If subjects qualified for the study, they were randomized to either the placebo or the supplementation group in a 1:1 ratio. The supplementation began at week 0 after the baseline exercise testing. The subjects returned to the study center at week 1 and week 3 for further exercise testing. Performance Assessment At the initial screening visit, aerobic capacity and physical fitness were assessed by measuring maximal Luminespib mw oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the gas exchange anaerobic threshold (VO2θ) during a symptom limited, incremental work rate exercise test, targeted to last between 8 to 12 minutes. Screening allowed for determination of whether the subject

was physically fit to complete the study, could tolerate the experimental setup (including breathing through the mouthpiece), and permitted the subject to accustom to the study protocol. On subsequent visits, exercise endurance was assessed by measuring time to exhaustion at 60% of the maximal work rate achieved during the initial incremental work rate exercise test, with a targeted duration of testing between 45 minutes

and 1 hour. Incremental Work Rate Exercise Test (IWR) for VO2max Maximal exercise performance was assessed using a symptom-limited incremental exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer [Ergoline 900S; Sensormedics Corp, Loma Linda, CA]. The external work rate was continuously incremented in “”ramp”" fashion by computer control. The rate of incrementation was Combretastatin A4 judged for each individual subject by considering age, gender, height, weight, and level of habitual exercise activity with the intention of obtaining an exercise phase of 8-12 minutes before exhaustion [17]. The increment in MK0683 chemical structure resistance for baseline test and two subsequent tests for each subject was

consistent. Minute ventilation was measured using a mass flow meter; expired fractional concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide were continuously click here monitored by a paramagnetic oxygen analyzer and a non-dispersive infra-red CO2 analyzer, respectively [2900; SensorMedics Corp, Loma Linda, CA]. A 12-lead electrocardiogram was obtained at rest and every two minutes throughout exercise [Quinton 5000; Seattle, WA]; heart rate was monitored continuously by rhythm strip. Constant Work Rate Exercise Tests (CWR) At baseline and final visits, subjects performed a constant work rate (CWR) exercise test at 60% of their maximal work rate determined from the initial IWR test. The experimental setup and monitoring for the CWR tests was identical to the IWR tests. Subjects arrived at the same time of the day for the baseline and subsequent two visits. They were given general instructions regarding what to eat and/or drink for breakfast on the day of each study, and reminded to ingest the same breakfast each time, so as to minimize variability due to glycemic status and/or time of day.