Invert sugar induces glucose intolerance but does not cause injury to the pancreas nor permanent DNA damage in rats.

The high consumption of sugars is linked to the intermediate hyperglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance associated with obesity, inducing the prediabetes. However, the consequences of excessive invert sugar intake on glucose metabolism and genomic stability were poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of invert sugar overload (32%) in rats, analyzing changes in obesity, glucose tolerance, pancreatic/hepatic histology and primary and permanent DNA damage. After 17 weeks, the rats became obese and had an excessive abdominal fat, as well as presented impaired glucose tolerance, caused by higher sugar caloric intake. Primary DNA damage, evaluated by the comet assay, was increased in the blood, however not in the pancreas. No protein carbonylation was seen in serum. Moreover, no increase in permanent DNA damage was seen in the bone marrow, evaluated using the micronucleus test. Some rats presented liver steatosis and that the pancreatic islets were enlarged, but not significantly. In this study, invert sugar altered the glucose metabolism and induced primary DNA damage in blood, but did not cause significant damage to the pancreas or liver, and neither changes in the levels of oxidative stress or permanent DNA damage.

What motivates individuals to practice trail running? The role of demographics and training habits in recreational runners.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing interest in trail running in several countries, few researchers have investigated why people practice trail running. Thus, this study aimed to identify the main motivational factors that determine adherence to trail running and their association with demographic characteristics and training habits among recreational runners. METHODS: This cross-sectional research employed a questionnaire as its measurement instrument to gather data on demographic characteristics, trail running practices, motivation among trail runners. RESULTS: The study examined 168 trail runners, with 66.7% being men. It verified significant differences in demographic characteristics and training habits only in the distance covered during races with sex (P=0.036). Additionally, the results showed that the primary motivations for trail runners to practice trail running were quality of life and leisure (86.3%), physical fitness (54.2%), and competition (34.5%). Motivation for quality of life and leisure was associated with marital status (P=0.033) and average distance travelled during training (P=0.011). Motivation for physical fitness was associated with the way trail running training is performed (P=0.012), while competitive motivation was associated with gender (P=0.001), race (P=0.028), and average distance travelled during training (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the majority of runners practice trail running as a means of improving quality of life and leisure, followed by physical fitness and competition. Furthermore, significant associations were found between motivations and demographic characteristics as well as training habits.

Potential Ameliorative Effects of Chromium Supplementation on Glucose Metabolism, Obesity, and Genomic Stability in Prediabetic Rat Model.

Chromium (III) (Cr(III)) effect on improving glucose, body mass loss, and genomic stability has been extensively studied in models of type 2 diabetes. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating its effect on prediabetes. Thus, this study evaluates the effects of Cr(III) as dietetic supplementation on glucose metabolism, obesity, and genomic stability on prediabetic rat model using high-invert sugar. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four treatment groups: (1) control, receiving standard diet (control); (2) prediabetic (PD), receiving a 32% of invert sugar; (3) Cr(III), receiving chromium (III) chloride (CrCl3•6H2O) (58.4 mg/L); and (4) Cr(III) + PD, receiving CrCl3•6H2O in combination with high-invert sugar. Cr(III) supplementation significantly reduced blood glucose (123.00 ± 8.29 mg/dL vs. 115.30 ± 9.31 mg/dL, p = 0.015) and partially reduced area under the 120-min blood glucose response curve (AUC) in PD rats (p = 0.227). Moreover, Cr(III) attenuated weight gain (187.29 ± 38.56 g vs. 167.22 ± 29.30 g, p = 0.004), significantly reducing body mass index (0.68 ± 0.04 g/cm2 vs. 0.63 ± 0.04 g/cm2, p < 0.001), Lee index (0.30 ± 0.01 vs. 0.28 ± 0.01, p < 0.001), and peritoneal fat (p < 0.001). Regarding genomic stability, high-invert sugar, Cr(III), or the combination of both did not produce changes in oxidative stress, DNA damage in pancreas, or cytotoxicity markers. These data suggest that Cr(III) supplementation improved partially glucose metabolism and reduced obesity in rat model PD due to high-invert sugar without influence in genomic stability.