P667 Protein supplementation improves left ventricular systolic functions in athletes by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography
Authors: Yaman B , Kemal Gunsel H , Cerit L , Acikgoz E , Usalp S , Yuksek Ü , Duygu H , Akpinar O 
Published: January 2020

Funding Acknowledgements

none

Background

Exercise induced left ventricular remodelling is known for many years. Left ventricular enlargement, hypertrophy, left atrial dilatation are adaptive responsive mechanisms of myocardial tissue to increased physiological demand by exercise. In recent years, strain and strain rate have been used for the assessment of myocardial adaptation in athletes’. In literature, left ventricular and right ventricular deformation is decreased in athletes’, compared to normal healthy individuals. Also left atrial reservoir and contractile functions, which can be measured by speckle tracking echocardiography, decrease in endurance athletes with atrial fibrillation. Athletes have been using protein supplementation frequently in recent years however cardiac effects are largely unknown. There is limited data in the literature about cardiac effects of protein supplementation.

Purpose

In our study, we aim to evaluate the effects of protein supplementation on cardiac functions in athletes with 2D speckle tracking echocardiography. This is the first study in the literature evaluating the effects of protein supplements on echocardiographic parameters.

Methods

Eighty-three athletes (mean age = 29.7 ± 7.9) without history of cardiac disease or other chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure were prospectively included in our study. 73.5% (n = 61) of them were male. Participants were divided into two groups; participants who use protein supplementation regularly was defined as group 1 (n = 33); did not use protein supplementation was defined as group 2 (n = 50). In addition to Standard 2D echocardiographic measurements, left ventricle global longitidunal strain (LvGLS), right ventricle global longitidunal strain (RvGLS), right ventricle free wall strain (RvFWS), left atrium strain and strain rate were analyzed with Vivid E9, offline using a customized software package (Echo Pac for PC, GE Vingmed) (Figure 1).

Results

Diameter of interventricular wall was higher in group 1 (10.1 ± 1.0 vs 9.5 ± 1.2, p = 0.022). Systolic peak ejection velocity of the mitral valve medial annulus is higher in group 1 than group 2 (0.09 ± 0.1 vs 0.08 ± 0.1, p &lt; 0.001). Late diastolic velocity of the mitral valve medial annulus is higher in the group 1 (0.09 ± 0.02 vs 0.08 ± 0.02, p = 0.015). LvGLS which was the indicator of left ventricular deformation was significantly higher in the group 1 (-19.49 ± 1.9 vs -18.45 ± 2.2, p = 0.030). Although RvGLS was higher in the group 1, there was no statistically significant difference (-22.93 ± 4.52 vs -21.07 ± 5.02, p = 0.083).

Conclusion

In recent years protein supplementation usage increases in young adults and athletes. In our study, although there was no statistically significant difference with left ventricular ejection fraction, LvGLS which is the early indicator of LV systolic functions better in the athletes who used protein supplementation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long term effects of protein supplements on the heart.