Effect of Green Tea Extract Ingestion on Fat Oxidation during Exercise in the Menstrual Cycle: A Pilot Study.

In women, fat oxidation during exercise changes with the menstrual cycle. This study aimed to investigate the effect of green tea extract (GTE) ingestion on fat oxidation during exercise depending on the menstrual cycle phase. Ten women with regular menstrual cycles participated in this randomized, double-blind, crossover study. GTE or placebo was administered during the menstrual cycle's follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (LP). Participants cycled for 30 min at 50% maximal workload, and a respiratory gas analysis was performed. Serum estradiol, progesterone, free fatty acid, plasma noradrenaline, blood glucose, and lactate concentrations were assessed before, during, and after the exercise. Fat oxidation, carbohydrate oxidation, and the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were calculated using respiratory gas. Fat oxidation during the exercise was significantly higher in the FP than in the LP with the placebo (p < 0.05) but did not differ between the phases with GTE. Carbohydrate oxidation, serum-free fatty acid, plasma noradrenaline, blood glucose, and lactate concentrations were not significantly different between the phases in either trial. Our results suggest that GTE ingestion improves the decrease in fat oxidation in the LP.

[The Optimal Start Timing of Helical Scan for Coronary CT Angiography and CT Myocardial Perfusion Scan Using 64-MDCT].

PURPOSE: Ichihara et al. (Fujita Med J 2015; 1(1): 9-14) developed a method to simultaneously obtain both coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and CT myocardial perfusion (CTP) using 64-multi detector CT (MDCT). An input-function (time enhancement curve, TEC) of the ascending aorta (Ao) and myocardial CT density are necessary to calculate absolute myocardial blood flow (ml/g/min) using a two-compartment model. Helical scan starting timing is important to capture the peak (P) of Ao time enhancement curve (TEC). The purpose is to search the optimal timing of starting helical scan to capture the P. METHODS: We performed 14 CTPs using Definition AS+ (SIEMENS). A dynamic scan at the Ao level was started at 7 s after contrast injection and helical scan was started at various trigger on bolus tracking. Definition AS+ needs 2 s (other scanner may need 4 s) for changing from a dynamic to helical scan mode. We created TECs of pulmonary artery (PA) and Ao using the fifth function fitting. We measured the time from trigger point to the P (t200, t250, t300 and tCP). RESULTS: Mean t200, t250, t300 and tCP were 9.1±1.9, 7.9±2.0, 6.6±1.9 and 3.9±1.2 s, respectively. In additional other 16 CTP studies using the cross point method, we can capture the P in all (100%) examinations. CONCLUSION: Scan starting at the cross point is best for Definition AS+, and the Ao=300 HU may be best for other scanner that needs 4 s for changing scan mode to obtain a fine input function for calculating absolute myocardial blood flow.

Effect of Oral Paprika Xanthophyll Intake on Abdominal Fat in Healthy Overweight Humans: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study.

PURPOSE: Xanthophylls that exist in various vegetables and fruits have beneficial actions, such as antioxidant activity and an anti-metabolic syndrome effect, and daily intake of xanthophylls could play an important role in preventing lifestyle-related diseases. We investigated whether intake of xanthophylls from red paprika could decrease the abdominal fat area in the healthy overweight volunteers with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 25 to < 30 kg/m2. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, 100 healthy volunteers were assigned to oral administration of paprika xanthophyll capsules (containing 9.0 mg of paprika xanthophylls) or placebo capsules for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the effect of paprika xanthophyll intake on the abdominal visceral fat area (VFA) as determined by computed tomography. The secondary endpoints were as follows: 1) changes of the abdominal subcutaneous fat area (SFA), total fat area (TFA), and BMI; 2) changes of lipid metabolism parameters, glucose metabolism parameters, and other blood parameters. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, VFA was smaller in the paprika xanthophyll group than in the placebo group. In the paprika xanthophyll group, there was a significant decrease of SFA, TFA, and BMI after 12 weeks compared with baseline, and the reduction of SFA, TFA, and BMI was significantly greater in the paprika xanthophyll group than in the placebo group. Moreover, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly in the paprika xanthophyll group, but not in the placebo group. No adverse effects were caused by intake of paprika xanthophyll capsules. CONCLUSIONS: Intake of paprika xanthophylls for 12 weeks significantly reduced the abdominal fat area and BMI in healthy overweight volunteers without causing any adverse effects. These findings suggest that paprika xanthophyll is a safe food ingredient that improves lipid metabolism and reduces abdominal fat. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR UMIN000021529.

Effects of Dietary Paprika Xanthophylls on Ultraviolet Light-Induced Skin Damage: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

Generation of singlet oxygen by solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes acute inflammatory responses in the skin. Accumulation of singlet-oxygen-quenching antioxidants in the skin can suppress this photo-oxidative stress. This study evaluated the effect of dietary xanthophylls from red paprika fruit extract on UV-induced skin damage. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled parallel group comparison study involving 46 healthy volunteers was performed. The minimal erythema dose (MED) of each individual was determined prior to the study. A capsule containing paprika xanthophylls (9 mg) or a placebo was administered daily for 5 weeks. The MED, minimal tanning dose (MTD), skin physiology parameters (skin color, hydration, and barrier function), and facial skin physiology parameters were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, and 4. The MED of the verum group at 2 and 4 weeks after administration was significantly higher than that of the placebo group. At 4 weeks, the suppression of UV-induced skin darkening by the verum diet was significantly greater than that of the placebo. There were no significant differences in facial skin parameters between the verum and placebo groups. Our results indicate the efficacy of dietary paprika xanthophylls in suppression of UV-induced skin damage.

Accumulation of Paprika Carotenoids in Human Plasma and Erythrocytes.

The accumulation (incorporation) of paprika carotenoid in human plasma and erythrocytes was investigated. A paprika carotenoid supplement (14 mg/day) was ingested for 4 weeks by 5 young healthy volunteers (3 men and 2 women). After 2 weeks of carotenoid ingestion, the carotenoid levels in plasma and erythrocytes increased by 1.2-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively. Characteristic carotenoids found in paprika (capsanthin, cucurbitaxanthin A, and cryptocapsin) were detected in both plasma and erythrocytes. An oxidative metabolite of capsanthin (capsanthone) was also found in both plasma and erythrocytes.