Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Journal of Eexercise & Organ Cross Talk

Effect of intense endurance training with egg white and wheat germ supplementation on cardiopulmonary function in endurance runners

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abdollah Niloufari
Foad Feizolahi
Fariba Aghaei
Mahsa Mohsenzadeh

Department of Exercise Physiology, Ka. C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22122/jeoct.2025.522394.1150
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of intense endurance training (HIET) combined with egg white and wheat germ supplementation on immune, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary function in endurance runners. In this quasi-experimental study, 24 male endurance runners from Saqqez City were randomly assigned to either a training + supplement group (n=12) or a training + placebo group (n=12). Both groups underwent 8 weeks of HIET (3 sessions/week, 60 min/session, 70-90% heart rate reserve). The supplement group consumed 15g egg white powder (75 kcal) and 17.5g wheat germ powder (78 kcal) daily, approximately 2 hours before training. The placebo group received starch powder. Cardiopulmonary function (VO2max, FEV1), cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP, left ventricular stroke volume - LVSV), and inflammatory markers (IL-6) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA (SPSS v26, α=0.05), controlling for baseline values. Significant improvements were observed in the supplement group compared to the placebo group for VO2max (F(1,21)=29.482, p<0.001, η²=0.510) and FEV1 (F(1,21)=60.308, p<0.001, η²=0.742). IL-6 levels decreased significantly in the supplement group relative to the placebo group, which showed an increase (F(1,21)=7.848, p=0.011, η²=0.272). No significant between-group differences were found for NT-proBNP (F(1,21)=3.627, p=0.071, η²=0.147) or LVSV (F(1,21)=0.061, p=0.807, η²=0.003). Eight weeks of HIET combined with egg white and wheat germ supplementation significantly enhanced maximal oxygen consumption and expiratory function while attenuating exercise-induced inflammation in endurance runners, compared to HIET alone. These findings suggest potential benefits of this supplement combination for improving cardiopulmonary performance and modulating immune responses during intense endurance training.

What is already known on this subject?

Endurance training, often lasting several hours, relies initially on muscle glycogen, blood glucose, and intramuscular fat stores for fuel.

 

What this study adds?

HIET combined with egg white and wheat germ supplementation significantly improved VO2max and FEV1 while attenuating the exercise-induced increase in IL-6 in male endurance runners, compared to HIET with placebo supplementation.

Keywords

Athletes' heart
High-intensity endurance training
Egg white powder
Wheat germ powder
FEV1
IL-6
VO2max

Subjects

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Saqqez County Athletics Committee for their invaluable cooperation in participant recruitment and data collection for this study.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. (Note: The original text stated it was part of a thesis. This standard phrase is often used unless specific funding was received. Alternatively, state: "This work was supported by the Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, as part of a doctoral thesis." Choose based on actual funding source).

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee (Specialized Committee on Exercise Physiology of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval was obtained.

Informed consent Participants signed an informed consent form prior to participation in the study.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: F.F., F.A,; Methodology: F.F., A.N,; Software: F.F., A.N.,;   Validation: F.F., A.N.,;  Formal analysis: F.F., A.N,;  Investigation: F.F., A.N., M.M., F.A,;  Resources: F.F., A.N., M.M., F.A.,;  Data curation: A.N,; Writing - original draftA.N,;  Writing - review & editing A.N,; Visualization: A.N,; Supervision: F.F,; Project administration: F.F,; Funding acquisition: F.F

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Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Volume 5, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 26-32

  • Receive Date 09 January 2025
  • Revise Date 08 March 2025
  • Accept Date 13 March 2025

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