Bryan Dowdell

Background: Marathon running triggers a robust systemic inflammatory response. Whether habitual dietary fat composition modulates pre-race cytokine concentrations or the magnitude and recovery of the exercise-induced inflammatory response remains unknown. Methods: Thirty-one recreational marathon runners (58.1% female; mean age 38.4 ± 10.2 years) completed the Diet History Questionnaire III to assess habitual dietary fat intake—including chain-length-specific SFA, MFA, PFA, trans fatty acids, and CLA—over the preceding three months. Circulating IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were measured pre-race, immediately post-race, and 48 h post-race. Repeated measures ANOVA examined cytokine changes; multivariable regression models estimated fat–cytokine associations adjusted for 11 pre-specified covariates, with Benjamini–Hochberg FDR correction applied across all models. Results: IL-6 rose markedly post-race (p < 0.001, generalized η² = 0.615) before returning to pre-race levels by 48 h. IL-10 followed a similar trajectory (p < 0.001, generalized η² = 0.346). TNF-α showed a borderline non-significant trend (p = 0.056); IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-4 did not change significantly. MFA 20:1 was positively associated with IFN-γ concentrations at 48 h post-race (β = 13.66; 95% CI: 8.94, 18.38, p < 0.01, q = 0.04) and TNF-α (β = 9.14; 95% CI: 6.43, 11.86, p < 0.01, q = 0.02). Conclusions: Habitual intake of the long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid 20:1 was positively associated with IFN-γ and TNF-α at 48 h post-race. This pattern, emerging specifically at the 48 h post-race phase, suggests that the post-race period, once acute exercise-induced signaling has subsided, may be a window in which habitual dietary fat quality is most detectable in relation to circulating cytokines. Habitual fat quality may warrant consideration in future endurance recovery nutrition research. This exploratory finding calls for replication in larger cohorts.

Background: Marathon running triggers a robust systemic inflammatory response. Whether habitual dietary fat composition modulates pre-race cytokine concentrations or the magnitude and recovery of the exercise-induced inflammatory response remains unknown. Methods: Thirty-one recreational marathon runners (58.1% female; mean age 38.4 ± 10.2 years) completed the Diet History Questionnaire III to assess habitual dietary fat intake— including chain-length-specific SFA, MFA, PFA, trans fatty acids, and CLA — over the preceding three months. Circulating IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were measured pre-race, immediately post-race, and 48 hours post-race. Repeated-measures ANOVA examined cytokine changes; multivariable regression models estimated fat–cytokine associations adjusted for 11 pre-specified covariates, with Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction applied across all models. Results: IL-6 rose markedly post-race (p < 0.001, generalized η² = 0.615) before returning to pre-race levels by 48 hours. IL-10 followed a similar trajectory (p < 0.001, generalized η² = 0.346). TNF-α showed a borderline non-significant trend (p = 0.056); IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-4 did not change significantly. MFA 20:1 was positively associated with IFN-γ concentrations at 48-hour post-race (β = 13.66; 95% CI: 8.94, 18.38, p<0.01, q=0.04) and TNF- α (β = 9.14; 95% CI: 6.43, 11.86, p<0.01, q=0.02). Conclusion: Habitual intake of the long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid 20:1 appear to be positively associated with IFN-γ and TNF-α at 48-hour post-race, suggesting it may slow resolution of exercise-induced inflammation. This pattern, emerging specifically during the recovery phase, suggests habitual fat quality may warrant consideration in future endurance-recovery nutrition research. This exploratory finding calls for replication in larger cohorts.

Background/Objectives: Carotenoids are pigmented phytochemicals known for their antioxidant properties, known to protect against oxidative damage, especially in the context of intense exercise. The purpose of this paper was to observe and analyze the short-term effects of running a full marathon on skin and plasma carotenoid levels in endurance runners. Methods: This study recruited 24 healthy endurance runners (12 male, 12 female; mean age 37 years) registered for a 26.2-mile marathon. Skin carotenoid (SC) measures were taken via reflection spectroscopy, and plasma carotenoid concentrations (lycopene and β-carotene) were assessed via HPLC at three time points: pre-race, immediately post-race, and 48 h post-race. Changes across time were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Skin carotenoid levels significantly changed over time, dropping from pre-race to post-race (p < 0.001), reflecting rapid utilization. At 48 h post-race, SC levels rebounded significantly, exceeding baseline measurements (p = 0.019). Plasma lycopene concentrations increased significantly from pre-race to post-race (p = 0.018) and remained elevated at 48 h. Plasma β-carotene concentrations showed no statistically significant change. Conclusions: The significant acute depletion of SC levels immediately following the marathon reflects the rapid utilization of these dermal antioxidants in response to the high oxidative stress generated by intense exercise. The elevation in plasma lycopene may reflect hemoconcentration resulting from intense activity and possible mobilization from tissue stores. The rapid rebound and overshoot in SC levels 48 h after the race are consistent with a recovery pattern of dermal carotenoid levels following acute depletion.

Objective : Blood pressure changes during gaming are minimally studied. This study assessed cardiac stress reactivity in college-aged males who self-identified as gamers versus nongamers during 60 min of esports-style video game (Fortnite) play in two conditions: competitive (vs. humans) and noncompetitive (vs. computer avatars). Methods : Eight gamers and eight nongamers participated in a two-group by two-condition design, with gaming conditions as within-subjects variables. Heart rate and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) were continuously recorded at baseline, during gameplay, and during recovery. Results : Average heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly ( p < .05) during gameplay relative to rest. Increases were greater in the competitive condition than the noncompetitive condition, and gamers exhibited larger stress responses than nongamers. Notably, compared with resting baseline, mean systolic blood pressure was +19.3 mmHg over the entire duration of 60-min competitive gameplay in gamers versus +4.9 mmHg in nongamers. Conclusions : Gaming induces significant increases in blood pressure and heart rate, especially under competitive conditions and in gamers. These stress responses may negatively impact performance and health in individuals who engage in prolonged gameplay. Further investigation is warranted in this growing gamer population.

Literature and governing agencies refer to gamers who partake in esports as “esports athletes,” and research suggests that exercise may be a beneficial component of esports training. Yet esports athletes are stereotyped similarly to casual gamers, for example, sedentary and not physically active. The purpose of this research was to compare physical activity and sedentary behavior between esports athletes on a team or club and casual gamers. Data were collected via an online survey (N = 532 total; n = 172 women). The survey assessed physical activity behaviors (i.e., International Physical Activity Questionnaire), time spent playing games, and esports affiliation. Independent samples t tests and analysis of variance were used for comparisons. Esports athletes on a team or club reported significantly more (F = 67.99, p < .001) physical activity (5,706 ± 4,558 metabolic equivalent min/week) compared to casual gamers (2,738 ± 2,792 metabolic equivalent min/week). There was a significant interaction between the effects of gender and group (F = 5.680, p = .018) on vigorous physical activity. Esports athletes on a team or club also reported significantly less (F = 77.436, p < .001) sedentary behavior compared to casual gamers. There was no reported difference in time spent playing video games between groups (t = 1.416, p = .157). In conclusion, esports athletes on a team or club were more physically active and less sedentary than their casual counterparts.