The multifactorial approach and the food allergen-specific substitutive diet as a tool to manage and ameliorate adverse reactions to foodstuffs in adulthood: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial-the ALASKA study.

BACKGROUND: Adverse reactions to foodstuffs (ARFS), specifically food allergy (FA) and food intolerance (FI), are increasing worldwide and represent a major public health concern. Thus, ARFS management, its identification, evaluation, and intervention, must provide a comprehensive solution. OBJECTIVES: (a) To develop a multifactorial strategy for ARFS management in adults with FA and/or FI; (b) to describe the multiple influential variables in ARFS within the realm of ARFS management; and (c) to design a personalized food allergen-specific substitutive diet (FASSD), as a 6-month dietary treatment option for adults with ARFS and as a component of ARFS management. METHODS: The ALASKA study will consider the following main variables as part of the ARFS management: (1) demographics and clinical information; (2) symptomatology, food and beverages intake and physical activity; (3) hematobiochemical study; (4) immunology; (5) enzymatic activity; (6) anthropometry, body composition, and physical fitness; (7) QoL; (8) 6-month intervention; (9) end of the study; and (10) other assessments. The FASSD will be designed with special emphasis on the commonly lacking micronutrients in the ARFS population: niacin, Mg, K, P, Ca, Zn, B12, folate, Fe, and fiber. DISCUSSION: The ALASKA study protocol has been developed as a global strategy to manage and evaluate ARFS in Spanish adults older than 18 years of age. Approaching ARFS with multiple assessments, as influencing factors, will lead to a novel strategy for ARFS management. The FASSD has been designed as a personalized tool to avoid crucial micronutrient deficiencies that a current strict food allergen avoidance or elimination diet may provoke. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the UPM (REF.20200602) and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05802017).

Muscle hypertrophy induced by N-3 PUFA supplementation in absence of exercise: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

The use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) has been studied in physically active population, however, there is a lack of information about the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on people with a sedentary behavior or who are undergoing a period of limb immobilization. This systematic review aims to examine the effect of n-3 PUFA on lean mass and muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in absence of physical training. The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus databases were searched following the PRISMA guidelines. Only randomized controlled trials, at least single blind, performed with sedentary humans were considered. Seven studies on a total of 192 individuals were included. Five of the six studies which measured changes in skeletal muscle volume and mass showed higher values with n-3 PUFA. Only two studies measured skeletal muscle protein expression. Both showed beneficial effects of supplementation in muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR), while no effect of n-3 PUFA was observed for mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and kinase protein (Akt). In addition, ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (p70s6k) improved with n-3 PUFA only in one study. Finally, the two studies which measured the skeletal muscle gene expression observed no effect of supplementation.

Effect of ß-alanine and sodium bicarbonate co-supplementation on the body's buffering capacity and sports performance: A systematic review.

Muscle acidification is one of the main factors causing fatigue during exercise, thus compromising performance. The sport supplements beta alanine (ß-A) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) are thought to enhance the effects of the body's buffer systems by reducing H+ concentrations. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effects of ß-A and SB co-supplementation on the organism's buffering capacity and sport performance. The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus were searched until November 2021 following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials, at least single-blind, performed in athletes of any age were considered. Nine studies including a total of 221 athletes were identified for review. Athletes were supplemented with ß-A and SB while they performed exercise tests to assess physical performance and buffer capacity. Five of the nine studies indicated there was some additional improvement in buffering capacity and performance with co-supplementation, while one study concluded that the effect was comparable to the added effects of the individual supplements. According to the results of the studies reviewed, we would recommend ß-A and SB co-supplementation during high intensity exercises lasting between 30 s and 10 min.

Synergy of carbohydrate and caffeine ingestion on physical performance and metabolic responses to exercise: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Carbohydrates (CHO) and caffeine (CAF) are two ergogenic aids commonly used among athletes to enhance performance. However, there is some controversy as to whether the concurrent intake of both supplements might result in an additive and synergistic improvement in exercise performance. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of adding CAF to a protocol of CHO ingestion, compared with the intake of each ergogenic aid alone and with placebo, on exercise performance and metabolic responses in healthy young physically active adults. This study was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The PubMed, Web of Science, Medline Complete, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and CENTRAL databases were searched including randomized controlled trials (RCT) that were at least single blind. The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool 2. Meta-analysis were performed on performance variables and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) using the random-effects model. Thirteen RCT with 128 participants (117 men and 11 women) were included in this study. The ingestion of CAF and CHO reduced sprint time during repeated sprint protocols in comparison with CHO isolated ingestion (SMD: -0.45; 95% CI: -0.85, -0.05) while there was a tendency for a reduction in the time employed during time trials (SMD: -0.36; 95% CI: -0.77, 0.05). The RPE tended to be lower with CAF and CHO compared with CHO isolated ingestion during steady-state exercise (SMD: -0.43; 95% CI: -0.91, 0.05) with no differences between conditions in performance trials (SMD: -0.05, 95% CI: -0.39, 0.29). Although most of the studies showed higher values of blood glucose when CHO was co-ingested with CAF compared with PLA, only two studies observed higher values with CHO and CAF co-ingestion with respect to the isolated intake of CHO. One study observed greater fat oxidation and lower glycogen use when CAF was added to CHO. In terms of cortisol levels, one study showed an increase in cortisol levels when CAF was co-ingested with CHO compared with PLA. In summary, concurrent CHO and CAF intake may produce an additive ergogenic effect respect of the isolated ingestion of CHO. This additive effect was present when CHO was provided by a 6-9% of CHO solution (maltodextrin/dextrin + fructose) and CAF is administered in a dose of 4-6.5 mg/kg.

Interaction Between Caffeine and Creatine When Used as Concurrent Ergogenic Supplements: A Systematic Review.

There is some controversy regarding the interactions between creatine (CRE) and caffeine (CAF) supplements. The aim of this systematic review was to study whether such ergogenic interaction occurs and to analyze the protocol to optimize their synchronous use. The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched until November 2021 following the PRISMA guidelines. Ten studies were included. Three studies observed that CRE loading before an acute dose of CAF before exercise did not interfere in the beneficial effect of CAF, whereas one study reported that only an acute supplementation (SUP) of CAF was beneficial but not the acute SUP of both. When chronic SUP with CRE + CAF was used, two studies reported that CAF interfered in the beneficial effect of CRE, whereas three studies did not report interaction between concurrent SUP, and one study reported synergy. Possible mechanisms of interaction are opposite effects on relaxation time and gastrointestinal distress derived from concurrent SUP. CRE loading does not seem to interfere in the acute effect of CAF. However, chronic SUP of CAF during CRE loading could interfere in the beneficial effect of CRE.

N-3 PUFA as an ergogenic supplement modulating muscle hypertrophy and strength: a systematic review.

There is growing evidence that suggests that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may improve physical performance when combined with proper training through modulation of muscle hypertrophy, muscle strength, and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This systematic review aims to examine the effect and optimal dosage of n-3 PUFA supplementation on muscle hypertrophy, muscle strength, and DOMS when combined with physical exercise. The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus databases were searched following the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials performed with healthy humans were considered. Fifteen studies with a total of 461 individuals were included in this systematic review. All of them measured muscle function (short physical performance test, range of motion (ROM), electromechanical delay (EMD), muscle echo intensity or muscle quality) and DOMS. Fourteen studies evaluated muscle strength and only six assessed muscle hypertrophy. Our results demonstrated that n-3 PUFA does not improve muscle hypertrophy, muscle strength or skeletal muscle biomarkers of inflammation and muscle damage beyond the benefits obtained by the training itself. Nevertheless, n-3 PUFA improves DOMS recovery and muscle function (measured by ROM, EMD and muscle quality).

[The biolaw and bioethics encyclopedia]. / La enciclopedia de bioderecho y bioética.

On 4 April 2011, as part of the XVIII Conference in Law and the Human Genome, the official presentation took place of the first Spanish language Encyclopedia of Biolaw and Bioethics, in an event organised by the Inter-University Chair in Law and the Human Genome held, on this occasion, in the new Auditorium of the University of the Basque Country. The Encyclopedia of Biolaw and Bioethics is a project which was conceived and driven forward by the Inter-University Chair in Law and the Human Genome. It was an ambitious project which was supported by the Roche Institute Foundation. It was therefore a magnum opus which began more than three years ago and which has required the work of more than 200 professionals from various disciplines in Spain, Latin America and Portugal. The encyclopaedia tries to make up for the lack of a suitable publication in the Spanish language that could be used as a reference and be consulted by different experts who have to tackle controversies and doubts posed in the field of biolaw and bioethics as part of their everyday work. The work makes it possible to ascertain the situation in this field regarding the most controversial issues and emerging conflicts, find out which values, assets or rights are involved or confronted, what solutions have been proposed by bioethics and the social positions that have been established through legal regulations. All in all, the encyclopaedia was the culmination of an ambitious undertaking, a pioneering work in the Spanish speaking countries due to its characteristics and scope. It is essential to have such a resource in today's cultural environment. The presentation of the Encyclopedia of Biolaw and Bioethics given by Mr. Del Barrio Seoane as Director General of the Roche Institute Foundation during the Conference deservers a special mention. The project has been consolidated through the support of this institution.

[Pharmacogenomics in clinical trials]. / Farmacogenómica en los ensayos clínicos.

Studies of the relationship between variations in DNA or RNA characteristics and drug response are yielding important advances, boosted by continuous improvements and decreasing costs of the techniques for large-scale analysis of genes and proteins. This is increasing current capabilities to discover new drugs and therapeutic targets, establish early and differential diagnosis of disease, and optimize the use of existing medicines. As Personalised Medicine continues to develop, the question arises as to when biomarkers and genomics should best be incorporated into the drug development process.