Assessment of the Efficacy of a Low-Dose Iron Supplement in Restoring Iron Levels to Normal Range among Healthy Premenopausal Women with Iron Deficiency without Anemia.

(1) Background: Iron deficiency without anemia (IDWA) is a prevalent health concern in premenopausal women. Oral supplementation of iron may be a viable solution to improve blood-iron status in women; however, the effects of a high-dose iron-supplement regimen have been associated with gastrointestinal side effects. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-dose liquid fermented iron-bisglycinate supplement (LIS) on improving blood-iron status in premenopausal women with IDWA without increasing constipation or gastrointestinal distress. (2) Methods: 85 premenopausal women with IDWA (ferritin < 70 ng/dL and hemoglobin > 11.0 g/dL) took a LIS (27 mg) or a placebo (PLA) for 8 weeks. Blood draws were taken at Wk0 and Wk8 of the study to measure serum-iron markers. In addition, surveys of gastrointestinal distress were administered at Wk0, Wk4, and Wk8 while the profile of mood states (POMS) was surveyed at Wk0 and Wk8. (3) Results: Compared to the placebo, the LIS was able to increase serum ferritin (p = 0.03), total serum iron (p = 0.03), and mean corpuscular volume (p = 0.02), while exhibiting no significant interaction in subjective gastrointestinal distress (p > 0.05). No significant effects were detected for POMS (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Supplementing with LIS appears to improve blood-iron status without causing significant gastrointestinal distress in premenopausal women with IDWA.

A randomized, crossover study to evaluate α-tocopherol bioavailability via a microemulsion gel or dry tablet delivery in healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is an essential micronutrient for human health and optimal physiological function. Inadequacy may be common due to a lack of bioavailability. The use of dietary lipids alongside other emulsification agents may elicit more robust serum concentrations of α-tocopherol via improved bioavailability. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine oral bioavailability of two delivery methods of α-tocopherol, (1) a microemulsion gel formula composed of dietary lipids and other emulsification agents and (2) a dry solid tablet over 12 hours. METHODS: Twelve participants (age = 37.3 ± 9.6 years; height = 173.4 ± 11.8 cm; body mass = 71.2 ± 10.0 kg) participated in a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial comparing two delivery methods both dosed at 288 mg of α-tocopherol. Serum α-tocopherol concentrations were assessed from blood donated by participants at pre-consumption, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 12-hour post-consumption. Study conditions were separated by a 7-day washout. RESULTS: The microemulsion gel formula delivery demonstrated significantly greater area under the curve (p < 0.001) and serum concentration maximums (p = 0.003) for serum α-tocopherol compared to the tablet delivery. No significant differences were detected between conditions for the time to reach concentration maximums (p = 0.375). CONCLUSION: We conclude that a mixture of dietary lipids and emulsification agents in the form of a microemulsion gel formula was able to significantly improve bioavailability of serum α-tocopherol compared to a tablet by yielding higher serum α-tocopherol maximum concentrations and area under the curve over a 12-hour study period despite dosage being matched.

Non-traditional immersive seminar enhances learning by promoting greater physiological and psychological engagement compared to a traditional lecture format.

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an immersive seminar, which included moderate intensities of physical activity, on learning when compared to traditional lecture format. Twenty-six healthy participants were randomly divided into an immersive seminar or traditional lecture format group and presented material related to positive psychology and human values/beliefs over the course of two days. Physical activity was collected using a bio-harness while salivary cortisol and perceptual measures of well-being were collected over the two days. Performance on an examination related to course material was used to assess learning. Average time spent over 65% of max heart rate, energy expenditure, total bounds, mechanical and physiological load were significantly greater in the immersive seminar group when compared to traditional lecture group. In addition, cortisol levels and perceptual measures of mood, focus, energy, and well-being were significantly greater in the immersive seminar when compared to the traditional lecture format. Participants in the immersive seminar demonstrated significantly greater memory retention of course material 30-days post lecture when compared to the traditional lecture group. These findings support incorporating more physical activity and increasing arousal in order to enhance learning of lecture material.

Proteins and Amino Acids Treated with Atmospheric Plasma Show Significantly Increased Bioavailability in Humans.

BACKGROUND: Muscle mass is an important determinant of metabolic health and physical function. It has previously been demonstrated that the postprandial rise in circulating essential amino acids acts as the main stimulus for muscle protein synthesis (MPS). The current study investigated the postprandial plasma essential amino acid (EAA) and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) responses of (1) Hydrolyzed whey protein isolate (HWPI) compared to plasma treated non-hydrolyzed whey protein isolate (PT-NHWPI), (2) standard branch-chain amino acids (S-BCAA) compared to plasma treated branch-chained amino acids (PT-BCAA), (3) standard pea protein (S-PP), compared to plasma treated pea protein (PT-PP), and (4) HWPI compared to PT-PP. METHODS: Ten subjects (24.6 ± 5.3 years; 178.8 ± 8.1 cm; 78.6 ± 10.1 kg) participated in a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial comparing four separate protein conditions (HWPI, PT-NHWPI, S-PP, PT-PP). A separate cohort of ten subjects (26.4 ± 7.4 years; 178.8 ± 5.9 cm; 85 ± 12.3 kg) participated in a double-blind randomized, crossover trial comparing two branch-chain amino acid conditions: S-BCAA and PT-BCAA. All conditions were administered following a 7-day washout. Plasma EAA and BCAA concentrations were assessed from blood donated by subjects at pre-consumption, 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-, and 180 minutes post-consumption. RESULTS: Blood plasma levels of total EAA and BCAA concentration were significantly greater in all treated conditions at 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120 minutes post consumption (P < .05). There were no differences between PT-PP and HWPI. DISCUSSION: All proteins significantly elevated EAAs, and BCAAs from basal levels. However, we conclude that the consumption of the treated proteins significantly raises blood levels of EAAs, and BCAAs to a greater extent across multiple dairy, vegan, and isolated BCAA conditions. Moreover, atmospheric plasma treatment of a vegan protein source makes its amino acid response similar to whey. Thus, protein supplementation with that has undergone Ingredient Optimized® atmospheric plasma treatment technology may be highly beneficial for improving the blood plasma amino acid response.

Postprandial Plasma Amino Acid Responses Between Standard Whey Protein Isolate and Whey Protein Isolate Plus Novel Technology.

BACKGROUND: Muscle mass is an important determinant of metabolic health and physical function. It has previously been demonstrated that the postprandial rise in circulating essential amino acids (EAA) acts as the main stimulus for muscle protein synthesis (MPS). This study investigated postprandial plasma amino acid (AA) responses of 2 different forms of whey protein isolate (WPI) with iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous profiles to investigate plasma concentrations of EAA. METHODS: In all, 12 healthy men (n = 12) between 19 and 32 years of age were recruited for a randomized, cross-over design, which involved consumption of protein supplements on 2 testing days separated by a 6-day washout period between conditions. On each testing day, subjects consumed either 29.6 g of WPI or WPI + io (whey protein isolate plus Ingredient Optimized Protein®) mixed with 236 mL of water. Plasma EAA and branch chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations were assessed from whole body donated by subjects at pre-consumption and 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes post consumption. RESULTS: Plasma levels of total EAA concentration was significantly greater in WPI + io at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes post consumption (P < .01, P < .001, P < .01, and P < .01, respectively). Plasma levels of total BCAA concentration was significantly greater in WPI + io at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes post consumption (P < .01, P < .001, P < .01, and P < .05, respectively) compared with WPI. For leucine, only WPI + io had elevated levels compared with pre-test at 90 minutes post consumption (P < .001). DISCUSSION: Both conditions significantly elevated EAA, BCAA, and leucine from basal levels. However, we conclude that the consumption of the treated WPI significantly raises plasma EAA, BCAA, and leucine to a greater extent compared with WPI with no treatment. Thus, supplementation with WPI that has undergone Ingredient Optimized® technology may be highly beneficial for those who partake in regular exercise, elderly individuals, or those affected by a reduced sensitivity to amino acids.