A soy-based supplement alters energy metabolism but not the exercise-induced stress response.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in endurance capacity as well as in metabolic, hormonal and inflammatory markers induced by endurance training combined with a soy,protein based supplement. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study consisting of moderate endurance training without (GO) or with (G1) a soy protein based supplement. SUBJECTS: Two groups of 15 subjects (10 males and 5 females in each group): healthy sports students aged 23.6 +/- 1.9 years. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition (body mass (BM), body density (BD) by air displacement) and physical fitness (determined by treadmill ergometry) were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of the intervention; changes in circulating metabolic and hormonal parameters (glucose, lactate, urea, uric acid, ammonia, cortisol, insulin, IGF-1), and exercise-induced stress and inflammatory markers (CK, LDH, myoglobin, hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-10, blood cell counts) were determined after the intervention period in afield test (11.5 km running on hilly ground). RESULTS: 30 participants completed the 6-week study; 28 students were able to perform the field test. No significant changes in BM and BD were noted after intervention with only slight increases in running performance and maximum aerobic capacity in the total group (2%, p=0.016). Subjects in the G1 group showed significant improvements in running velocity and lower lactate values following the intervention (-12%, p=0,003). In addition, the G1 group showed significantly lower differences in the exercise-induced increase of metabolic parameters (triglycerides, uric acid) and insulin in the post-exercise recovery period. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that moderate endurance training in combination with a soy-based protein supplement improves aerobic energy supply and metabolic function in healthy sports students, even without changes in body composition and without changes in the exercise-induced stress and inflammatory reaction.

Soy protein based supplementation supports metabolic effects of resistance training in previously untrained middle aged males.

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in body composition, physical performance, metabolic and hormonal parameters induced by lifestyle counselling, resistance training and resistance training with soy protein based supplemention in middle aged males. DESIGN: Randomised controlled study consisting of resistance training without (RT-G) or with (RTS-G) a soy protein based supplement and a control group with lifestyle education only (LE-G). SUBJECTS: Forty healthy middle aged men (50-65 years, BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: Changes in body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC) were measured and body composition (BC), fat mass (FM), lean body mass (LBM) were measured by skin fold anthropometry at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. In addition, changes in physical fitness, metabolic and hormonal parameters (lipids, glucose, fructosamines, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, Leptin, human growth hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, hs-CRP, Il-6) were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants completed the 12 week study. No significant changes in BW were noted although RM and WC dropped and LBM increased after training, particularly in the RTS group (FM 22.6 ± 5.5 kg to 21.2 ± 4.7 kg; LBM 68.5 ± 7.2 kg to 70.1 ± 7.4; p < 0.01). Subjects in the RTS group experienced more pronounced improvements in the strength measurements than the RT group. After the training intervention there were significant changes in hormonal and metabolic parameters as well as in glycemic control, particularly in the RTS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that resistance training, particularly in combination with a soy protein based supplement improves body composition and metabolic function in middle aged untrained and moderately overweight males.

Palliative cancer care: an epidemiologic study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the need for palliative care in hospital patients who have cancer. Palliative care is an essential component of comprehensive cancer care and identification of palliative care needs (PCNs) of patients with cancer is a topic that has not been thoroughly studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from inpatients of University Medical Center Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany, with 982 hospital beds included in the study. During the observation period of 17 months, each patient discharged from a hospital ward was screened by surveying the treating physician who was responsible for dismissal about patients' PCNs based on the WHO 1990 definition of palliative care. To complete obligatory electronic discharge management, a modified dismissal form asking to classify the patient as having PCN "yes/no" had to be filled out for each patient discharged. RESULTS: The response rate was 96% with data for 39,849 patients that could be analyzed. A total of 6.9% of all hospital patients and 9.1% of patients older than age 65 years were considered to have PCNs. Of the 2,757 patients with PCNs, 67% (n = 1,836) had cancer. Among the 11,584 patients with cancer, 15.8% were classified as having PCNs. PCNs were particularly high in patients with head and neck cancer (28.3%), malignant melanoma (26.0%), and brain tumors (18.2%). Suffering from cancer increases the probability of developing PCNs by a factor of 3.63 (95% CI, 3.27 to 4.04). For patients with metastatic cancer, the risk of developing PCNs is increased 12-fold (odds ratio, 12.27; 95% CI, 11.07 to 13.60). CONCLUSION: Structures to provide palliative care for patients with cancer are needed.

Effect of a supplement rich in alkaline minerals on acid-base balance in humans.

BACKGROUND: Western diets are considered acidogenic due to the high dietary acid load and a low intake of base-forming dietary minerals such as potassium, magnesium or calcium. In the present study we investigated the effect of a multimineral supplement (MMS) rich in alkaline minerals on acute and chronic regulation of acid-base balance with the pH of blood, urine and saliva as potential surrogate markers. METHODS: Parameters were measured (i) without MMS intake, (ii) in the three consecutive hours following ingestion (blood and urinary pH) and (iii) during one week with or without MMS intake (self-monitored using pH measurement strips). RESULTS: 25 (15 female; 10 male) subjects (age 44 +/- 14 y; BMI 23.9 +/- 1.9 kg/m2) were enrolled in the investigation. Following acute administration of the MMS in the morning, blood ph (1 and 2 h after ingestion) rose from 7.40 to 7.41; p < 0.05, and also urinary pH 3 h after ingestion (5.94 to 6.57; p < 0.05) increased significantly. Following longer-term supplementation, both the increase in urinary pH in the morning and in the evening occurred within 1 day. Compared to pH values without the MMS, average pH in urine was 11% higher in the morning and 5% higher in the evening. Analyses of food records showed that the increase in urinary pH was not related to dietary change. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the ingestion of a multimineral supplement is associated with both a significant increase in blood and urinary pH. The health related consequences of this supplementation remain to be determined.