•  
  •  
 

EFFECT OF WILD BLUEBERRY DRINK ON RATE OF FAT OXIDATION IN HEALTHY, ACTIVE MALES

Abstract

J. Armendariz1,B. Burrus2, K. Pilolla3, T. Bloedon1

1Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA; 2 Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 3 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA

Consumption of fruits high in anthocyanins, such as wild blueberries (WBs), have been shown to influence lipolytic enzymes and increase the rate of fatty acid oxidation during rest. Evidence of such action during exercise has not been documented with WBs, although black currants have shown promise. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a WB drink on the rate of fatty acid oxidation during moderate intensity cycling. METHODS: Nine healthy, aerobically trained males (25 ± 6.6 years, 73.6 ± 8.3 kg, 9.6 ± 3.3% body fat, BMI= 22.6 ± 2.5 kg/m2) have participated in this study to date. Participants completed an incremental cycling test to determine VO2peak (56.4 ± 8.4 ml/kg/min) and then followed a washout diet avoiding foods high in anthocyanins. After two weeks, participants completed a control (C) exercise protocol of cycling at 65% of VO2peakfor 40 minutes. Next, participants consumed 12.5g freeze dried WB powder in water, twice daily (25g total) for two weeks, and then repeated the exercise protocol. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to determine differences in heart rate, power output, blood lactate, ventilation, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), rate of perceived exertion and cadence between conditions. RESULTS: Trends in lower RER values at 30 minutes (C: 0.91 ± 0.02 vs. WB: 0.88 ± 0.04) and 40 minutes (C: 0.90 ± 0.02 vs. WB: 0.87 ± 0.02) were found with the WB drink, but were not statistically significant. No significant differences were found between control and WB trials for all other variables. CONCLUSION: Data collection is ongoing; more participants are being recruited to gain statistical power which may elicit a significant difference in RER. Inclusion and analysis of additional biological markers could reveal differences in fatty acid oxidation rates. However, two weeks may be an inadequate amount of time for WB drink consumption to alter the physiological variables listed above during moderate intensity cycling. Additionally, exercising for 40 minutes may be an insufficient amount of time to see a shift in substrate use.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS