Effects of long-term exercise training on digestive and absorptive functions

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11516
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Terada Shin 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 准教授 (00460048)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 消化吸収 / 糖質 / トレーニング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study evaluated the effects of long-term endurance exercise training and very high-carbohydrate diet on gastrointestinal functions in rats. We found that long-term endurance training in combination with very high-carbohydrate diet induced substantial increases in pancreatic amylase activity and intestinal glucose transporter expression and promoted gastric emptying rate. In addition, significant correlations were observed between post-exercise muscle glycogen recovery and these adaptations. These results suggest that increases in digestive and absorptive capacity may be involved in the elevated muscle glycogen levels induced by chronic exercise training.

Free Research Field

スポーツ栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

スポーツ科学の分野では、トレーニングが骨格筋や呼吸・循環系の機能に及ぼす影響を検討する研究が主流となっていた一方で、内臓・消化器系は直接目に触れることがなく、その変化を感じとることも難しいため、これまでほとんど注目されることがなかった。本研究の結果は、運動トレーニングに対して消化・吸収系機能も適応することを示すものであり、スポーツ選手のための効果的な栄養学的手法の開発に向けた基礎的なデータになると考えられる。