Efeitos da suplementacao de Beta-hidroxi-Beta-metilbutirato na eficiencia mecanica em canoístas de elite / Efectos de suplementación de Beta-hidroxi-Beta-methylbutyrate in mechanical efficiency in elite paddlers / Effects of supplementation Beta-hydroxy-Beta-methylbutyrate in mechanical efficiency in elite paddlers

Objetivo. O presente estudo prospectivo, randomizado, duplo‐cego e placebo‐controlado, verificou o efeito da ingestão de 3g/dia‐1 Beta‐hidroxi‐Beta‐metilbutirato sobre os parâmetros da curva força‐tempo em canoístas de elite. Método. Participaram 24 canoístas, homens, de elite, com 21.41±5.35 anos, 173.36±8.27cm e 69.83±10.29kg. Formaram‐se 2 grupos, um suplementado (HMB) e outro placebo (CON), ambos acompanhados por 14 dias e submetidos a teste máximo de 4min (pré e pós) num caiaque ergômetro. Resultados. Apontam melhora na eficiência mecânica em consonância com o aumento significativo do impulso gerado (17.23%, p=0.02), da potência média (26.6%, p=0.01), frequência de remada (13.5%, p=0.04), perante teste máximo de 4min em ergômetro. Conclusão. Houve melhora na capacidade de gerar potência, que pode estar associada com a suplementação de Beta‐hidroxi‐Beta‐metilbutirato, através da diminuição do catabolismo durante o treinamento; contudo, o mecanismo pelo qual isso pode ocorrer ainda é desconhecido (AU)

Objetivo. Este estudio aleatorizado, doble ciego prospectivo, controlado y placebo, tubo como objetivo comprobar el efecto de la ingesta de 3g/día‐1 de Beta‐hidroxi‐Beta‐metilbutirato en los parámetros de la curva fuerza‐tiempo en kayakistas de élite. Método. Veinticuatro kayakistas, hombres, élite con 21.41±5.35 años, 173.36±8.27cm y 69.83±10.29kg. Formado dos grupos, uno suplementado (HMB) y otro placebo (CON), ambos siguieron durante 14 días y sometido a máxima 4min prueba (pre y post) en un ergómetro kayak. Resultados. Se apreció una mejora en la eficiencia mecánica en relación con el aumento significativo del impulso generado (17.23% p=0.02), la potencia media (26.6% p=0.01), frecuencia de carrera (13.5% p=0.04) durante una prueba máxima en ergómetro de 4min. Conclusión. Hubo una mejora en la capacidad para generar energía, que puede estar asociada con la administración de suplementos de Beta‐hidroxi‐Beta‐metilbutirato mediante la reducción de catabolismo durante el entrenamiento, sin embargo, el mecanismo por el que esto puede ocurrir es aún desconocido (AU)

Objective. This prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, checked the effect of the intake of 3g/day‐1 of Beta‐Hidroxy‐Beta‐Methylbutyrato on the parameters of the force‐time curve in elite kayakers. Method. 24 paddlers, men, elite with 21.41±5.35 years, 173.36±8.27cm and 69.83±10.29kg. Formed two groups, one supplemented (HMB) and another placebo (CON), both followed for 14 days and subjected to maximum test 4min (pre and post) in a kayak ergometer. Results. Point improvement in mechanical efficiency in line with the significant increase in the generated pulse (17.23% p=0.02), average power (26.6% p=0.01), stroke frequency (13.5% p=0.04) before maximum test 4min ergometer. Conclusion. There was improvement in the ability to generate power, which may be associated with supplementation of Beta‐Hidroxy‐Beta‐Methylbutyrato by reducing catabolism during training, however the mechanism by which this may occur is still unknown (AU)

Fitosomas: un desarrollo tecnológico para mejorar la biodisponibilidad de los extractos vegetales / Phytosomas: um desenvolvimento tecnológico para melhorar a biodisponibilidade de extractos de plantas / Phytosomes: a technological development to improve the bioavailability of herbal extracts

Las plantas son una fuente inestlmable de nutrientes y princpios actívos con propledades muy lnteresantes para la salud. Lamentablemente, el organismo humano tiene dificultad para absorber algunos de ellos. Por ello, aportar y transportar hasta las células del organlsmo estas sustanclas, en cantidad suficiente para que realicen su acción, no siempre es posible, ya que en algunos casos el consumo de cantidades relativamente elevadas de extracto (o lngrediente actlvo) puede tener efectos adversos. Para solventar este problema se han realizado diversas investlgaciones tecnológicas. Entre ellas destaca el desarrollo que ha llevado a la obtencion de "fitosomas", proceso patentado mediante el cual un extracto vegetal estandarizado, una fraccion del mismo, o sus componentes, se unen a fosfolípldos (principalmente fosfatidilcolina) para obtener un complejo molecula-lípido. Este complejo exhibe un mejor perfil farmacocinético y farmacodinámlco y por tanto mejora de forma probada mediante ensayos, su biodisponibilidad. Un ejemplo ampliamente estudiado es el fitosoma de silibina (AU)

Plants are a valuable source of nutrients and active ingredients with interesting health properties. Unfortunately, the human body can have difficulties in absorbing some of them. Therefore, it is not always possible make these substances available to the body cells in sufficient active amount, since in some cases the administration of relatively large amounts of extract (or active ingredient) can cause adverse effects. To solve this problem several technological improvements have been studied. Among them, the development of "phytosomes", which are obtained thanks to a patented process in which a standardized herbal extract, a fraction thereof, or their constituents, are binded to phospholipids (mainly phosphatidylcholine) to obtain a lipid—molecule complex. This complex exhibits better pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile and it has shown to improve bioavailability. An extensively studied example is the silybin phytosome (AU)

As plantas sao uma valiosa fonte de nutrientes e constituintes activos com propriedades muito interessantes para a saude. Lamentavelmente, o organismo humano tem dificuldade em absorver alguns deles. Por isso, transportar e disponibilizar as celulas do organismo estas substancias em quantidade suficiente para que realizem a sua acgao nem sempre e possivel, uma vez que em alguns casos 0 uso de quantidades relativamente elevadas de extracto (ou da substancia activa) pode ter efeitos adversos. Para resolver este problema realizaram-se varias investigaçoes tecnológicas. Entre elas, destaca-se o desenvolvimento que conduziu a obtengao de "fitossomas", processo patenteado mediante o qual um extracto vegetal padronizado, uma fracçao do mesmo, ou os seus componentes, se unem a fosfolípidos (principalmente fosfatidilcolina) para se obter um complexo molecula-lípido. Este complexo exibe um melhor perfil farmacocinetico e farmacodinamico e, portanto, melhora de forma comprovada mediante ensaios, a sua biodisponibilidade. Um exemplo amplamente estudado e o fitossoma de silibina (AU)

Clinical evaluation of liquid placebos for an herbal supplement, STW5, in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Although clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of liquid herbal medicinal products, design of feasible placebos that mimic the appearance, taste, and smell of such products is particularly challenging. OBJECTIVE: The design and feasibility of a liquid placebo for STW5, an herbal medicinal product used for various gastrointestinal problems, was explored in this study. DESIGN: Four sample products-STW5, a fresh and aged version of a placebo made from a seasoning mix (Maggi™), and a placebo with aged artificial flavor and food coloring-were compared in two organoleptic (sensory), single-blind trials with a total of 60 (N=60) healthy volunteers (n(1)=30, n(2)=30). MEASUREMENTS: The appearance, smell, and taste of each solution were evaluated using a Likert scale questionnaire. RESULTS: The liquid placebos evaluated were similar in regard to appearance, smell, and taste. However, participants indicated that for a clinical trial with STW5, the aged Maggi™ placebo would be more viable compared to the fresh Maggi placebo or the aged artificial food coloring placebo with licorice flavor. Participants also noted that the mint flavor and smell of STW5 was distinctly different from the placebo solutions. LIMITATIONS: The trials were conducted in healthy volunteers, not in actual patients. CONCLUSIONS: The aged Maggi™ liquid mix may be more favorable as a placebo than the artificially created one. However, further adjustment will need to be made to the Maggi™ placebo to simulate the complex aromatic composition of STW5 for clinical studies in the future.

Memory impairments in humans after acute tryptophan depletion using a novel gelatin-based protein drink.

Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) can be used to decrease serotonin levels in the brain. Traditionally, ATD has been established by administering amino acid (AA) mixtures and studies using this method showed that serotonin is involved in learning and memory processes. This study used a recently developed gelatin-based protein drink to examine whether it 1) is superior to the traditional AA method in controlling the tryptophan levels in the placebo condition, 2) impairs long-term memory and 3) differentially affects episodic and spatial memory. Sixteen healthy subjects participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Memory was assessed using a visual verbal learning test and an object relocation task (spatial memory). Tryptophan ratio significantly decreased after ATD and did not significantly increase in the placebo condition. Delayed recall in the verbal learning test and delayed relocation of objects to positions in the spatial task were impaired after ATD. Spatial short-term memory, however, improved. The current results indicate that the tryptophan levels were essentially neutral in the placebo condition compared with those in the traditional AA mixture. Our study provides further evidence that impairment in long-term episodic and elementary spatial memory after ATD is related to lowered tryptophan levels in plasma.