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Maximal explosive power of the lower limbs before and after 35 days of bed rest under different diet energy intake

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Abstract

Purpose

Microgravity leads to a decline of muscle power especially in the postural muscles of the lower limb. Muscle atrophy primarily contributes to this negative adaptation. Nutritional countermeasures during unloading were shown to possibly mitigate the loss of muscle mass and strength. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different diet energy intakes during prolonged inactivity on body composition and lower limbs power output.

Methods

The effects of lower or higher diet energy intake on the decline of maximal explosive power of the lower limbs, as determined on a sledge ergometer before and after 35 days of bed rest, were investigated on two matched groups of young healthy volunteers. Body composition and lean volume of the lower limb were also measured.

Results

After bed rest, fat mass increased (+20.5 %) in the higher energy intake group (N = 9), while it decreased (−4.8 %) in the lower energy intake group (N = 10). Also, the loss of body fat-free mass and lean volume of the lower limb was significantly greater in the higher (−4.6 and −10.8 %, respectively) as compared to the lower (−2.4 and −3.7 %, respectively) diet energy intake group. However, the loss of maximal explosive power was similar between the two groups (−25.2 and −29.5 % in the higher and lower energy intake group, respectively; P = 0.440).

Conclusions

The mitigation of loss of muscle mass by means of a moderate caloric diet restriction during prolonged inactivity was not sufficient for reducing the loss of maximal explosive power of the lower limbs.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BIA:

Bioelectrical impedance analysis

BM:

Body mass

BR:

Bed rest

BW:

Body weight

EXER:

Explosive ergometer

HEI:

Higher energy intake

LEI:

Lower energy intake

MEP:

Maximal explosive power

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the study participants, the staff of the Valdoltra Orthopaedic Hospital (Ankaran, Slovenia) for valuable medical assistance, Dr. Miriam Isola for her useful contribution to the statistical analysis and Vesna Alač, M.A., for her contribution for improving the use of English in the manuscript. The data reported in this study have been collected thanks to the financial support of the Italian Space Agency (ASI-OSMA Contract I/007/06/0 Workpackage 1B-32) to the 2008 Valdoltra bed rest campaign.

Conflict of interest

No authors have any conflicts of interest.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Enrico Rejc

    Present address: Department of Neurological Surgery, Kentucky Spinal Cord Research Centre, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Enrico Rejc, Pietro Enrico di Prampero, Stefano Lazzer, Bruno Grassi & Guglielmo Antonutto

  2. School of Sport Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Enrico Rejc, Pietro Enrico di Prampero, Stefano Lazzer, Bruno Grassi & Guglielmo Antonutto

  3. M.A.T.I. (Microgravity, Ageing, Training, Immobility) Center of Excellence, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Enrico Rejc, Pietro Enrico di Prampero, Stefano Lazzer, Bruno Grassi & Guglielmo Antonutto

  4. Science and Research Centre, Institute for Kinesiology Research, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia

    Bostjan Simunic & Rado Pisot

  5. School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health, University of Nottingham, Derby, UK

    Marco Narici

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  1. Enrico Rejc
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Correspondence to Enrico Rejc.

Additional information

Communicated by Guido Ferretti.

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Rejc, E., di Prampero, P.E., Lazzer, S. et al. Maximal explosive power of the lower limbs before and after 35 days of bed rest under different diet energy intake. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 429–436 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3024-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3024-5

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