Cold-induced changes in plasma signaling lipids are associated with a healthier cardiometabolic profile independently of brown adipose tissue.

Cold exposure activates brown adipose tissue (BAT) and potentially improves cardiometabolic health through the secretion of signaling lipids by BAT. Here, we show that 2 h of cold exposure in young adults increases the levels of omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins, the endocannabinoids (eCBs) anandamide and docosahexaenoylethanolamine, and lysophospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids. Contrarily, it decreases the levels of the eCBs 1-LG and 2-LG and 1-OG and 2-OG, lysophosphatidic acids, and lysophosphatidylethanolamines. Participants overweight or obese show smaller increases in omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins levels compared to normal weight. We observe that only a small proportion (∼4% on average) of the cold-induced changes in the plasma signaling lipids are slightly correlated with BAT volume. However, cold-induced changes in omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins are negatively correlated with adiposity, glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, and liver parameters. Lastly, a 24-week exercise-based randomized controlled trial does not modify plasma signaling lipid response to cold exposure.

High omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid and oxylipin ratio in plasma is linked to an adverse cardiometabolic profile in middle-aged adults.

Omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins may be surrogate markers of systemic inflammation, which is one of the triggers for the development of cardiometabolic disorders. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in middle-aged adults. Seventy-two 72 middle-aged adults (39 women; 53.6±5.1 years old; 26.7±3.8 kg/m2) were included in this cross-sectional study. Plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and oxylipins were determined using targeted lipidomic. Body composition, dietary intake, and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed with standard methods. The plasma levels of the omega-6 fatty acids and derived oxylipins, the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs; arachidonic acid (AA)-derived oxylipins) and dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic acids (DiHETrEs; AA-derived oxylipins), were positively associated with glucose metabolism parameters (i.e., insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA); all r≥0.21, P<.05). In contrast, plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids and derived oxylipins, specifically hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acids (HEPEs; eicosapentaenoic acid-derived oxylipins), as well as series-3 prostaglandins, were negatively associated with plasma glucose metabolism parameters (i.e., insulin levels, HOMA; all r≤0.20, P<.05). The plasma levels of omega-6 fatty acids and derived oxylipins, HETEs and DiHETrEs were also positively correlated with liver function parameters (i.e., glutamic pyruvic transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and fatty liver index; all r≥0.22 and P<.05). In addition, individuals with higher omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid and oxylipin ratio showed higher levels of HOMA, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and GGT (on average +36%), as well as lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-13%) (all P<.05). In conclusion, the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid and oxylipin ratio, as well as specific omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins plasma levels, reflect an adverse cardiometabolic profile in terms of higher insulin resistance and impaired liver function in middle-aged adults.

A nutritional intervention for moderate altitude endurance preparation: A case report.

Background: Moderate altitudes carry physiological and metabolic changes that can dampen exercise performance. Fortunately, these changes can be modulated by an optimal nutritional intervention. This case study represents the first nutritional intervention of a moderate altitude athlete. These results may help to establish well-designed nutritional guidelines for moderate altitude sports athletes. Case presentation: This case study examined the effects of a 11-week nutritional intervention on body composition, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, resting and exercise nutrient oxidation, and subjective sleep quality, in a male high-level moderate altitude athlete with a very light non-exercise activity thermogenesis. During the 11-week of nutritional intervention, 2800-3500 kcal/day, 6.8-8.9 g/kg/day of carbohydrates, 1.2-1.7 g/kg/day of protein, and 1-2.5 g/kg/day of fat were prescribed. Different specific considerations were also included, such as: iron supplementation, antioxidants increment in different phases, and ergogenic aids (i.e. creatine and beta-alanine). Our results demonstrated a decrease in adiposity and an increase in fat-free mass. In parallel, the athlete improved muscle strength, and therefore endurance adaptations after a maximal effort test (i.e. enhancement of the heart rate recovery). After the intervention, the athlete not only increased the carbohydrate oxidation during exercise and resting conditions but also improved his subjective sleep quality. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a nutritional intervention based on the endurance nutritional recommendations and adapted to the altitude physiological peculiarities can induce body re-composition, improve physiological adaptations to effort, and upgrade the substrate oxidation in a moderate altitude high-level athletes.

Omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins as potential markers of cardiometabolic risk in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: Omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins are known to play a role in inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases in preclinical models. The associations between plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived oxylipins and body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults were assessed. METHODS: Body composition, brown adipose tissue, traditional serum cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory markers, and a panel of 83 oxylipins were analyzed in 133 young adults (age 22.1[SD 2.2] years, 67% women). RESULTS: Plasma levels of four omega-6 oxylipins (15-HeTrE, 5-HETE, 14,15-EpETrE, and the oxidative stress-derived 8,12-iso-iPF2α -VI) correlated positively with adiposity, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, fatty liver index, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index and lipid parameters. By contrast, the plasma levels of three omega-3 oxylipins (14,15-DiHETE, 17,18-DiHETE, and 19,20-DiHDPA) were negatively correlated with adiposity, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, fatty liver index, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index, and lipid parameters. The panel of seven oxylipins predicted adiposity better than traditional inflammatory markers such as interferon gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Pathway analyses revealed that individuals with obesity had higher plasma levels of omega-6 and lower plasma levels of omega-3 oxylipins than normal-weight individuals. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of seven omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins may have utility as early markers of cardiometabolic risk in young adults.

Metabolic rate in sedentary adults, following different exercise training interventions: The FIT-AGEING randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study compares the influence of different exercise training programs on basal metabolic rate (BMR) and fat oxidation, in basal conditions (BFox) and during exercise (MFO), in sedentary, middle-aged adults. METHODS: The study subjects of this 12 week-long, randomised controlled trial, were 71 middle-aged adults (age 53.5 ± 4.9 years; 52% women). Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (1) no exercise, (2) concurrent training based on international physical activity recommendations (PAR group), (3) high intensity interval training (HIIT group), and (4) high intensity interval training plus whole-body electromyostimulation (HIIT + EMS group). Subject BMR, BFox and MFO were determined by indirect calorimetry before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The HIIT + EMS subjects showed significant increases in BFox following the intervention compared with the control group (all P = 0.043); no such differences were seen in the PAR and HIIT compared with the control group (all P ≥ 0.1). A significant increase in post-intervention MFO was noted for the HIIT and HIIT + EMS group compared to the non-exercise control group (P < 0.05); no such difference was seen in the PAR group compared to the control group (all P ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks of high intensity interval training plus whole-body electromyostimulation may increase the BFox and MFO of middle-aged sedentary adults. These findings have important clinical implications; a well-designed high-intensity interval training program plus whole-body electromyostimulation might be followed to help combat the appearance of chronic metabolic diseases characterized by metabolic inflexibility in middle-aged sedentary adults, though it will be necessary to determine how long the effects last.

Effects of different exercise training programs on body composition: A randomized control trial.

We aimed to investigate the effects of different exercise training programs on body composition parameters in sedentary middle-aged adults. A total of 89 middle-aged adults (53.5 ± 4.9 years old; ~53% women) participated in the FIT-AGEING study. A 12-week randomized controlled trial was performed with a parallel group design. The participants were randomly assigned to (a) a concurrent training based on physical activity recommendation from the World Health Organization group (PAR group), (b) a high-intensity interval training group (HIIT group), and (c) a high-intensity interval training group adding whole-body electromyostimulation group (WB-EMS group). A significant decrease of fat body mass, fat body mass index, and visceral adipose tissue was observed in all training modalities compared to the control group (all P ≤ 0.001). There was a significant increase in lean body mass in the HIIT group as well as in the WB-EMS group compared to the control group and the PAR group (all P ≤ 0.044), whereas an increment of lean body mass index was only observed in the WB-EMS group compared to the control group and the PAR group (all P ≤ 0.042). A significant increase of bone mineral content was observed in the WB-EMS group compared to the control group (P = 0.015), while no changes were found in the PAR group and in the HIIT group compared to the control group (all P ≥ 0.2). Our findings suggest that PAR, HIIT, and WB-EMS can be used as a strategy to improve body composition parameters, obtaining slightly better results with the application of WB-EMS.