Author(s): DIEL, P., VALDER, S., STALTNER, S., KÖPSEL, T., ESATBEYOGLY, T., KOSTOV, T., BERGHEIM, I., Institution: DEUTSCHE SPORTHOCHSCHULE KÖLN, Country: GERMANY, Abstract-ID: 386

INTRODUCTION:
Exercise and the consumption of sugars have been demonstrated to result in a dysfunction of the intestinal barrier (IB). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of polyphenols and plain sugars on the regeneration of the intestinal barrier after moderate (Study A) and highly intensive endurance exercise (Study B)

METHODS:
In all participants the function of the intestinal barrier (IB) was determined before running (pre) and directly after finishing (post) by measuring serum endotoxin concentrations (LPS) as marker of intestinal barrier function. Immediately after finishing the runners consumed either 500 ml of water, diluted apple juice (test drink) containing 550 mg/l polyphenols and 57,5g/l sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose) or a drink only containing an identical sugar mix (57,5g/l sugar) but no polyphenols (placebo). Over a period of 180 min blood samples were taken and LPS was determined.

RESULTS:
In Study A: 1 h exercise at 80% IAT resulted in all participants in a moderate but significant increase of serum endotoxin. After exercise serum endotoxin levels decreased in all groups with a comparable rate. No positive but also no negative impact of the different drinks could be observed. In Study B in the 20 participants there was a strong increased of serum LPS (p<0.05) between pre (5 UE/ml) and post (12 UE/ml) ultramarathon. In the water group serum LPS decreased about 90 % in the first 120 min after finishing. The LPS area under the curve (AUC) in the first 180 min after exercise in the placebo group (15.000 UE) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the AUC in the water (7.000UE) and the test drink group (10.000 UE).

CONCLUSION:
Even a moderate endurance exercise is resulting in a moderate but significant increase of serum LPs, indicating a leakiness of the IB. The IB is regenerating fast after moderate exercise. The consumed drinks did not affect the kinetics regenerating. An ultramarathon resulted in a very strong increase of serum LPS indicating an IB dysfunction. Also here IB function regenerates very fast after the consumption of water whereas the intake of plain sugar (placebo) seems to have a negative impact on the IB regeneration which was diminished by the presence of polyphenols in the drink (test drink). Because uptake of sugars is necessary for recovery after intensive exercise, the results of this study provide evidence that the negative impact of plain sugars on the IB may be compensated by polyphenols