Abstract des Autors

The main goal of the present study was to assess the possible effect of weight cycling on blood lipid profile in combat sports athletes. Three groups of subjects agreed to participate in the study. Group I (n=6) was studied before and after a single 3.0-4.3% rapid weight loss with or without concomitant creatine consumption. The subjects of group II were investigated before and after a single competitive season, during which 8 sportsmen repeatedly reduced their body weight for competitions but 6 subjects maintained stable body mass throughout the whole study period. The subjects of group III (n=12) were senior sportsmen who had retired from top sport at an average 15 years ago but who had been active weight cyclers for several years during their career. The main parameters measured were the concentration of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in blood plasma of the subjects in overnight fasted resting state. Blood lipid profile of the subjects was only marginally affected by acute rapid body weight reduction without creatine supplementation as well as by repeated weight cycling (2.4+/-1.6 times) during a single competitive season. However, acute weight loss with concomitant creatine supplementation induced a small (by 8.7%) but significant (P<0.05) increase in blood HDL cholesterol concentration. The lipid profile of senior athletes with previous long-lasting weight cycling experience was in normal range. These results suggest that weight cycling practiced by many well-trained combat sports athletes does not have any adverse effect on blood lipid profile. Verf.-Referat