Changes in selected exerkines concentration post folk-dance training are accompanied by glucose homeostasis and physical performance improvement in older adults.

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of selected exerkines concentration induced by folk-dance and balance training on physical performance, insulin resistance, and blood pressure in older adults. Participants (n = 41, age 71.3 ± 5.5 years) were randomly assigned to folk-dance (DG), balance training (BG), or control group (CG). The training was performed 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Physical performance tests-time up and go (TUG) and 6-min walk test (6MWT), blood pressure, insulin resistance, and selected proteins induced by exercise (exerkines) were assessed at baseline and post-exercise intervention. Significant improvement in TUG (p = 0.006 for BG and 0.039 for DG) and 6MWT tests (in BG and DG p = 0.001), reduction of systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001 for BG and 0.003 for DG), and diastolic blood pressure (for BG; p = 0.001) were registered post-intervention. These positive changes were accompanied by the drop in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p = 0.002 for BG and 0.002 for DG), the increase of irisin concentration (p = 0.029 for BG and 0.022 for DG) in both groups, and DG the amelioration of insulin resistance indicators (HOMA-IR p = 0.023 and QUICKI p = 0.035). Folk-dance training significantly reduced the c-terminal agrin fragment (CAF; p = 0.024). Obtained data indicated that both training programs effectively improved physical performance and blood pressure, accompanied by changes in selected exerkines. Still, folk-dance had enhanced insulin sensitivity.

12 Weeks of Physical Exercise Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Improves Functional Tests Performance, and Reduces Fall Risk in Elderly Women Independently on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration.

The study aimed to evaluate if the 25(OH)D concentration is related to physical training responses. Moreover, to determine the association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and older women's physical performance, oxidative stress markers, inflammation, and bone metabolism. 37 older women (age 72.9 ± 5.2 years) were assigned into two groups: supplemented (SG) and non-supplemented (NSG). Then, the participants from SG and NSG were randomly assigned into exercised and non-exercised groups: exercise sufficient vitamin D group (ESD; n = 10), exercise insufficient vitamin D group (EID; n = 9), control sufficient vitamin D group (CSD; n = 9), and control insufficient vitamin D group (CID; n = 9). To assess the study aims time up and go test (TUG), 6 min walk test (6MWT), fall risk test (FRT), blood osteocalcin (OC), parathormone (PTH), calcium (Ca2+), sulfhydryl groups (SH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were performed. The results showed that a higher 25(OH)D concentration was in line with better physical performance and bone metabolism as well as lower inflammation. After 12 weeks of training we noted an improvement in 6MWT (from 374.0 ± 17.3 to 415.0 ± 18.8; p = 0.001 and from 364.8 ± 32.8 to 419.4 ± 32.3; p = 0.001 for EID and ESD, respectively), TUG (from 7.9 ± 0.5 to 6.8 ± 0.8; p = 0.001 and from 7.3 ± 1.5 to 6.4 ± 0.9; p = 0.002, for EID and ESD, respectively), reduction of fall risk (from 2.8 ± 0.8 to 1.9 ± 0.4; p = 0.003 and from 2.1 ± 1.1 to 1.6 ± 0.5; p = 0.047, for EID and ESD, respectively) and increase in SH groups (from 0.53 ± 0.06 to 0.58 ± 0.08; p = 0.012 and from 0.54 ± 0.03 to 0.59 ± 0.04; p = 0.005, for EID and ESD, respectively), regardless of the baseline 25(OH)D concentration. A decrease in PTH and OC concentration was observed only in EID group (from 57.7 ± 15.7 to 49.4 ± 12.6; p = 0.013 for PTH and from 27.9 ± 17.2 to 18.0 ± 6.2; p = 0.004 for OC). To conclude, vitamin D concentration among older women is associated with physical performance, fall risk, inflammation, and bone metabolism markers. Moreover, 12 weeks of training improved physical performance and antioxidant protection, regardless of baseline vitamin D concentration.

Single bout of exercise triggers the increase of vitamin D blood concentration in adolescent trained boys: a pilot study.

Vitamin D is necessary for musculoskeletal health, however, the supplementation of vitamin D above the sufficiency level does not bring additional bone mass density (BMD), unlike physical exercise which enhances the bone formatting process. Regular physical activity has been shown to upregulate VDR expression in muscles and to increase circulating vitamin D. Here we investigate whether a single bout of exercise might change 25(OH)D3 blood concentration and how it affects metabolic response to exercise. Twenty-six boys, 13.8 years old (SD ± 0.7) soccer players, participated in the study. The participants performed one of two types of exercise: the first group performed the VO2max test until exhaustion, and the second performed three times the repeated 30 s Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Blood was collected before, 15 min and one hour after the exercise. The concentration of 25(OH)D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glycerol were determined. 25(OH)D3 concentration significantly increased after the exercise in all boys. The most prominent changes in 25(OH)D3, observed after WAnT, were associated with the rise of PTH. The dimensions of response to the exercises observed through the changes in the concentration of 25(OH)D3, PTH, NEFA and glycerol were associated with the significant increases of IL-6 level. A single bout of exercise may increase the serum's 25(OH)D3 concentration in young trained boys. The intensive interval exercise brings a more potent stimulus to vitamin D fluctuations in young organisms. Our results support the hypothesis that muscles may both store and release 25(OH)D3.

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Muscle Atrophy and Reduced Mitochondrial Function in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.

Recent studies show that vitamin D deficiency may be responsible for muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate markers of muscle atrophy, signalling proteins, and mitochondrial capacity in patients with chronic low back pain with a focus on gender and serum vitamin D level. The study involved patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) qualified for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Patients were divided into three groups: supplemented (SUPL) with vitamin D (3200 IU/day for 5 weeks), placebo with normal levels of vitamin D (SUF), and the placebo group with vitamin D deficiency (DEF). The marker of muscle atrophy including atrogin-1 and protein content for IGF-1, Akt, FOXO3a, PGC-1α, and citrate synthase (CS) activity were determined in collected multifidus muscle. In the paraspinal muscle, IGF-1 levels were higher in the SUF group as compared to both the SUPL and DEF groups (p < 0.05). In the SUPL group, we found significantly increased protein content for pAkt (p < 0.05) and decreased level of FOXO3a (p < 0.05). Atrogin-1 content was significantly different between men and women (p < 0.05). The protein content of PGC-1α was significantly higher in the SUF group as compared to the DEF group (p < 0.05). CS activity in the paraspinal muscle was higher in the SUPL group than in the DEF group (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that vitamin D deficiency is associated with elevated oxidative stress, muscle atrophy, and reduced mitochondrial function in the multifidus muscle. Therefore, vitamin D-deficient LBP patients might have reduced possibilities on early and effective rehabilitation after PLIF surgery.

The Preoperative Supplementation With Vitamin D Attenuated Pain Intensity and Reduced the Level of Pro-inflammatory Markers in Patients After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

The aim of this experimental study was to assess whether 5 weeks of preoperative supplementation with vitamin D affects the intensity of pain and the level of inflammatory markers in patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) followed by rehabilitation. 42 patients were divided, by double-blind randomization, into two groups: supplemented (SUPL) vitamin D (3200 IU dose of vitamin D/day for 5 weeks) and placebo group (PL) treated with vegetable oil. The 10-week program of early rehabilitation (3 times a week) was initiated 4 weeks following PLIF. Measurements of serum 25(OH)D3 and CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 were performed. Pain intensity was measured using VAS. After supplementation with vitamin D serum, the concentration of 25(OH)D3 significantly increased in the SUPL group (∗ p < 0.005) and was significantly higher as compared to the PL group (∗ p < 0.001). A significant reduction in pain intensity was observed 4 weeks after surgery and after rehabilitation in both groups. In the SUPL group, serum CRP and IL-6 concentration significantly decreased after rehabilitation, compared with the postsurgical level (a p < 0.04). The level of TNF-α was significantly lower after rehabilitation only in the supplemented group (∗ p < 0.02). There were no significant changes in the IL-10 level in both groups during the study. Our data indicate that supplementation with vitamin D may reduce systemic inflammation and when combined with surgery and early postsurgical rehabilitation, it may decrease the intensity of pain in LBP patients undergoing PLIF. Data indicate that LBP patients undergoing spine surgery should use vitamin D perioperatively as a supplement.

Vitamin D supplementation attenuates oxidative stress in paraspinal skeletal muscles in patients with low back pain.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate markers of oxidative stress and vitamin D receptor in paraspinal muscles in low back pain patients with vitamin D deficiency, with normal level of vitamin D, and after 5 weeks of vitamin D supplementation. METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups: supplemented (SUP) with vitamin D, placebo with normal concentration of vitamin D (SUF), and the placebo group with vitamin D deficiency (DEF). The concentration of serum vitamin D was measured before and after the supplementation with vitamin D (3200 IU/ day for 5 weeks). Markers of lipid and protein peroxidation, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and protein content of vitamin D receptor was determined in multifidus muscle of patients. RESULTS: Vitamin D supplementation increased serum level of 25(OH)D3 (p < 0.001). In paraspinal muscle level of 8-isoprostanes and protein carbonyls was higher in DEF group as compared to the SUP group (p < 0.05). Antioxidant enzyme activity and vitamin D receptor in paraspinal muscle altered between the groups with different serum vitamin D concentration. The cytosolic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly higher in DEF group as compared to the SUP group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An attenuation of markers of free radical damage of lipids and proteins was observed in participants supplemented with Vitamin D. Antioxidant enzyme activities in skeletal muscle differ among patients with different serum vitamin D concentration. Monitoring oxidative stress and VDR protein content might be useful for future studies on the mechanism(s) of vitamin D action in muscle.

The effect of ethyl pyruvate supplementation on rat fatty liver induced by a high-fat diet.

Continuous positive energy imbalance leads to obesity, which increases the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The hepatoprotective effect of ethyl pyruvate has been revealed in several studies. Therefore, we examined the effect of ethyl pyruvate supplementation on liver cell damage, metabolism, membrane fluidity, and oxidative stress markers in rats fed a high-fat diet. After 6-wk feeding of a control or high-fat diet, Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control diet, control diet and ethyl pyruvate, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet and ethyl pyruvate. Ethyl pyruvate was administered as a 0.3% solution in drinking water, for the following 6 wk. Ethyl pyruvate intake attenuated the increase in activities of plasma transaminases and liver TNF-α. However, the supplementation was without effect in the lipid profiles, membrane fluidity or oxidative metabolism in liver induced by the high-fat diet. Our data confirm the potency of ethyl pyruvate against cell liver damage. Nevertheless, prolonged intake did not affect the development of a fatty liver.