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Nutrients Jun 2024Endothelial dysfunction decreases exercise limb blood flow (BF) and muscle oxygenation. Acute L-Citrulline supplementation (CIT) improves muscle tissue oxygen saturation... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Endothelial dysfunction decreases exercise limb blood flow (BF) and muscle oxygenation. Acute L-Citrulline supplementation (CIT) improves muscle tissue oxygen saturation index (TSI) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) during exercise. Although CIT improves endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) in hypertensive women, the impact of CIT on exercise BF and muscle oxygenation (TSI) and extraction (HHb) are unknown. We examined the effects of CIT (10 g/day) and a placebo for 4 weeks on blood pressure (BP), arterial vasodilation (FMD, BF, and vascular conductance [VC]), and forearm muscle oxygenation (TSI and HHb) at rest and during exercise in 22 hypertensive postmenopausal women. Compared to the placebo, CIT significantly ( < 0.05) increased FMD (Δ-0.7 ± 0.6% vs. Δ1.6 ± 0.7%) and reduced aortic systolic BP (Δ3 ± 5 vs. Δ-4 ± 6 mmHg) at rest and improved exercise BF (Δ17 ± 12 vs. Δ48 ± 16 mL/min), VC (Δ-21 ± 9 vs. Δ41 ± 14 mL/mmHg/min), TSI (Δ-0.84 ± 0.58% vs. Δ1.61 ± 0.46%), and HHb (Δ1.03 ± 0.69 vs. Δ-2.76 ± 0.77 μM). Exercise BF and VC were positively correlated with improved FMD and TSI during exercise (all < 0.05). CIT improved exercise artery vasodilation and muscle oxygenation via increased endothelial function in hypertensive postmenopausal women.
Topics: Humans; Female; Postmenopause; Citrulline; Middle Aged; Hypertension; Muscle, Skeletal; Hand Strength; Dietary Supplements; Vasodilation; Regional Blood Flow; Aged; Exercise; Blood Pressure; Oxygen; Oxygen Consumption; Double-Blind Method; Endothelium, Vascular
PubMed: 38931289
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121935 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Probiotics are posited to enhance exercise performance by influencing muscle protein synthesis, augmenting glycogen storage, and reducing inflammation. This double-blind... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Probiotics are posited to enhance exercise performance by influencing muscle protein synthesis, augmenting glycogen storage, and reducing inflammation. This double-blind study randomized 88 participants to receive a six-week intervention with either a placebo, subsp. LY-66, PL-02, or a combination of both strains, combined with a structured exercise training program. We assessed changes in maximal oxygen consumption (VO), exercise performance, and gut microbiota composition before and after the intervention. Further analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of probiotics on exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), muscle integrity, and inflammatory markers in the blood, 24 and 48 h post-intervention. The results demonstrated that all probiotic groups exhibited significant enhancements in exercise performance and attenuation of muscle strength decline post-exercise exhaustion ( < 0.05). Notably, PL-02 intake significantly increased muscle mass, whereas LY-66 and the combination therapy significantly reduced body fat percentage ( < 0.05). Analysis of intestinal microbiota revealed an increase in beneficial bacteria, especially a significant rise in following supplementation with PL-02 and LY-66 ( < 0.05). Overall, the combination of exercise training and supplementation with PL-02, LY-66, and their combination improved muscle strength, explosiveness, and endurance performance, and had beneficial effects on body composition and gastrointestinal health, as evidenced by data obtained from non-athlete participants.
Topics: Humans; Probiotics; Double-Blind Method; Lactobacillus plantarum; Male; Lactococcus lactis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Muscle Strength; Physical Endurance; Female; Adult; Young Adult; Oxygen Consumption; Muscle, Skeletal; Exercise
PubMed: 38931275
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121921 -
Nutrients Jun 2024American football players consume large quantities of animal-sourced protein in adherence with traditional recommendations to maximize muscle development and athletic...
Protein Requirements for Maximal Muscle Mass and Athletic Performance Are Achieved with Completely Plant-Based Diets Scaled to Meet Energy Needs: A Modeling Study in Professional American Football Players.
American football players consume large quantities of animal-sourced protein in adherence with traditional recommendations to maximize muscle development and athletic performance. This contrasts with dietary guidelines, which recommend reducing meat intake and increasing consumption of plant-based foods to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The capacity of completely plant-based diets to meet the nutritional needs of American football players has not been studied. This modeling study scaled dietary data from a large cohort following completely plant-based diets to meet the energy requirements of professional American football players to determine whether protein, leucine, and micronutrient needs for physical performance and health were met. The Cunningham equation was used to estimate calorie requirements. Nutrient intakes from the Adventist Health Study 2 were then scaled to this calorie level. Protein values ranged from 1.6-2.2 g/kg/day and leucine values ranged from 3.8-4.1 g/meal at each of four daily meals, therefore meeting and exceeding levels theorized to maximize muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle protein synthesis, respectively. Plant-based diets scaled to meet the energy needs of professional American football players satisfied protein, leucine, and micronutrient requirements for muscle development and athletic performance. These findings suggest that completely plant-based diets could bridge the gap between dietary recommendations for chronic disease prevention and athletic performance in American football players.
Topics: Humans; Football; Dietary Proteins; Athletic Performance; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Energy Intake; Nutritional Requirements; Adult; Diet, Vegetarian; Leucine; Muscle Strength; United States; Athletes; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Micronutrients; Young Adult; Diet, Plant-Based
PubMed: 38931258
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121903 -
Nutrients Jun 2024It is a common belief amongst strength and power athletes that nutritional supplementation strategies aid recovery by shifting the anabolic/catabolic profile toward... (Review)
Review
It is a common belief amongst strength and power athletes that nutritional supplementation strategies aid recovery by shifting the anabolic/catabolic profile toward anabolism. Factors such as nutrient quantity, nutrient quality, and nutrient timing significantly impact upon the effectiveness of nutritional strategies in optimizing the acute responses to resistance exercise and the adaptive response to resistance training (i.e., muscle growth and strength expression). Specifically, the aim of this review is to address carbohydrates (CHOs), protein (PRO), and/or amino acids (AAs) supplementation strategies, as there is growing evidence suggesting a link between nutrient signaling and the initiation of protein synthesis, muscle glycogen resynthesis, and the attenuation of myofibrillar protein degradation following resistance exercise. Collectively, the current scientific literature indicates that nutritional supplementation strategies utilizing CHO, PRO, and/or AA represents an important approach aimed at enhancing muscular responses for strength and power athletes, primarily increased muscular hypertrophy and enhanced strength expression. There appears to be a critical interaction between resistance exercise and nutrient-cell signaling associated with the principle of nutrient timing (i.e., pre-exercise, during, and post-exercise). Recommendations for nutritional supplementation strategies to promote muscular responses for strength and athletes are provided.
Topics: Humans; Dietary Supplements; Dietary Proteins; Dietary Carbohydrates; Resistance Training; Amino Acids; Athletes; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscle Strength; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 38931241
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121886 -
Nutrients Jun 2024(1) Background: The assessment of muscle mass is crucial in the nutritional evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), as decreased muscle mass is linked to... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
(1) Background: The assessment of muscle mass is crucial in the nutritional evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), as decreased muscle mass is linked to increased complications and poorer prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the utility of AI-assisted L3 CT for assessing body composition and determining low muscle mass using both the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for malnutrition and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria for sarcopenia in CRC patients prior to surgery. Additionally, we aim to establish cutoff points for muscle mass in men and women and propose their application in these diagnostic frameworks. (2) Methods: This retrospective observational study included CRC patients assessed by the Endocrinology and Nutrition services of the Regional University Hospitals of Malaga, Virgen de la Victoria of Malaga, and Vall d'Hebrón of Barcelona from October 2018 to July 2023. A morphofunctional assessment, including anthropometry, bioimpedance analysis (BIA), and handgrip strength, was conducted to apply the GLIM criteria for malnutrition and the EWGSOP2 criteria for sarcopenia. Body composition evaluation was performed through AI-assisted analysis of CT images at the L3 level. ROC analysis was used to determine the predictive capacity of variables derived from the CT analysis regarding the diagnosis of low muscle mass and to describe cutoff points. (3) Results: A total of 586 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 68.4 ± 10.2 years. Using the GLIM criteria, 245 patients (41.8%) were diagnosed with malnutrition. Applying the EWGSOP2 criteria, 56 patients (9.6%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. ROC curve analysis for the skeletal muscle index (SMI) showed a strong discriminative capacity of muscle area to detect low fat-free mass index (FFMI) (AUC = 0.82, 95% CI 0.77-0.87, < 0.001). The identified SMI cutoff for diagnosing low FFMI was 32.75 cm/m (Sn 77%, Sp 64.3%; AUC = 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.87, < 0.001) in women, and 39.9 cm/m (Sn 77%, Sp 72.7%; AUC = 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.90, < 0.001) in men. Additionally, skeletal muscle area (SMA) showed good discriminative capacity for detecting low appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) (AUC = 0.71, 95% CI 0.65-0.76, < 0.001). The identified SMA cutoff points for diagnosing low ASMM were 83.2 cm (Sn 76.7%, Sp 55.3%; AUC = 0.77, 95% CI 0.69-0.84, < 0.001) in women and 112.6 cm (Sn 82.3%, Sp 58.6%; AUC = 0.79, 95% CI 0.74-0.85, < 0.001) in men. (4) Conclusions: AI-assisted body composition assessment using CT is a valuable tool in the morphofunctional evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer prior to surgery. CT provides quantitative data on muscle mass for the application of the GLIM criteria for malnutrition and the EWGSOP2 criteria for sarcopenia, with specific cutoff points established for diagnostic use.
Topics: Humans; Sarcopenia; Male; Female; Body Composition; Colorectal Neoplasms; Aged; Malnutrition; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Electric Impedance; Nutrition Assessment; Aged, 80 and over; Predictive Value of Tests; Muscle, Skeletal; Hand Strength
PubMed: 38931224
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121869 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Reduced muscle strength (dynapenia) and mass (atrophy) are prognostic factors in oncology. Measuring maximal handgrip strength with dynamometers is feasible but limited... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
A Cross-Sectional Validation Study of Camry EH101 versus JAMAR Plus Handheld Dynamometers in Colorectal Cancer Patients and Their Correlations with Bioelectrical Impedance and Nutritional Status.
BACKGROUND
Reduced muscle strength (dynapenia) and mass (atrophy) are prognostic factors in oncology. Measuring maximal handgrip strength with dynamometers is feasible but limited by the cost of the reference device (JAMAR).
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on colorectal cancer outpatients treated with chemotherapy or under active surveillance in our center from September 2022 to July 2023. Accuracy, reliability, and concordance were compared for two handheld dynamometers: the JAMAR Plus (the gold-standard device) and the Camry EH101 (a low-cost index device). A simultaneous nutritional diagnosis with GLIM criteria and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was carried out.
RESULTS
A total of 134 participants were included. The median of maximal strength for the JAMAR Plus had a non-significant difference of 1.4 kg from the Camry EH101. The accuracy and reliability of the devices were high. Bland-Altman analysis showed a 0.8 kg bias and -4.1 to 5.6 kg limits of agreement (LoA); a 0.1 kg bias and -5.3 to 5.4 kg LoA in men; a 1.5 kg bias and -2.2 to 5.3 kg LoA in women. In total, 29.85% of the participants were malnourished. Prevalence of dynapenia increased from 3.67% with the JAMAR Plus to 5.14% with the Camry EH101. Both devices had a moderate and significant correlation with BIA-estimated muscle mass.
CONCLUSIONS
The Camry EH101 was a cost-effective alternative to JAMAR Plus in our sample.
Topics: Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; Male; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electric Impedance; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status; Aged; Reproducibility of Results; Hand Strength; Muscle Strength Dynamometer; Nutrition Assessment; Adult
PubMed: 38931179
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121824 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Androgen production primarily occurs in Leydig cells located in the interstitial compartment of the testis. In aging males, testosterone is crucial for maintaining... (Review)
Review
Androgen production primarily occurs in Leydig cells located in the interstitial compartment of the testis. In aging males, testosterone is crucial for maintaining muscle mass and strength, bone density, sexual function, metabolic health, energy levels, cognitive function, as well as overall well-being. As men age, testosterone production by Leydig cells of the testes begins to decline at a rate of approximately 1% per year starting from their 30s. This review highlights recent findings concerning the use of natural polyphenolics compounds, such as flavonoids, resveratrol, and phenolic acids, to enhance testosterone production, thereby preventing age-related degenerative conditions associated with testosterone insufficiency. Interestingly, most of the natural polyphenolic antioxidants having beneficial effects on testosterone production tend to enhance the expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein () gene in Leydig cells. The STAR protein facilitates the entry of the steroid precursor cholesterol inside mitochondria, a rate-limiting step for androgen biosynthesis. Natural polyphenolic compounds can also improve the activities of steroidogenic enzymes, hypothalamus-pituitary gland axis signaling, and testosterone bioavailability. Thus, many polyphenolic compounds such as luteolin, quercetin, resveratrol, ferulic acid phenethyl ester or gigantol may be promising in delaying the initiation of late-onset hypogonadism accompanying aging in males.
Topics: Male; Humans; Hypogonadism; Antioxidants; Polyphenols; Testosterone; Leydig Cells; Animals; Aging; Phosphoproteins; Resveratrol
PubMed: 38931170
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121815 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in genes responsible for collagen synthesis or polypeptides involved in the formation of collagen... (Review)
Review
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in genes responsible for collagen synthesis or polypeptides involved in the formation of collagen fibers. Its predominant skeletal complication is scoliosis, impacting 25 to 80% of OI patients. Vertebral deformities of the scoliotic curves in OI include a variety of malformations such as codfish, wedged-shaped vertebrae or platyspondyly, craniocervical junction abnormalities, and lumbosacral spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Although the precise pathophysiology of these spinal deformities remains unclear, anomalies in bone metabolism have been implicated in the progression of scoliotic curves. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) measurements have demonstrated a significant reduction in the Z-score, indicating osteoporosis and a correlation with the advancement of scoliosis. Factors such as increased mechanical strains, joint hypermobility, lower leg length discrepancy, pelvic obliquity, spinal ligament hypermobility, or vertebrae microfractures may also contribute to the severity of scoliosis. Histological vertebral analysis has confirmed that changes in trabecular microarchitecture, associated with inadequate bone turnover, indicate generalized bone metabolic defects in OI. At the molecular level, the upregulation of Transforming Growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling in OI can lead to disturbed bone turnover and changes in muscle mass and strength. Understanding the relationship between spinal clinical features and molecular pathways could unveil TGFβ -related molecular targets, paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches in OI.
PubMed: 38930011
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123484 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024We aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and to evaluate the links between MGUS and...
We aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and to evaluate the links between MGUS and sarcopenia. Eighty-two patients with a diagnosis of MGUS were enrolled in the study. Muscle strength was measured using the handgrip dynamometer. Physical performance was assessed by assessing gait speed over a 6-minute walking test. Muscle mass was determined using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Sarcopenia was confirmed in 34.15% of patients. Male predominance was demonstrated in MGUS subjects with sarcopenia, particularly patients with low hand grip strength, low appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM), or low ASMM index ( < 0.001, 0.013, and 0.001, respectively). Higher age and lower serum free light-chain Lambda levels were shown in MGUS patients with low muscle function scores compared to normal scores ( < 0.001, and 0.014, respectively). In addition, having a low ASMM score was related to low body mass index and high-risk group ( = 0.020, 0.033, respectively). We demonstrated that the frequency of sarcopenia is high in patients with MGUS. Whether sarcopenia has a possible role as a factor contributing to the pathogenesis of MGUS should be supported by further studies containing longitudinal data.
PubMed: 38929987
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123458 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024The side hop test (SHT) measures the number of jumps performed over 30 s. Although this measure has demonstrated its value in clinical practice, the temporal parameters...
The side hop test (SHT) measures the number of jumps performed over 30 s. Although this measure has demonstrated its value in clinical practice, the temporal parameters of the SHT allow for a deeper analysis of the execution strategy. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability and construct validity of contact time parameters during the SHT recorded by a video analysis system in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) patients. We investigated the reliability (intra-rater, standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimum detectable change (MDC)), discriminant validity (operated (OP) versus non-operated (NOP) side), and convergent validity (relationship with strength and psychological readiness) of SHT contact time parameters, number of valid hops and limb symmetry index (LSI) in 38 ACLR patients. Contact time parameters are presented as mean, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV) of contact time. Intra-tester reliability was good to excellent for all contact time parameters. For discriminant validity, the mean and SD contact times of the OP leg were significantly longer than those of the NOP leg, although the difference was smaller than the SEM and MDC values. The number of valid jumps and CV contact time parameters were not significantly different. Isokinetic quadriceps strength (60°/s) was strongly correlated with mean contact time for both legs. However, psychological readiness was not correlated with any of the contact time parameters. Temporal parameters of the SHT measured on video analysis are valid and reliable parameters to assess the performance strategy of the SHT. The results should be interpreted with caution regarding the SEM and MDC values. Further studies are needed to measure criterion validity, inter-rater reliability, and responsiveness.
PubMed: 38929938
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123407