Post-exercise Whole Body Cryotherapy Treatment Increases Energy Intake Among Well-trained Athletes

Abstract

PURPOSE: Exercise-induced loss of energy intake during post-exercise period may delay recovery and impair exercise performance among athletes. However, the efficient procedures which can attenuate post-exercise reductions of appetite and energy intake have not been investigated. Previous studies demonstrated that cold environment was likely to promote appetite and energy intake. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of whole body cryotherapy (WBC) after exercise on appetite regulations. METHODS: Thirteen male athletes (20.5 ± 0.2 years, 174.8 ± 5.2 cm, 66.6 ± 1.4 kg) were recruited in the present study. They conducted two trials on different days; consisting of WBC trial and CON trial. Subjects performed repeated sprint exercise initially in both trials. In WBC trial, WBC treatment for 3 min (about -140?C) was applied from 10 min after completing the exercise. In CON trial, subjects kept resting for identical periods of WBC trial after exercise. At 30 min following exercise, ad-libitum buffet meal test was conducted to evaluate energy intake and macronutrient intake ratio. Blood samples were obtained to measure plasma acylated ghrelin, PYY3-36, serum leptin and other metabolic hormonal concentrations before and after exercise. Subjective feeling parameters, respiratory gas samples and skin temperature were also measured after exercise. RESULTS: Skin temperature was decreased rapidly after WBC (pre: 31.6 ± 0.2 ?C, immediately after WBC: 7.1 ± 4.1 ?C), and the temperature remained significantly lower until the onset of buffet meal test (P < 0.001). Although plasma ghrelin, PYY3-36 and serum leptin concentrations were significantly changed after exercise (P < 0.05), no significant differences between trials were observed at any points for these hormones. During post-exercise period, minute ventilation and heart rate were significantly lower in WBC trial than those in CON trial (P < 0.05). Energy intake during buffet meal test was significantly higher in WBC trial (1371 ± 139 kcal) than that in CON trial (1106 ± 130 kcal, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Cold exposure using WBC following strenuous exercise increased energy intake in male athletes.