Abstract
Objective:
A substantial proportion of competitive athletes do not reach dietary goals for various macro- and micronutrients, important in creating a favorable oxidative environment, which is one of a principal determinant of normal endothelial function. The present study aimed to determine the effect of functional food consumption enriched in four nutrients (Nutri4) on microvascular endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation of skin microcirculation in competitive athletes.
Design and method:
Thirty-one competitive athletes were divided to Nutri4 group (N = 17) who ate three n-3 PUFAs, selenium, lutein, and vitamin E enriched hen eggs/daily for 3 weeks (mg per egg: n-3 PUFAs 342, selenium 0.0191, lutein 0.616, vitamin E 1.098), and Control group (N = 14) who ate three regular hens' eggs/daily (mg per egg: n-3 PUFAs 146, selenium 0.0183, lutein 0.110, vitamin E 0.595). Blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), body composition and serum lipid profile were measured before and after respective dietary protocol. Microvascular endothelium-dependent vasodilation in response to post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) and iontophoresis of acetylcholine (AChID), and endothelium-independent vasodilation in response to iontophoresis of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was assessed by Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF).
Results:
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) significantly decreased, and BMI, body composition and serum lipid profile remained unchanged following dietary protocol in Nutri4 group, while all variables remained unchanged in Control group. Microvascular PORH (R-O% before 162.6 ± 40.1 vs. after 185.5 ± 63.8, P = 0.050) and AChID (flow increase before 15.6 ± 4.7 vs. after 18.8 ± 5.0, P = 0.045) was significantly increased, while SNPID remained unchanged following dietary protocol in Nutri4 group (flow increase before 15.8 ± 4.9 vs. 14.0 ± 4.2, P = 0.209). In contrast, none was significantly changed in Control group.
Conclusions:
Consumption of n-3 PUFA, selenium, lutein, and vitamin E enriched functional foods improves peripheral endothelium-dependent microvascular reactivity in competitive athletes, independently of changes in BP and blood lipid concentrations. Importantly, consumption of large amounts of regular hen eggs (3/day for 3 weeks) did not have a detrimental effect on vascular function, BP and serum lipid profiles in athletes.
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