, Heikura, and Burke are with the Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. McKay and Peeling are with the Western Australian Institute of Sport, Mount Claremont, Western Australia, Australia. Heikura and Burke are with the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Pyne is with the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Van Swelm and Laarakkers are with the Department of Laboratory Medicine (TML 830), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and Hepcidinanalysis.com, Geert Grooteplein, Gelderland, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Cox is with the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; and Triathlon Australia, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
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