Acute effects of self-selected regimen of rapid body mass loss in combat sports athletes

The purpose of the study was to assess the acute effects of the self-selected regimen of rapid body mass loss (RBML) on muscle performance and metabolic response to exercise in combat sports athletes. Seventeen male athletes (20.8 +/- 1.0 years; mean +/- SD) reduced their body mass by 5.1 +/- 1.1% within 3 days. The RBML was achieved by a gradual reduction of energy and fluid intake and mild sauna procedures. A battery of tests was performed before (Test 1) and immediately after (Test 2) RBML. The test battery included the measurement of the peak torque of knee extensors for three different speeds, assessment of total work (Wtot) performed during a 3-min intermittent intensity knee extension exercise and measurements of blood metabolites (ammonia, lactate, glucose and urea). Absolute peak torque was lower in Test 2 compared with Test 1 at angular velocities of 1.57 rad.s(-1) (218.6 +/- 40.9 vs. 234.4 +/- 42.2 N.m; p = 0.013) and 3.14 rad.s(-1) (100.3 +/- 27.8 vs. 111.7 +/- 26.2 N.m; p = 0.008). The peak torque in relation to body mass remained unchanged for any speed. Absolute Wtot was lower in Test 2 compared with Test 1 (6359 +/- 2326 vs. 7452 +/- 3080 J; p = 0.003) as well as Wtot in relation to body mass (89.1 +/- 29.9 vs. 98.6 +/- 36.4 J.kg(-1); p = 0.034), respectively. As a result of RBML, plasma urea concentration increased from 4.9 to 5.9 mmol.l(-1) (p = 0.003). The concentration of ammonia in a post-test sample in Test 2 tended to be higher in comparison with Test 1 (80.9 +/- 29.1 vs. 67.6 +/- 26.5 mmol.l(-1); p = 0.082). The plasma lactate and glucose responses to exercise were similar in Test 1 and Test 2. We conclude that the self-selected regimen of RBML impairs muscle performance in 3-min intermittent intensity exercise and induces an increase in blood urea concentration in experienced male combat sports athletes.