Exercise enhanced
The findings of the new study have implications for "optimized training programs as well as the development of nutritional supplements to enhance performance," Gerszten says. By comparing metabolite profiles of unfit people with fit ones, he notes, researchers could find the metabolite lags that fitness drinks or nutritional supplements might replenish.

He and his colleagues are already at work trying to locate which metabolites are most important for regulating pathways relevant to boosting overall performance. "We're going to look over time to see which metabolites change over various interventions," Gerszten says. "This gives us a more granular look into the pathways that are changing."

But the performance enhancement research is not just about helping athletes or gym junkies up their game, Gerszten says. Rather it is "most importantly for people with metabolic and cardiovascular disorders" to help them be able to exercise better and perhaps improve their condition.

Whether or not a metabolite-enhanced drink or supplement could vastly increase performance is still up in the air, Gerszten says. "It's too early to tell."

But it will not be as simple as plugging in metabolites that seem to be lower in those needing extra help exercising. "It's very hard to find supplements that improve performance other than water, glucose, carbohydrates," Hickner says. "It might be a stretch from this study to get into that realm of taking the metabolic profile and determining what supplement you should give."

The real challenge, Hickner says, is not finding the ideal formula for boosting performance, but wading through the data itself. "The ability to study many metabolites at once is becoming valuable," he says. But "to sort through the data is our challenge in the coming 10 years."

10 Comments

1. 1. scientific earthling 07:32 PM 5/26/10

   Next: Take a pill - you got your daily exercise.
   Pharmacological Companies: 10 different pills, the slow walk pill to ultra marathon pill.
   
   We're a do nothing kind of species.

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2. 2. bobsmith1234 07:58 PM 5/26/10

   Next: Exercise and cure your cynicism? Exercise might do that since it can enhance mood.

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3. 3. bobsmith1234 07:58 PM 5/26/10

   Next: Exercise and cure your cynicism? Exercise might help do that since it can enhance mood.

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4. 4. bobsmith1234 07:59 PM 5/26/10

   Next: Exercise and cure your cynicism? Exercise might do that since it can enhance mood.

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5. 5. bobsmith1234 08:05 PM 5/26/10

   Next: A script to keep people from triple posting?

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6. 6. quincykim 10:03 PM 5/26/10

   scientific earthling - This species that likes to sit on its ass is also the one that has created all the modern miracles (and nightmares) you see around you. You're focusing on the one trait that lets you be a cynic right now.
   
   bobsmith1234 - Yes, I think AM should have a popup that says something like, "Let's wait for your first post to clear before starting another one ".

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7. 7. quincykim 10:08 PM 5/26/10

   Well, now I'm doing it. SciAm, not AM.

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8. 8. Ralf123 02:13 AM 5/27/10

   >"It's very hard to find supplements that improve performance other than water, glucose, carbohydrates,"
   
   Caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine. But that's about it - on the legal side anyway.

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9. 9. scientific earthling in reply to quincykim 01:46 AM 5/28/10

   quincykim: The advancements and wonders you are talking about are the work of the few.
   Have you ever worked in an organisation and observed your fellow workers? How many of them really did what they were supposed to do? What about your boss or his boss?
   Most of the nightmares I see are created by greedy lazy people who just want, they expect everyone to respect their rights, they respect no-one else's. The GFC is a good example of the unethical and wicked getting away with stealing the wealth and well-being of the majority. Nice to know they are going to die from a long suffering ailment, because they have the money to extend their lives beyond its normal end.
   

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10. 10. brublr 12:23 PM 5/28/10

    The UltraMarathon runners in Christopher McDougall's book, 'Born to Run' point out that running shoes cause injuries and the more the expense; the more the injuries. Their recommendation: Vibram 5 finger shoes which are gloves for the feet w/ a thin flat sole for protection. My hip and back pains went away and my distance was signigicantly increased. Watch for achilles tendon injuries if you change over to these in midseason, tho, as heel cushions in typical shoes keep these from development. The article above might also have mentioned that the fit have longer telomeres for their age brackets; some by 20 years.

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