The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review

BackgroundIn times of physical stress, the body orchestrates a multisystemic regulatory response. The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine play a role in the immediate regulation chain, while cortisol is involved in delayed regulation. The release of those stress hormones in response to exercise...

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Main Authors: Tabea Christ, Miriam Ringleb, Simon Haunhorst, Lena Fennen, Paul M. Jordan, Heiko Wagner, Christian Puta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1264814/full
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author Tabea Christ
Miriam Ringleb
Miriam Ringleb
Miriam Ringleb
Simon Haunhorst
Simon Haunhorst
Lena Fennen
Paul M. Jordan
Heiko Wagner
Christian Puta
Christian Puta
Christian Puta
author_facet Tabea Christ
Miriam Ringleb
Miriam Ringleb
Miriam Ringleb
Simon Haunhorst
Simon Haunhorst
Lena Fennen
Paul M. Jordan
Heiko Wagner
Christian Puta
Christian Puta
Christian Puta
author_sort Tabea Christ
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIn times of physical stress, the body orchestrates a multisystemic regulatory response. The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine play a role in the immediate regulation chain, while cortisol is involved in delayed regulation. The release of those stress hormones in response to exercise has previously been reported to elicit diverse immune reactions.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to examine and present the acute effects of immediate pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in experienced endurance athletes.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science in accordance with PRISMA guidelines up to February 2023. Randomized controlled trials in English or German language were included if baseline and at least two follow-up measures of blood plasma or serum of chosen stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were collected in response to prolonged continuous endurance activity. Eligibility furthermore required an acute carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g of carbohydrates per hour no more than 30 min before start of the exercise, as well as a placebo-controlled study design.ResultsEleven studies of moderate to high quality were included in this review. Carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g per hour was able to attenuate rises in cortisol concentration in majority of the included studies. Epinephrine levels were considerably lower with ingestion of carbohydrates compared to placebo in all studies. Norepinephrine concentrations were largely unaffected by acute carbohydrate feeding.ConclusionPre- and mid-exercise ingestion of carbohydrates seems an effective dietary strategy to attenuate rises in cortisol and epinephrine levels and, thus, an effective countermeasure for endurance exercise-induced increases in stress hormone levels.
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spelling doaj.art-dc2d4cdcf92243129cf94b1a13e9e0702024-02-01T14:10:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-01-01610.3389/fspor.2024.12648141264814The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic reviewTabea Christ0Miriam Ringleb1Miriam Ringleb2Miriam Ringleb3Simon Haunhorst4Simon Haunhorst5Lena Fennen6Paul M. Jordan7Heiko Wagner8Christian Puta9Christian Puta10Christian Puta11Department of Movement Science, University of Münster, Münster, GermanyDepartment of Movement Science, University of Münster, Münster, GermanyDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, GermanyNeuroPsycho Immunology Research Unit, Department for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, GermanyCenter for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Diseases Related to Professional Activities, Jena, GermanyDepartment of Movement Science, University of Münster, Münster, GermanyDepartment of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, GermanyDepartment of Movement Science, University of Münster, Münster, GermanyDepartment of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, GermanyCenter for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Diseases Related to Professional Activities, Jena, GermanyCenter for Sepsis Control & Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital/Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, GermanyBackgroundIn times of physical stress, the body orchestrates a multisystemic regulatory response. The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine play a role in the immediate regulation chain, while cortisol is involved in delayed regulation. The release of those stress hormones in response to exercise has previously been reported to elicit diverse immune reactions.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to examine and present the acute effects of immediate pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in experienced endurance athletes.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science in accordance with PRISMA guidelines up to February 2023. Randomized controlled trials in English or German language were included if baseline and at least two follow-up measures of blood plasma or serum of chosen stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were collected in response to prolonged continuous endurance activity. Eligibility furthermore required an acute carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g of carbohydrates per hour no more than 30 min before start of the exercise, as well as a placebo-controlled study design.ResultsEleven studies of moderate to high quality were included in this review. Carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g per hour was able to attenuate rises in cortisol concentration in majority of the included studies. Epinephrine levels were considerably lower with ingestion of carbohydrates compared to placebo in all studies. Norepinephrine concentrations were largely unaffected by acute carbohydrate feeding.ConclusionPre- and mid-exercise ingestion of carbohydrates seems an effective dietary strategy to attenuate rises in cortisol and epinephrine levels and, thus, an effective countermeasure for endurance exercise-induced increases in stress hormone levels.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1264814/fullimmunonutritionendurance exercisecarbohydratesstress hormonesdietary strategy
spellingShingle Tabea Christ
Miriam Ringleb
Miriam Ringleb
Miriam Ringleb
Simon Haunhorst
Simon Haunhorst
Lena Fennen
Paul M. Jordan
Heiko Wagner
Christian Puta
Christian Puta
Christian Puta
The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
immunonutrition
endurance exercise
carbohydrates
stress hormones
dietary strategy
title The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review
title_full The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review
title_fullStr The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review
title_short The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review
title_sort acute effects of pre and mid exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes a systematic review
topic immunonutrition
endurance exercise
carbohydrates
stress hormones
dietary strategy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1264814/full
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