Muscle strength, quantity and quality and muscle fat quantity and their association with oxidative stress in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: Effect of antioxidant supplementation.

The purpose of this study was to identify causes of quadriceps muscle weakness in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). To this aim, we evaluated quadriceps muscle and fat volumes by magnetic resonance imaging and their relationships with muscle strength and oxidative stress markers in adult patients with FSHD (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 7), and the effect of antioxidant supplementation in 20 of the 32 patients with FSHD (n = 10 supplementation and n = 10 placebo) (NCT01596803). Compared with healthy controls, the dominant quadriceps strength and quality (muscle strength per unit of muscle volume) were decreased in patients with FSHD. In addition, fat volume was increased, without changes in total muscle volume. Moreover, in patients with FSHD, the lower strength of the non-dominant quadriceps was associated with lower muscle quality compared with the dominant muscle. Antioxidant supplementation significantly changed muscle and fat volumes in the non-dominant quadriceps, and muscle quality in the dominant quadriceps. This was associated with improved muscle strength (both quadriceps) and antioxidant response. These findings suggest that quadriceps muscle strength decline may not be simply explained by atrophy and may be influenced also by the muscle intrinsic characteristics. As FSHD is associated with increased oxidative stress, supplementation might reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defenses, promoting changes in muscle function.

Nutritional Status of Patients with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy.

In patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare genetic neuromuscular disease, reduced physical performance is associated with lower blood levels of vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and increased oxidative stress markers. Supplementation of vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium improves the quadriceps' physical performance. Here, we compared the nutritional status of 74 women and 85 men with FSHD. Calorie intake was lower in women with FSHD than in men. Moreover, we assessed vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, and selenium intakes in diet and their concentrations in the plasma. Vitamin E, copper, and zinc intake were lower in women with FSHD than in men, whereas plasma vitamin C, copper levels, and copper/zinc ratio were higher in women with FSHD than in men. The dietary intake and plasma concentrations of the studied vitamins and minerals were not correlated in both sexes. A well-balanced and varied diet might not be enough in patients with FSHD to correct the observed vitamin/mineral deficiencies. A low energy intake is a risk factor for suboptimal intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are important for protein synthesis and other metabolic pathways and that might contribute to progressive muscle mass loss. Antioxidant supplementation and higher protein intake seem necessary to confer protection against oxidative stress and skeletal muscle mass loss.

Investigação na formação de profissionais de Educação Física e Psicologia revela déficit no conhecimento sobre esteroides anabólico androgênicos / Research on the formation of physical education and psychology professionals reveals deficits in knowledge aboutanabolic androgenic steroids / Investigación en la formación de los profesionales de la edu-cación física y psicología revela déficit en el conocimiento acerca de los esteroides anabólicos androgénicos

Praticantes de exercícios físicos e atletas têmabusado de esteroides anabólico androgênicos(EAA's),sujeitando-se a um elevado risco de surgimento de reações adversas à saúde física e psíquica. Profissionais de saúde têm o dever de informar a população sobre os riscos da utili-zação de EAA's. Este estudo investigou a formação de estudantes dos cursos de Psicologia e Educação Física da cidade de Belo Horizontesobre esse tema analisando-seum questionário respondido por 414 voluntários. Os resultados revelaram que, na formação desses estudantes, pouca atenção tem sido dada quanto ao uso de EAA's. Conclui-se que os estudantes de ambos os cursos não obtiveram conhecimento satisfatório acerca dos EAA's e suas aplicações.

Physical exercise practitioners and athletes have abused of anabolic androgenic steroids (EAA's) subject themselves to the occurrence of harmful reactions to physical and mental health. Healthcare professionals should inform people about issues arising from the use of AAS. The present study investigated the professional formation of students of Psychology and Physical Education of the city of Belo Horizonte regarding this topic. Four hundred and fourteen volunteers answered a questionnaire. The results reveal that minor attention has been given to this matter in the formation of these students, resulting in a trivial understanding about the EAA's. It was concluded that these students of EF and PSI did not obtain satisfacto-ry knowledge about the AAS and its applications.

Los practicantes de ejercicio físico y atletas han abusado de los esteroides anabólicos andro-génicos (EAA's), sujetándose a un alto riesgo de surgimiento de reacciones adversas a la sa-lud física y psíquica. Los profesionales de la salud deben informar a la población sobre los riesgos de la utilización de EAA's. Este estudio investigó la formación de los estudiantes de Psicología y Educación Física de la ciudad de Belo Horizonte, con respecto a este tema. El instrumento investigativo fue el análisis de un cuestionario respondido por 414 voluntarios. Los resultados revelaron que poca atención acerca de los EAA's y de sus aplicaciones se ha dado en la formación de estos estudiantes. Se concluyó que los estudiantes de ambos cursos no obtuvieron conocimiento satisfactorio.