E.V. Krylova, associate professor, Ph.D.
S.V. Kopylova, associate professor, Ph.D.
S.V. Kuznetsova, associate professor, Ph.D.
A.N. Ovchinnikov, student of Faculty of Physical Education and Sport
N.I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod

Keywords: Royal Jelly, Ubiquinone-10, heart rate variability, physical load.

Introduction

High level of athletic achievements imposes special requirements to the quality of training. For that matter it is still relevant to search for effective modulators among natural origin products without negative side effects of synthetic drugs. Royal Jelly and Ubiquinone-10 can be classified into these substances, coupled with their total trophy properties have a significant effect on the cardiovascular system [3, 5, 8]. This study demonstrates positive changes that occur in the cardiovascular system to adapt to the increasing physical loads including certain regulatory and morphological changes. It is known that adaptation of young athletes to specific sports depends on the state of the vegetative nervous system [2]. Heart rate variability (HRV) is considered to be an objective criterion of compensatory reaction in educational-training processes [1, 2].

The purpose of the study was to show the combined effects of Royal Jelly and Ubiquinone-10 on statistical, geometrical and spectral parameters of HRV of qualified swimmers during physical loads.

Materials and methods

16 male first-class swimmers (the mean age of 12.6 ± 0.3 years) took part in the scientific research. The investigation was conducted under the supervision of medical personnel using the hardware-software complex "Poly-spectrum-rhythm" on the basis of PC, connected to the reograph "REO-spectrum-2» (LLC "Neurosoft", Ivanovo). Electrocardiogram recording was carried out before starting physical activity and in 5 minutes after its completion. After analyzing the ECG results before and after physical activity (control groups 1 and 2) and taking into consideration the values of regulation systems exertion parameters all athletes in the experiment were divided into the following groups:

1. the placebo group (n = 8, swimming physical load during 90 minutes per day for 10 days, using a placebo (honey) in the dose of 10 g per day;

2. the experimental group (n = 8, swimming physical loading during 90 minutes per day for 10 days, together with the administration of native bee Royal Jelly (RJ) and ubiquinone-10, suspended in honey in a dose of 10 g/day, including 400 mg/day of RJ and  60 mg/day of Co Q10.

Royal Jelly and honey were extracted in Beekeeping husbandry "Krasnopolyanskoe" in the Institute of beekeeping of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Ubiquinone-10 was synthesized at Kstovo open joint stock company “BVK” according to the technology developed at the Research Institute "Sintezbelok" of the Academy of Science, the Russian Federation. Honey components were taken during 10 days of their sublingual administration 20 minutes before the educational-training process.

Cardiorhythmogram was tested by means of variation pulsometry (statistical method to estimate HRV and spectral analysis of cardiointervals). According to the variation pulsometry a number of primary parameters were calculated: (mode (Mo), mode amplitude (AMo), variation range of the time series of RR-intervals (R)); as well as secondary heart rate indices (index of tension of regulatory systems (TI), index of vegetative balance (IVB); regulatory process adequacy index (RPAI); vegetative rhythm index (VRI)). The following statistical characteristics of cardiointervals were determined: average intervals RR (RRNN), standard deviation of NN-intervals (SDNN), the square root of the sum of squared difference between the values ​​of successive series of intervals NN (RMSSD), the percentage of NN-intervals, the difference characteristics of which (RRi - RRi-1) > 50 ms, to the total number of NN-intervals (pNN50) [1].

In the spectral analysis of HRV three main frequency ranges in the heart rate fluctuations spectrum were highlighted: High Frequency (HF) (0.4-0.15 Hz), Low Frequency (LF) (0.04-0.15 Hz), Very Low Frequency (VLF) (0.003 to 0.04 Hz). Designation of HRV spectral components based on the published recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Association of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology [15].

Statistical data processing was performed in Microsoft Excel and Biostat. The results are presented as the arithmetic mean value and the standard error of the mean (M ± m). Verification of compliance with the normal distribution was performed by calculating the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. It was revealed that not all the parameters studied are described by a normal distribution, therefore, the statistical analysis of research used the following nonparametric tests: U-Mann-Whitney test for evaluating of reliability level of indicators differences for unrelated samples, and paired Wilcoxon test to compare the investigated parameters before and after supplementation.

Results and discussion

The study has shown that the initial HRV of qualified swimmers is characterized by a prevalence of the vagus nerve tone. The body's response to physical activity is provided by the increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, predominance of central mechanisms of heart rate regulation. So, the index of tension of regulatory system (TI) in both control groups after physical activity has significantly increased, meanwhile total power spectrum (TF) has the opposite changes (Table 1). 

Table 1. HRV parameters in swimmers during physical exercise (M + m)

Note: * - p < 0.05 to control group 1;                

 X - p < 0.05 to control group 2.

It is known that at low adaptive capacity of the body after exercise a long-termed centralization management of sinus rhythm is maintained reflecting high energy requirements of autonomic homeostasis and homeokinesis regulation [7].

The 10 day placebo (honey) effect in qualified swimmers induced decrease in tension of regulatory centers as well as the parasympathetic activation after physical loads in comparison with the control group (Table 2).

Table 2. HRV parameters in swimmers after taking placebo (honey) and the composition “honey + RJ + Q10” (M + m)

Note: * - p < 0.05 to the placebo group;                    

 X - p < 0.05 to the experimental group; 

# - p < 0.05 to the placebo group.

Preventive therapy using the composition of honey with added Royal Jelly and Ubiquinone-10 significantly weakened the activity of suprasegmental levels of blood circulation regulation, increasing the total distribution range of RR-intervals in the histogram. So, after exercise TI and AMo in the experimental group were significantly increased, but on the contrary R was significantly decreased (Table 2). More prominent kinetics of average values ​​of the mentioned parameters were observed in the control group 2: decreased R with significant increase in TI and AMo after load. Increase in the power spectrum in the VLF on the background of a statistically significant change in TF (⇑ 247%) compared with control values after physical activity may indicate a mobilization of energy and metabolic reserves in the body in response to the medicine course. So, VLF fluctuations power in the experimental group after exercise was significantly increased, and the TF significantly decreased. Ubiquinone-10 is known to be an intermediate component of the respiratory chain embedded into a hydrophobic membrane of mitochondrial cardiomyocytes performing transfer of electrons from membrane dehydrogenases to cytochromes, thereby stimulating the synthesis of ATP [13].

The ATP molecules are used by all cells including skeletal muscles as a universal source of energy. ATP consumption rate increases progressively during physical exercises. The use of coenzyme Q10 by athletes in a dose of 200 mg/ day for 14 days resulted in a significant increase in its concentration in plasma and muscle tissue in long-termed treadmill exercise [9]. A positive effect of Ubiquinone-10 on physical activity indicators has also been obtained in a variety of studies [10, 11, 14].

Due to the content of decenoic and decanoic acids, mono-and oligosaccharides, as well as a number of other substances, apparently, Royal jelly can also have an impact on the energy supply of the myocardium. The effect of bee RJ on carbohydrate metabolism was shown. Intravenous injection of RJ to animals in a dose 100 mg/ kg in 15-30 minutes induces hyperglycemic effect with a gradual (in 60-120 min) decrease in blood glucose concentration [5]. The authors explained this fact by increased glucose consumption by brain neurons. It is confirmed by the study of Münstedt K. et al. (2009). The authors found a significant decrease in serum glucose 2 hours after a single dose of RJ [12]. Münstedt K. et al. (2009) hypothesized an insulin-like activity of Royal Jelly. According to Terada Y. et al. (2011) 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decene acid and 10-oksidekane acid are major components of the lipid fraction and RJ stimulates metabolic processes in tissues by inducing thermogenesis and enhancing energy transfer [16]. RJ biostimulating properties determine its ability to increase the body's resistance to stress including physical loads. As shown in experiments, a 10-day using of Royal Jelly in a dose of 5 mg/ kg in rats prolongs the animals’ treadmill running activity by 3.5 times. Similar results were obtained in swimming experiments [4]. It was accompanied by a sharp decrease in the level of one of the products of lipid peroxidation - malondialdehyde in myocardium [5].

Therefore the components of the complex bee product (honey + RJ + CoQ10) are able to potentiate energy supply of the myocardium during strenuous physical activity reducing the risk of energy deficiency in athletes.   

Such parameters as SDNN and RMSSD in the tested group significantly decreased on the 10^th day of the experiment. It indicates increased vagus nerve activity combined with sympathetic regulation weakening (Table 2).

In the placebo group the parameters changed significantly. Increased activity of parasympathetic nervous system in the experimental group must be associated with the formation of adaptation reserve. Due to additional energy substrates flowing through capillaries of hypoglossal region to venous blood and directly affecting myocardial metabolism, the subjects were able to exercise for a longer period of time or on a qualitatively new level. Synchronized inhibition of the sympathetic activity characterized by IVB kinetics in the tested group after exercise confirms the positive result of adaptation. These findings are consistent with the results of the studies conducted in the Department of Human and Animal Physiology and Biochemistry of N.I. Lobachevsky University [5, 6].

The investigation of the anti-arrhythmic effect of Royal Jelly and Ubiquinone-10 in arrhythmias in rats showed attenuation of the sympatho-adrenal activity after preventive feeding with RJ (100 mg/kg) or CoQ10 (15 mg/kg), and their combinations for 10 days [6]. These effects may be due to the synergy effect of the components, which appear to optimize the tonic activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system indirectly on the basis of the functional synergy principle.

The results of preventive therapy on the analyzed HRV parameters in qualified swimmers determine the feasibility of the competent intake of honey components before and during major competitions when the requirements are high, as well as in hypoxic conditions, intensive levels of protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, decrease in the immune system activity and reduced resistance of the body, in dyscrasia.

Conclusion

1. HRV background record in qualified swimmers showed the presence of significant initial vagotonia and sinus node automaticity.
2. Response of the body to physical activity in skilled swimmers is characterized by decreased heart rate variability, combined with strengthened sympathetic tone, cerebral and humoral-metabolic effects on sinus rhythm.
3. Drug-placebo (honey) decreases the suprasegmental level tension of sinus rhythm by stimulating vagous nerve activity after exercise.
4. The tested substance “honey + RJ + CoQ10” has a normalizing effect on the balance of the autonomous nervous system synchronously enhancing parasympathetic regulation of heart rate and inhibition of the sympathetic division.
5. The substance “honey + RJ + CoQ10” modulates the state of neurohumoral and metabolic regulation of HR levels, increasing the power spectrum of the VLF component of HRV normalizing TF to the baseline values in the pre-exercise period.

References

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Corresponding author: kfg@bio.unn.ru