Supplementation with food-derived oligopeptides promotes lipid metabolism in young male cyclists: a randomized controlled crossover trial

• Published in: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2023-12, Vol.20 (1), p.2254741-2254741
• Main Authors: Jin, Aina, Kan, Zhaobo, Tan, Qiushi, Shao, Jing, Han, Qi, Chang, Yashan, An, Nan, Yi, Muqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exercise; fat oxidation; Fatty acids; Food; food-derived oligopeptides supplementation; lipid degradation; Lipids; Metabolic disorders; Metabolism; Obesity; Oxidation; Peptides; Physical fitness; prolonged exercise
• ISSN: 1550-2783; 1550-2783
• DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2254741

BackgroundAccumulation of body fat and dyslipidemia are associated with the development of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. Moreover, the degree to which lipids can be metabolized has been cited as a determinant of cardiometabolic health and prolonged endurance capacity. In the backdrop of increasing obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, lipid metabolism and its modulation by physical activity, dietary adjustments, and supplementation play a significant role in maintaining health and endurance. Food-derived oligopeptides, such as rice and soybean peptides, have been shown to directly regulate abnormal lipid metabolism or promote hypolipidemia and fat oxidation in cell culture models, animal models, and human studies. However, whether supplementation with oligopeptides derived from multiple food sources can promote lipid degradation and fat oxidation in athletes remains unclear. Therefore, in a randomized controlled crossover trial, we investigated the impact of food-derived oligopeptide supplementation before and during exercise on lipid metabolism in young male cyclists.MethodsSixteen young male cyclists (age: 17.0 ± 1.0 years; height: 178.4 ± 6.9 cm; body mass: 68.7 ± 12.7 kg, body mass index: 21.5 ± 3.4 kg/m2; maximum oxygen uptake: 56.3 ± 5.8 mL/min/kg) participated in this randomized controlled crossover trial. Each participant drank two beverages, one containing a blend of three food-derived oligopeptides (treatment, 0.5 g/kg body weight in total) and the other without (control), with a 2-week washout period between two experiments. The cyclists completed a one-day pattern protocol that consisted of intraday fasting, 30 min of sitting still, 85 min of prolonged exercise plus a 5-min sprint (PE), a short recovery period of 60 min, a 20-min time trial (TT), and recovery till next morning. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses of serum lipids and other biomarkers. We analyzed plasma triglyceride species (TGs), free amino acids (FAAs), and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates using omics methods. In addition, exhaled gas was collected to assess the fat oxidation rate.ResultsFive of 20 plasma FAAs were elevated pre-exercise (pre-Ex) only 20 min after oligopeptide ingestion, and most FAAs were markedly increased post PE and TT. Serum levels of TG and non-esterified fatty acids were lower in the experimental condition than in the control condition at the post PE and TT assessments, respectively. Further, the omics analysis of pl