Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Increases Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Adult Humans

• Autores: Jennifer C. Richards, Mark C. Lonac, Tyler G. Johnson, Melani M. Schwedeer, Christopher Bell
• Localización: Medicine & Science in Sports & exercise: Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, ISSN 0195-9131, Vol. 42, Nº. 4, 2010, págs. 739-744
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a component of green tea, increases endurance performance in animals and promotes fat oxidation during cycle ergometer exercise in adult humans.

    Purpose: We have investigated the hypothesis that short-term consumption of EGCG delays the onset of the ventilatory threshold (VT) and increases maximal oxygen uptake (V[spacing dot above]O2max).

    Methods: In this randomized, repeated-measures, double-blind study, 19 healthy adults (11 males and 8 females, age = 26 +/- 2 yr (mean +/- SE)) received seven placebo or seven EGCG (135-mg) pills. Forty-eight hours before data collection, participants began consuming three pills per day; the last pill was taken 2 h before exercise testing. VT and V[spacing dot above]O2max were determined from breath-by-breath indirect calorimetry data collected during continuous incremental stationary cycle ergometer exercise (20-35 W[middle dot]min-1), from rest until volitional fatigue. Each condition/exercise test was separated by a minimum of 14 d.

    Results: Compared with placebo, short-term EGCG consumption increased V[spacing dot above]O2max (3.123 +/- 0.187 vs 3.259 +/- 0.196 L[middle dot]min-1, P = 0.04). Maximal work rate (301 +/- 15 vs 301 +/- 16 W, P = 0.98), maximal RER (1.21 +/- 0.01 vs 1.22 +/- 0.02, P = 0.27), and maximal HR were unaffected (180 +/- 3 vs 180 +/- 3 beats[middle dot]min-1, P = 0.87). In a subset of subjects (n = 11), maximal cardiac output (determined via open-circuit acetylene breathing) was also unaffected by EGCG (29.6 +/- 2.2 vs 30.2 +/- 1.4 L[middle dot]min-1, P = 0.70). Contrary to our hypothesis, EGCG decreased V[spacing dot above]O2 at VT (1.57 +/- 0.11 vs 1.48 +/- 0.10 L[middle dot]min-1), but this change was not significant (P = 0.06).

    Conclusions: Short-term consumption of EGCG increased V[spacing dot above]O2max without affecting maximal cardiac output, suggesting that EGCG may increase arterial-venous oxygen difference.