Research within this group encompasses that which explores the physiology of exercise performance, and health. Within the group there is a strong emphasis on understanding the factors involved in cardiometabolic disease risk and the role of exercise in understanding associated cardiometabolic disease states. In addition, there is a drive to understand the role of exercise in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases and the physiological mechanisms that underpin them.
A key component of health maintenance and disease prevention is the role of physical activity with members of the group focusing on assessing activity levels, and ways in which to promote and facilitate physical activity in all groups across the life-course. Within the group, there is a strong focus on the factors that play a role in the enhancement of exercise performance. This includes the role of training implementation and recovery strategies as well as the utilisation of supplementation to facilitate both markers of performance and recovery from exercise.
Current members include:
Associate Professor Peter Angell
Professor Simon Marwood
Associate Professor Denise Roche
Dr James Malone
Dr Becky Dagger
Dr Matthew Jackson
Dr Zoe Marshall
Dr Marc Wells
Effect of testosterone levels on exercise capacity and markers of fatigue in men with type 2 diabetes
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that low endogenous levels of testosterone among men are associated with an increased risk of mortality, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndromes. Of particular note is a growing body of evidence that has demonstrated a link between low testosterone levels and insulin resistance. Exercise capacity has been shown to be a strong predictor of both cardiovascular disease and overall mortality, with exercise tolerance also being demonstrated as a predictor of mortality in individuals with diabetes, and heart failure. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of testosterone replacement therapy on exercise tolerance and cardiometabolic risk factors associated with early mortality.
LEA in Adolescent Female Footballers Research
Insufficient energy availability is known to disrupt a number of normal functions in the body. The resulting hormonal, metabolic and physiological dysregulation, can lead to negative health outcomes in the long term. Low energy availability can be exacerbated by the energy requirements of sports and exercise, therefore elite female athletes who are required to compete at optimum performance may be inclined to disregard negative health outcomes in pursuit of this. The majority of previous work has focused on athletes from endurance, aesthetic or combat sports, but there is less understanding concerning female footballers and in particular those in adolescence. The aim of this project is to focus on the prevalence, determinants and consequences of low energy availability in elite female footballers, which may inform strategies to reduce the burden of detrimental consequences.
Examining the effect of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) supplementation on the cognitive performance of healthy young adults.
Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) are mixed fatty acids with a chain length of between 6 and 12carbon atoms. Naturally occurring sources of MCTs include coconut oil, palm kernel oil and breast milk. The brain can utilise MCTs as an alternative fuel to glucose, and research has shown that MCT ingestion improves cognitive function in diseased and/or elderly individuals. The aim of this PhD project is to examined whether supplementation of MCTs can also have a positive effect on the cognitive function of healthy, young adults.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of anabolic-androgenic steroids on cardiac structure and function.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids have been used for performance and image enhancement since the 1950’s and their use has continued to increase, with them no longer being the preserve of the elite athlete or bodybuilder. However, their use has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease with potential negative changes to cardiac structure and function. This project will try to further understand the potential impact of AAS use on cardiac structure and function by drawing together previous research in the area.
Angell PJ & Marwood (2023). Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning (IPC) on recovery of exercise performance following a bout of exercise to volitional exhaustion. (Physiologia 2023, 3, 394–405. https://doi.org/10.3390/physiologia3030027)
Ashton JS, Roberts JW, Wakefield CJ, Maclaren DPM, Marwood S, Malone JJ (2023) Medium chain triglycerides with a C8:C10 ratio of 30:70 enhances cognitive performance and mitigates the cognitive decline associated with prolonged exercise. Physiology & Behavior.
Marshall, Z. A., Mackintosh, K. A., Gregory, J. W., & McNarry, M. A. (2022). Using compositional analysis to explore the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents with and without type 1 diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes, 23(1), 115-125.
Goulding, R. P., Roche, D. M., & Marwood, S. (2021). The ramp and all-out exercise test to determine critical power: validity and robustness to manipulations in body position. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(10), 2721–2730. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04739-9
Ashton, J. S., Roberts, J. W., Wakefield, C. J., Page, R. M., MacLaren, D. P. M., Marwood, S., & Malone, J. J. (2021). The effects of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation using aC(8):C(10) ratio of 30:70 on cognitive performance in healthy young adults. Physiology &Behavior, 229, 113252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113252
Marshall, Z. A., Mackintosh, K. A., Lewis, M. J., Ellins, E. A., & McNarry, M. A. (2021). Association of physical activity metrics with indicators of cardiovascular function and control in children with and without type 1 diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes, 22(2), 320-328.
Kirk, B and Mooney, K and Jackson, M and Duque, G and Alizadehkhaiyat, O and Amirabdollahian, F. (2021) Leucine-enriched whey protein supplementation, resistance-based exercise, and cardiometabolic health in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. ISSN 2190-5991
Goulding, R. P., Roche, D. M., Scott, S. N., Koga, S., Weston, P. J., &; Marwood, S. (2020).Limitations to exercise tolerance in type 1 diabetes: the role of pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics and priming exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 128(5),1299–1309. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00892.2019
Kirk B., Mooney K., Cousins R., Angell PJ, Jackson M, Pugh JN, Amirabdollahian F & Khaiyat OA (2020) Effects of exercise and whey protein on muscle mass, fat mass, myoelectrical muscle fatigue and health-related quality of life in older adults: a secondary analysis of the Liverpool Hope University—Sarcopenia Ageing Trial (LHU-SAT). Eur J Appl Physiol, 120(2):493-503.
Fairclough, SJ and Dumuid, D and Mackintosh, KA and Stone, GL and Dagger, RM and Stratton, G and Davies, IG and Boddy, LM (2018) Adiposity, fitness, health-related quality of life and the reallocation of time between children’s school day activity behaviours: a compositional data analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 11. pp. 254-261. ISSN 2211-3355
Holloway K, Roche D, and Angell PJ (2018). Evaluating the progressive cardiovascular health benefits of short term high-intensity interval training. European Journal of Applied Physiology https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3952-6
