A Commercially Available Thermogenic Dietary Supplement Increases Resting Metabolic Rate in Physically Active Males: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Investigation.

Males seeking to improve body composition may ingest thermogenic dietary supplements with the goal of elevating resting metabolic rate. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a commercially available dietary supplement (containing ingredients that promote thermogenesis) on resting metabolic rate (RMR) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Ten healthy, physically active males (age: 26.5 ± 6.4 years; height: 177.6 ± 7.2 cm; body weight: 80.5 ± 10.8 kg) underwent two testing sessions separated by approximately 7 days. Following baseline assessments of RMR, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP), each participant ingested a thermogenic dietary supplement or a placebo. Assessments were repeated at 60, 120, and 180 minutes postingestion. Approximately 1 week later, participants ingested the alternative supplement and the assessments were repeated. Post hoc analyses revealed that the dietary supplement treatment demonstrated significant elevations in RMR during the postingestion period (p < 0.05) from 1,859 ± 266 kcal to 2,027 ± 288 kcal (increase of 9%) to 2,072 ± 292 kcal (increase of 11.5%) and to 2,040 ± 271 kcal (increase of 9.7%) at 60, 120, and 180 minutes postingestion, respectfully. No significant elevations were observed in the placebo treatment at any time point. HR and BP measures were within normal clinical values throughout the intervention.

Intermittent Energy Restriction Attenuates the Loss of Fat Free Mass in Resistance Trained Individuals. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

There is a lack of research into how lean, resistance trained (RT) individuals respond to intermittent energy restricted diets. Therefore, we investigated body composition changes in RT-individuals during continuous energy restriction or intermittent restriction. A total of 27 males and females (25 ± 6.1 years; 169 ± 9.4 cm; 80 ± 15.6 kg) were randomized to a ~25% caloric restricted diet Refeed (RF; n = 13) or Continuous group (CN; n = 14) in conjunction with 4-days/week resistance training for 7-weeks. RF implemented two consecutive days of elevated carbohydrate (CHO) intake, followed by 5-days of caloric restriction each week. CN adhered to a continuous 7-week caloric restriction. Body mass (BM), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), dry fat-free mass (dFFM), and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were assessed pre/post-diet. Both groups significantly reduced BM (RF: baseline = 76.4 ± 15.6 kg, post-diet = 73.2 ± 13.8 kg, Δ3.2 kg; CN: baseline = 83.1 ± 15.4 kg, post-diet = 79.5 ± 15 kg, Δ3.6 kg) and FM (RF: baseline = 16.3 ± 4 kg, post-diet = 13.5 ± 3.6 kg, Δ2.8 kg; CN: baseline = 16.7 ± 4.5 kg, post-diet = 14.4 ± 4.9 kg, Δ2.3 kg) with no differences between groups. FFM (RF: baseline = 60.1 ± 13.8 kg, post-diet = 59.7 ± 13.0 kg, 0.4 kg; CN: baseline = 66.4 ± 15.2 kg, post-diet = 65.1 ± 15.2 kg, Δ1.3 kg p = 0.006), dFFM (RF: baseline = 18.7 ± 5.0 kg, post-diet = 18.5 ± 4.5 kg, Δ0.2 kg; CN: baseline =21.9 ± 5.7 kg, post-diet = 20.0 ± 5.7 kg, Δ1.9 kg), and RMR (RF: baseline = 1703 ± 294, post-diet = 1665 ± 270, Δ38 kcals; CN: baseline = 1867 ± 342, post-diet = 1789 ± 409, Δ78 kcals) were better maintained in the RF group. A 2-day carbohydrate refeed preserves FFM, dryFFM, and RMR during energy restriction compared to continuous energy restriction in RT-individuals.

Ketone Bodies Attenuate Wasting in Models of Atrophy.

BACKGROUND: Cancer Anorexia Cachexia Syndrome (CACS) is a distinct atrophy disease negatively influencing multiple aspects of clinical care and patient quality of life. Although it directly causes 20% of all cancer-related deaths, there are currently no model systems that encompass the entire multifaceted syndrome, nor are there any effective therapeutic treatments. METHODS: A novel model of systemic metastasis was evaluated for the comprehensive CACS (metastasis, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue wasting, inflammation, anorexia, anemia, elevated protein breakdown, hypoalbuminemia, and metabolic derangement) in both males and females. Ex vivo skeletal muscle analysis was utilized to determine ubiquitin proteasome degradation pathway activation. A novel ketone diester (R/S 1,3-Butanediol Acetoacetate Diester) was assessed in multifaceted catabolic environments to determine anti-atrophy efficacy. RESULTS: Here, we show that the VM-M3 mouse model of systemic metastasis demonstrates a novel, immunocompetent, logistically feasible, repeatable phenotype with progressive tumor growth, spontaneous metastatic spread, and the full multifaceted CACS with sex dimorphisms across tissue wasting. We also demonstrate that the ubiquitin proteasome degradation pathway was significantly upregulated in association with reduced insulin-like growth factor-1/insulin and increased FOXO3a activation, but not tumor necrosis factor-α-induced nuclear factor-kappa B activation, driving skeletal muscle atrophy. Additionally, we show that R/S 1,3-Butanediol Acetoacetate Diester administration shifted systemic metabolism, attenuated tumor burden indices, reduced atrophy/catabolism and mitigated comorbid symptoms in both CACS and cancer-independent atrophy environments. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the ketone diester attenuates multifactorial CACS skeletal muscle atrophy and inflammation-induced catabolism, demonstrating anti-catabolic effects of ketone bodies in multifactorial atrophy.

Functional Responses of Riparian Vegetation to Streamflow Diversion in the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Partial streamflow diversion due to the siting of hydroelectric generating plants may increase the incidence and degree of water stress in riparian vegetation. This study, conducted on Bishop Creek in the eastern Sierra Nevada (California), compared the water relations of riparian vegetation on paired undiverted (natural flow) and diverted (low flow) reaches. Riparian plants on diverted reaches had reduced stomatal conductance and water potential compared to plants on undiverted reaches in a dry year, but not in a high-runoff year. Juvenile plants on diverted reaches had reduced stomatal conductance and lower midday water potentials relative to surrounding mature trees, a trend that was not observed on undiverted reaches. Predawn water potentials were uniformly high in all species and sites, but low midday water potentials (-1.2 to -1.5 MPa) were observed for most species on diverted reaches. Plants on diverted reaches possessed significantly smaller, thicker leaves and a reduced total leaf area relative to trees on streamside reaches. Reduced community leaf area and effective stomatal control of water loss may allow riparian corridors on diverted reaches to retain their canopies in low-runoff years. However, a long-term consequence of streamflow diversion may be selective mortality of juvenile plants because of the elimination of floods and high flows.