 |
ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION WITH BOVINE COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT (INTACT®) IMPROVES ROWING PERFORMANCE IN ELITE FEMALE ROWERS
JD Buckley*1, GD Brinkworth1, PC Bourdon2, J Gulbin2, EJ Stilwell2, A David2, N Myers2
1Centre for Research in Education and Sports Science, University of South Australia
2South Australian Sports Institute, Kidman Park, South Australia
Bovine colostrum is secreted by cows during the first few days after calving and is a rich source of bioactive components, including growth factors. The present study employed a double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel, randomised design to determine the effect of supplementation with a low fat, low lactose, concentrated bovine colostrum protein powder (intact®, Numico Research Australia Pty Ltd) on rowing performance in a group of elite female rowers. Eight female rowers from the South Australian Sports Institute (age 15-21 years), completed a 9 week training program whilst consuming 60 g/day of intact® bovine colostrum powder (CP, n=3) or whey protein powder (WP, n=5). All subjects consumed their normal diets and kept food diaries throughout the study period. Subjects completed 2 x 4-step rowing tests (ROW1 and ROW2) at weeks 0 and 9, consisting of 3 x 4 min sub-maximal loads and 1 x 4 min maximal effort. ROW1 and ROW2 were separated by 15 minutes of recovery. There were no differences in dietary intake (P>0.05) or training volumes (P>0.05) between the two groups during the study period. The distances covered (m) and work done (kJ) during the submaximal work loads were the same in both groups at weeks 0 and 9 (P>0.91) and during the 4 min maximal efforts at week 0 (P>0.05). There were greater increased in the distance covered (CP, 33.7 + 2.3m, WP, 23.2 + 2.3m; P=0.05) and work done (CP, 63 + 0.1kJ, WP, 42 + 0.4 kJ; P=0.004) during ROW1 in CP by week 9. Buffer capacity was also higher in CP by week 9 (P=0.02). Distance covered (P=0.03) and work done (P=0.05) for ROW2 also increased more in CP. These results indicate that oral supplementation with intact® bovine colostrum improves rowing performance in elite female rowers.
Proceedings of and oral presentation given by Dr Jon Buckley to the:-
5th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences, Sydney, Australia, October 31-November 5th, 1999
 |