Physical and Cellular Effects of Ultra-cycling
Condition: Endurance Training
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Background: NorthCape4000 (NC4000) is the most participated ultra-endurance cycling race.

      Eight healthy male Caucasian amateur cyclists were evaluated: a) before starting the
      preparation period; b) in the week preceding NC4000 (after the training period); c) after
      NC4000 race, with the aim to identify the effects of ultra-cycling on body composition,
      aerobic capacity and biochemical parameters as well as on the differentiation of progenitor
      cells.

      Methods: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
      assessed body composition; cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) evaluated aerobic capacity.
      Differentiation of circulating progenitor cells was evaluated by analyzing the modulation in
      the expression of relevant transcription factors. In addition, in vitro experiments were
      performed to investigate the effects of sera of NC4000 participants on adipogenesis and
      myogenesis. The effects of NC4000 sera on Sestrins and Sirtuin modulation and the promotion
      of brown adipogenesis in progenitor cells was investigated as well. Two-tailed Student's
      paired-test was used to perform statistical analyses.

      Results: We observed fat mass decrease after training as well as after NC4000 performance; we
      also recorded that vitamin D and lipid profiles were affected by ultra-cycling. In addition,
      our findings demonstrated that post-NC4000 participant's pooled sera exerted a positive
      effect in stimulating myogenesis and in inducing brown adipogenesis in progenitor cells.

      Conclusions: The training program and Ultra-cycling lead to beneficial effects on body
      composition and biochemical lipid parameters, as well as changes in differentiation of
      progenitor cells , with significant increases in brown adipogenesis and in MYOD levels.
    


Intervention name(s): clinical evaluation, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and venipuncture for blood samples collection
Intervention type(s): Diagnostic Test
Intervention description(s): Total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was taken BN and AN to measure total (FM) and segmental fat (truncal FM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and lean mass (LM). Tetra-polar dual frequency BIA (InBody 120; Cerritos, USA) was used BPP, BN and AN to measure weight and to estimate FM, FFM, and MM. Impedance measurements were performed. CPET was carried out on a cycle ergometer with clip-on pedals. Blood samples were collected in the morning BPP, BN, AN. Biochemical parameters considered in this study were: ALT, AST, creatinine, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides concentrations. We isolated CPCs from heparinized blood, as previously reported (14). After the collection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by a gradient centrifugation. (15). Differentiating Human Skeletal muscle cells were cultured with or without pooled sera of participants at 5% final concentration. 146b and 34a miRNAs were extracted from PBMCs.
Observational model: Case-Only
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Eight healthy male amateur Caucasian cyclists (47,5±13,5 years) who attended the NC4000 4th
        edition.
      
Keywords: ultra-cycling; training; body composition; cell differentiation