• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2003

Serum lipid and lipoprotein levels are influenced by genetic factors, and exorcise increases the concentrations of cardio-protective parameters such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and apolipoproteinAI (apoAI) in human serum. In the present study, we tested the effect of adaptation to endurance exercise on the association of a genetic polymorphism (Pst 1 RFLP) in the apoAI gene with these biochemical parameters. The genotype and allele frequencies for the Pst 1 RFLP were not significantly different between the elite athletes and sedentary controls (P>0.05). There were also no significant associations between the Pst 1 RFLP of the apoAI gene and the biochemical parameters in elite athletic group. Thus, our results suggest that the Pst 1 RFLP of the apoAI gene was not significantly associated with the serum apoAI and HDL-cholesterol concentrations as well as athletic performance in Koreans.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.298-313
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of natural compounds in improving athletic ability has attracted attention in both sports and research. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) leaves are used to make traditional herbal medicines in Asia. The active components of G. pentaphyllum, dammarane saponins, or gypenosides, possess a range of biological activities. On the other hand, the anti-fatigue effects from G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and its effective compound, gypenoside L (GL), remain to be determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: This study examined the effects of GPE on fatigue and exercise performance in ICR mice. GPE was administered orally to mice for 6 weeks, with or without treadmill training. The biochemical analysis in serum, glycogen content, mRNA, and protein expressions of the liver and muscle were analyzed. RESULTS: The ExGPE (exercise with 300 mg/kg body weight/day of GPE) mice decreased the fat mass percentage significantly compared to the ExC mice, while the ExGPE showed the greatest lean mass percentage compared to the ExC group. The administration of GPE improved the exercise endurance and capacity in treadmill-trained mice, increased glucose and triglycerides, and decreased the serum creatine kinase and lactate levels after intensive exercise. The muscle glycogen levels were higher in the ExGPE group than the ExC group. GPE increased the level of mitochondrial biogenesis by enhancing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein and the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial DNA, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ, superoxide dismutase 2, and by decreasing the lactate dehydrogenase B level in the soleus muscle (SOL). GPE also improved PGC-1α activation in the SOL significantly through AMPK/p38 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that GPE supplementation enhances exercise performance and has anti-fatigue activity. In addition, the underlying molecular mechanism was elucidated. Therefore, GPE is a promising candidate for developing functional foods and enhancing the exercise capacity and anti-fatigue activity.