A Multi-Omics Approach to Interpreting the Influence of Polyphenols in Countering Exercise-Induced Physiological Stress

This product is free for SCAN members.

This webinar was presented live on July 14, 2020.

Polyphenol absorption, disposition, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) is complex, with increasing awareness and focus shifting from the small to the large intestine. Only small amounts of ingested polyphenols are absorbed in the small intestine, with most passing to the lower intestine where a diversity of phenolic compounds are formed from microbial degradation and ring fission. These gut-derived phenolics can be absorbed, undergo phase II metabolism, and exert a variety of bioactive effects that are important to athletes. The translocation of gut-derived phenolics to the circulation is enhanced when increased polyphenol intake is combined with regular exercise bouts. Gut-derived phenolics exert anti-inflammatory, immune cell regulatory, and anti-viral influences, with enhancement of endothelial health and function in the intestine and vasculature. These effects complement the performance-enhancing and anti-inflammatory influences of dietary carbohydrates. Athletes experiencing periodized physiological stress can experience an improvement in metabolic recovery by ingesting a variety of polyphenol-rich fruits.

Sponsored by: POM Wonderful

CPEU: 1.0

Learning Objectives

1. Participant will better understand polyphenol absorption, disposition, metabolism, and excretion.
2. Participant will be able to describe the physiological effects of gut-derived phenolics, and how these improve metabolic recovery in athletes.
3. Participant will learn how to apply this information when providing sports nutrition counseling for athletes.

Speaker

David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM
Professor, Appalachian State University,
Director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus

David Nieman is a professor in the Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, at Appalachian State University, and director of the Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, NC. Dr. Nieman is a pioneer in the research area of exercise and nutrition immunology, and helped establish that 1) regular moderate exercise lowers upper respiratory tract infection rates while improving immunosurveillance, 2) heavy exertion increases infection rates while causing transient changes in immune function, and 3) that carbohydrate and flavonoid ingestion by athletes attenuates exercise-induced inflammation. Dr. Nieman's current work is centered on investigating unique nutritional products as countermeasures to exercise- and obesity-induced immune dysfunction, inflammation, illness, and oxidative stress using a multi-omics approach. Dr. Nieman has received $10 million in research grants and published more than 360 peer-reviewed publications in journals and books, sits on 10 journal editorial boards, and is Editor-in-Chief for the Sports Nutrition section of the journal Nutrients.