The effects of physical training and acute exercise (mechanical treadmill running) on the level of lipid peroxide in skeletal muscle of rats fed vitamin E-deficient or -supplemented diet were studied.
1. The level of lipid peroxide in skeletal muscle of untrained rats was significantly increased immediately after acute exercise (p<0.05), but physical training suppressed of increase in the level of lipid peroxide and an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase. These findings were strongly shown in soleus muscle among the muscles examined in this experiment.
2. The level of lipid peroxide in soleus muscle was significantly increased in vitamin Edeficient rats compared to that of control rats (p<0.05) .
Conversely, the level of lipid peroxide in muscles was significantly depressed by feeding vitamin E -supplemented diet (p<0.05) .
3. Dietary vitamin E -supplementation did result in a increase in superoxide dismutase activity of muscle.

We performed dietary guidances for 15 male elite athletes (23±3 years of age) participating a training program for vigorous endurance run. Nutrient allowances for the athletes were determined by the guidelines of Japanese Dietary Allowances (5 th ed.), considering their physical activities at the highest level IV; total energy 3, 500 kcal, protein 140g, lipid 100g, carbohydrate 510g, calcium 1, 500 mg, iron 25 mg, vitamin A 8, 000 IU, thiamine 4.0 mg, riboflabin 5.0 mg and vitamin C 200 mg per day. We also developed food group allowances for the athletes based on their nutrient allowances and current young-aged Japanese dietary styles ; cereals 400 g, potatoes and starches 60 g, sugars 20 g fats and oils 30g, pulses 120g, meats 150g, fishes and shellfishes 150g, eggs 80g, milks 600g, green and yellow vegetables 300 g, the other vegetables 350 g, fruits 400 g and algae 20 g per day. For the experimental period of 45 days, daily diets adjusted to approximate 120% of the dietary allowances were served to the athletes who were free taking snacks and drinks. Dietary guidances for the athletes were assessed by monitors of their dietary intakes, physical constitution and clinical examinations in blood. Means of the dietary intakes of the athletes were 96-99% of the dietary allowances, determined by a nutritional survey with the 24 hrs recall method. There were less changes in the physical constitution of the athletes before, during and after the experimental period; body weight 57±2 kg and body fat 8.8 ± 2.4%. Values of the clinical marks in the blood of the athletes were maintained normally for a half year including the experimental period; red blood cells 507±9×104 cells/mm3, hemoglobin 15±0.4g/dl and hematocrit 46.6±0.7%.
It is concluded that suitable nutritional guidances and managements for young-aged male vigorous endurance runners lead good in their health and physical maintenances, which may have important consequences for their physical development as elite athletes.

We investigated biochemical and morphological changes in electrically stimulated gastrocnemius muscle of rats fed normal (20% casein) and low-protein (5% casein) diets. Tissue weight and protein content per tissue weight of gastrocnemius muscle were significantly decreased in rats fed 5% casein diet than in rats fed 20% casein diet. Immunohistochemically, cathepsin B antigen was detected in inflammatory cells, and injured sites determined immunological intensity of anti-cathepsin B were lower in 5% casein diet group than 20% casein diet group. Electron microscopically, there was delayed repairment of muscle components (sarcometric units) in 5% casein diet as compared with that in 20% casein diet group.