Neil C Williams

Nottingham Trent University | NTU · Department of Sport Science

Citation: Clayton, D.J.; Burbeary, R.; Parker, C.; James, R.M.; Saward, C.; Procter, E.L.; Mode, W.J.A.; Baker, C.; Hough, J.; Williams, N.C.; et al. Combined Turmeric, Vitamin C, and Abstract: Elite football is associated with the increased risk of illness, although targeted supplemen-tation can reduce illness risk. This study assessed the effects...

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disease; the importance of growth and nutritional status is well established given their implications for lung function and overall survivability. Furthermore, it has been established that intestinal microbial imbalance and inflammation are present in people with CF. Oral prebiotics are commerciall...

Objectives: Elite rugby union players face numerous physiological and psychological stressors which can increase upper respiratory and gastrointestinal illness risk, and in turn can compromise training and competitive performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of daily prebiotic supplementation on upper respiratory symptoms, gastroint...

Introduction: Recently, we showed that males high in trait self-control experience less dyspnoea and persist for longer in a carbon dioxide (CO2) rebreathing challenge than males low in trait self-control. As self-control can also vary within individuals (state self-control), the aim of the present study was to investigate whether prior self-contro...

Introduction Exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is not only highly prevalent in people with asthma, but can also occur independently, particularly in athletes. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is an indirect biomarker of type 2 airway inflammation that has an established role in the assessment and management of asthma. The aim was to...

Respiratory function has become a global health priority. Not only is chronic respiratory disease a leading cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality, but the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened attention on respiratory health and the means of enhancing it. Subsequently, and inevitably, the respiratory system has become a target of the multi-trillion...

Introduction Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a prevalent condition in athletes. EIB screening studies identify many athletes with undiagnosed EIB. Moreover, there is a poor relationship between EIB and dyspnea symptoms recalled from memory. Purpose This study investigated: (I) the prevalence of EIB in British university field hockey...

Background High trait self-control is associated with greater tolerance of unpleasant sensations including effort and pain. Dyspnoea and pain have several commonalities and this study aimed to investigate for the first time whether trait self-control influences responses to a hypercapnic rebreathing challenge designed to induce dyspnoea. As sex als...

Low-grade inflammation is often an underlying cause of several chronic diseases such as asthma, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Defining the mediators of such chronic low-grade inflammation often appears dependent on which disease is being investigated. However, downstream systemic inflammatory cytokine respons...

Background: In an obese state, pro-inflammatory adipokines can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced brown adipocytes properties in white adipocytes (BRITE adipocytes), all of which contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A recent novel adipokine, asprosin, that influences appetite and glucose homeosta...

Introduction: The ergogenic effects of respiratory alkalosis induced by prior voluntary hyperventilation (VH) are controversial. This study examined the effects of prior VH on derived parameters from the 3-min all-out cycling test (3MT). Methods: Eleven men ([Combining Dot Above]V˙O2max = 46 ± 8 mL⋅kg-1⋅min-1) performed a 3MT preceded by 15-min...

Introduction: Prior upper body exercise reduces the curvature constant (W') of the hyperbolic power-duration relationship without affecting critical power. This study tested the hypothesis that prior upper body exercise reduces the work done over the end-test power (WEP; analogue of W') during a 3-min all-out cycling test (3MT) without affecting t...

Evidence suggests that periods of heavy intense training can result in impaired immune cell function, and whether this leaves elite athletes at greater risk of infections and upper respiratory symptoms (URS) is still debated. There is some evidence that episodes of URS do cluster around important periods of competition and intense periods of traini...

Although high dose n- 3 PUFA supplementation reduces exercise- and hyperpnoea-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB/HIB), there are concurrent issues with cost, compliance and gastrointestinal discomfort. It is thus pertinent to establish the efficacy of lower n- 3 PUFA doses. Eight male adults with asthma and HIB and eight controls without asthma were...

Gut microbes have a substantial influence on systemic immune function and allergic sensitisation. Manipulation of the gut microbiome through prebiotics may provide a potential strategy to influence the immunopathology of asthma. This study investigated the effects of prebiotic Bimuno-galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS) supplementation on hyperpnoea-indu...

to the editor: We thank Broxterman and colleagues ([2][1]) for their comments regarding our recent work on the effects of prior upper body exercise on subsequent cycling exercise tolerance and associated changes in neuromuscular function and perceptual responses ([4][2]). Previous studies suggested

This study examined the effects of prior upper body exercise on subsequent high-intensity cycling exercise tolerance and associated changes in neuromuscular function and perceptual responses. Eight males performed 3 fixed work-rate (85% peak power) cycling tests: (1) to the limit of tolerance (CYC); (2) to the limit of tolerance after prior high-in...

The influence of oxidative stress, diaphragm fatigue and inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on the cytokine response to maximum sustainable voluntary ventilation (MSVV) is unknown. Twelve healthy males were divided equally into an IMT or placebo (PLA) group and before and after a 6 week intervention they undertook, on separate days, 1 h of (i) passi...

A case study into the preparation and physiological responses of competing in the Marathon des Sables (MDS) was conducted by preparing a male competitor for, and monitoring him during, his first attempt at the race. The aims of this case report were to (a) prepare and monitor an ex-Olympic, male rower (S1) during the 2010 race and; (b) compare his...

Treatment of EIB often involves drug interventions, but long-term use may cause systemic side effects (Dahl, Respir Med 2006;8:1307–1317). Supplementing the diet of EIB sufferers with fish oil rich in omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) improved post-exercise lung function and reduced systemic markers of inflammation and the need for b...

It is unknown whether the respiratory muscles contribute to exercise-induced increases in plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration, if this is related to diaphragm fatigue, and whether inspiratory muscle training (IMT) attenuates the plasma IL-6 response to whole-body exercise and/or a volitional mimic of the exercise hyperpnea. Twelve healthy mal...

Changes in the metabolic milieu of locomotor muscles during heavy exercise may elicit inhibitory feedback to the central nervous system, thereby influencing the magnitude of central motor drive to prevent the degree of peripheral muscle fatigue and/or sensory perception exceeding a "critical" individual level [1]. Whether exhaustive exercise termin...

Effects of a carbohydrate beverage on the physiological responses to load carriage were examined. Ten fit male participants (age: 28 ± 9 years, body mass: 81.5 ± 10.5 kg, VO(2max): 55.0 ± 5.5 mL kg(-1) min(-1)) completed two test conditions in random order, walking on a treadmill (6.5 km h(-1)) for 120 min, carrying a 25-kg backpack. At 0 and 60 mi...

Responses during electrically stimulated isometric contractions of the knee extensors. Table with measurements that were taken before (Pre) and after (0, 24, 48 and 72 h) 120 minutes of treadmill walking at 6.5 km·h-1 (n = 10) on a level gradient (0%) carrying a 25 kg backpack. Either a placebo beverage (PLA), carbohydrate (6.4%) beverage (CHO) or...

This study examined the effect of carbohydrate and whey protein supplements on recovery of neuromuscular function after prolonged load carriage. TEN MALE PARTICIPANTS (BODY MASS: 81.5 +/- 10.5 kg, age: 28 +/- 9 years, O(2)max: 55.0 +/- 5.5 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) completed three treadmill walking tests (2 hr, 6.5 km.h(-1)), carrying a 25 kg backpack con...