Biomedical subjects

P F Ama

Publications and source records attributed to P F Ama.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Anaerobic performances in black and white subjects.

The anaerobic performance characteristics of 15 Black males of African ancestry (25 +/- 2 yr; mean +/- SD) and 17 White males of French Canadian ancestry (22 +/- 2 yr) were compared. All subjects were sedentary. Morphological characteristics and body composition were similar in both groups. They were tested for maximal force during voluntary isometric contraction of the knee extensors and for total work output during 10 s, 30 s, and 90 s of maximal and repetitive knee extensions. Results indicated no significant differences between Blacks and Whites in maximal force of the knee extensors (736 +/- 78 N vs 722 +/- 11 N, respectively) and in total work output during the 10-s (1134 +/- 246 J vs 1124 +/- 207 J) and 30-s (2735 +/- 519 J vs 2779 +/- 647 J) tests. There was a difference of about 400 J between Blacks and Whites in the total work output during the 90-s test, but this difference was not statistically significant. However, significant differences were found between Blacks and Whites in the peak power output decrement during the last 60 s of the 90-s anaerobic test. These differences in peak power output between the two groups ranged between 7 and 10 W during the last 30 s of the 90-s test. The results indicate that knee extensor muscles of sedentary Black and White males have similar anaerobic performance power and capacities. However, the results reveal that sedentary Black subjects experience a greater degree of fatigue than sedentary Whites during an anaerobic exercise lasting longer than 30 s.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Anaerobic performances of sedentary and trained subjects.

The objective of this report was to compare the performance of sedentary individuals, physical education students, and athletes of various disciplines in 10 s and 90 s maximal cycle ergometer tests. The 10 s power was the highest power output in one second from the 10 s test, while capacities were defined as the total work output during the best 10 s trial and the 90 s test. ANOVA and Duncan multiple range test indicated that the mean values of the 10 S power and capacity and the 90 S capacity tests were significantly higher in sprinter than in sedentary groups. Sprinters performed significantly better than marathon runners only in the 10 s capacity and power. Bodybuilders and sedentary subjects had similar results in the 90 s capacity test. Mean performance values per kilogram of body weight in sedentary females reached about 60% of sedentary males while marathon runners, physical education students and sprinter females reached about 80% of the male performances for the three indicators. When expressed per kilogram of fat-free mass, females reached a higher proportion of the male values for all performances. These results indicate that: a) there are differences for the power and capacity measured in predominantly anaerobic tests between athletes from different disciplines and sedentary individuals, and b) gender differences exist for these anaerobic performance indicators, but they appear attenuated in trained subjects.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1988

Racial variation in work capacities and powers.

Large interindividual variation in work capacities and powers are often reported in the literature. The variations are attributed to such varied factors as age, sex, exercise training, and heredity, among others. Ethnic/racial origin as a putative causal factor of such variations has also been considered. Studies of subjects from various countries report aerobic power generally between 40 and 50 mL O2/kg.min-1, with a mean around 45 mL. Differences between groups are generally small and genuine racial differences in maximal aerobic power are lacking when allowance is made for other factors. There are, on the other hand, differences between racial groups in submaximal work efficiency and endurance performance. These differences, however, appear to result from differences in mechanical efficiency owing to test mode and/or level of habituation to the ergometer. Performances on maximal tests of short duration demonstrate some variation among racial groups, but again differences in mechanical efficiency cannot be ruled out. Thus there does not appear to be valid and reliable evidence to support the concept of clear racial differences in work capacities and powers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Skeletal muscle characteristics in sedentary black and Caucasian males.

Twenty-three male Black African and 23 male Caucasian subjects, ascertained as sedentary, participated in this study designed to determine whether there were differences in skeletal muscle histochemical and biochemical characteristics between racial groups. Muscle fiber type proportions (I, IIa, and IIb), fiber areas and activities of several enzyme markers of different energy metabolic pathways were determined from a biopsy of the vastus lateralis. Results indicated that Caucasians had a higher percent type I (8%, P less than 0.01) and a lower percent type IIa (6.7%, P less than 0.05) fiber proportions than Africans. No significant differences were observed between the two racial groups in the type IIb fiber proportion or in the three fiber type areas. Enzymes catalyzing reactions in phosphagenic [creatine kinase (CK)] and glycolytic [hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] metabolic pathways had significantly higher activities (about 30-40%) in the Black African group than in the Caucasian group (P less than 0.01). No significant difference was noted in the activities of oxidative enzymes [malate dehydrogenase (MDH), oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH)]. Consequently, the PFK/OGDH ratio was significantly elevated in Africans (P less than 0.05). The racial differences observed between Africans and Caucasians in fiber type proportion and enzyme activities of the phosphagenic and glycolytic metabolic pathways may well result from inherited variation. These data suggest that sedentary male Black individuals are, in terms of skeletal muscle characteristics, well endowed for sport events of short duration.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Fat distribution and adipose tissue metabolism in non-obese male black African and Caucasian subjects.

Twenty-four male black African (25.5 +/- 3.0, mean +/- s.d., years of age) and 24 male Caucasian (21.5 +/- 3.6) subjects, ascertained as sedentary individuals, participated in this study designed to determine whether there were racial differences in fat distribution and adipose tissue metabolism while controlling the differences in body fat. An adipose tissue biopsy was obtained from the suprailiac region for the determination of basal (BL), epinephrine submaximal 10(-4) M (ESML) and maximal 10(-3) M (EML) stimulated lipolysis, basal (BLG) and maximal insulin 9 microU/ml (ILG) stimulated lipogenesis and heparin releasable lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. Body density was determined through underwater weighing procedures and body fat derived with the Siri equation. The following skinfolds were also measured: triceps, biceps, subscapular, abdomen, suprailiac, front thigh and medial calf. Caucasians were matched with the black Africans for age, body weight and body density. Results indicated that when Caucasians and black Africans of similar percentage body fat were compared, no significant differences were observed in the total amount of subcutaneous fat, fat distribution and suprailiac mean fat cell size. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the two groups for BL, BLG, and ILG of adipose tissue. However, black Africans had higher (P less than 0.01) epinephrine stimulated lipolytic values (ESML and EML) and LPL activity (P less than 0.01) than the Caucasian subjects. These results suggest that for a comparable level of fatness and similar fat morphology and distribution, there are racial differences in adipose tissue metabolism.

Adipose Tissue↗