Age-related Decline in Renal Function is Attenuated in Master Athletes.

This study analyzed the kidney function and biomarkers of health in lifelong-trained sprinters and endurance runners, and compared them to untrained aged-matched and young controls. Sixty-two men (21-66 yr.) were recruited and allocated as master athletes from sprints (n=25), master athletes from endurance events (n=8), untrained middle-aged (n=14) and young controls (n=15). Participants underwent anamnesis, anthropometric measures and blood sampling for biochemical analyses of klotho, FGF23 and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Master sprinters presented better kidney function in relation to endurance athletes and their untrained peers (P<0.0001). A number of biochemical variables were observed that negatively (i. e., GDF-15, TGF-Beta, IL-18) or positively (i. e., klotho/FGF23 ratio and sestrin-2) correlated with eGFR. Sestrin-2 presented the strongest association with eGFR (r=0.5, P=0.03). Results also revealed that lifelong-trained individuals presented the highest probability of having better values for cystatin C and thus an estimated glomerular filtration rate that was 37-49% higher than untrained peers. Master sprinters presented better kidney function in relation to endurance athletes and middle-aged untrained peers. Sestrin-2 may play a role in exercise-induced kidney function protection.

Oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and body composition of master athletes: The interplay.

Unhealthy aging is associated with increased adiposity, inflammation and oxidative stress (OS), but the interactions between them have been poorly investigated in people growing old under vigorous lifelong exercise regimens. Therefore, we compared and analyzed the relationships between markers of inflammation, OS and adiposity in master athletes (MA), young (YC) and middle-aged controls (MC). Fifty-nine participants (MA, n = 30, 51.56 ± 8.61 yrs, minimum of 20 yrs of training; YC, n = 17, 22.70 ± 3.92 yrs; MC, n = 12, 45.54 ± 9.86 yrs) underwent body composition measurements, blood sampling for inflammation and OS measurements, and provided information regarding general health and training status. The MA and YC demonstrated higher catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and higher CAT/TBARS (TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and SOD/TBARS ratios. The cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, and their soluble receptors sTNF-RI and sIL-6R were lower in YC compared to MC and MA (p < 0.05). Moreover, MA showed lower levels of sTNF-RI, IL-6 and sIL-6R and higher IL-10 and IL-10/IL-6 ratio compared to MC (p < 0.05). The body fat was negatively associated with antioxidant enzymes (CAT: r = -0.448 and SOD: r = -0.413) and IL-10 (r = -0.585) and positively correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α: r = 0.278; sTNF-RI: r = 0.709; IL-6: r = 0.720: sIL-6R: r = 0.430) (p < 0.05). Further, CAT and SOD activities were inversely associated with inflammatory parameters (sTNF-RI, IL-6 and sIL-6R; p < 0.05). In conclusion, markers of OS and inflammation did not differ between MA and YC and were associated with adiposity. Moreover, MA were leaner than MC, similarly to YC. Thus, lifelong training clearly attenuates inflammation, OS, and adiposity, supporting an attenuated and healthy aging.

Celebrating 40 Years of Ironman: How the Champions Perform.

We aimed to determine which discipline had the greater performance improvements in the history of Ironman triathlon in Hawaii and also which discipline had the greater influence in overall race time. Data from 1983 to 2018 of the top three women and men of each year who competed in the Ironman World Championship were included. In addition to exploratory data analyses, linear regressions between split times and years of achievement were performed. Further, a stepwise multiple linear regression was applied using total race time as the dependent variable and split times as the independent variables. Both women and men significantly improved their performances from 1983 to 2018 in the Ironman World Championship. Swimming had the largest difference in improvements between men and women (3.0% versus 12.1%, respectively). A negative and significant decrease in each discipline was identified for both women and men, with cycling being the discipline with the greatest reduction. The results from the stepwise multiple regression indicated that cycling was the discipline with the highest influence on overall race time for both sexes. Based on the findings of this study, cycling seems to be the Ironman triathlon discipline that most improved overall race times and is also the discipline with the greatest influence on the overall race time of elite men and women in the Ironman World Championship.

Acute metabolic responses following different resistance exercise protocols.

Resistance exercise (RE) can be an excellent modality for glycemic control. Studies have demonstrated that a single RE session can reduce glycemia in subjects with or without diabetes. Little is known about the dose-response effect of RE on glycemic control. This study aimed to investigate the acute metabolic responses after different RE protocols. Eighty-nine males were separated into six groups that completed RE protocols: 2 sets of 18 repetitions (2 × 18 at 50% of 1-repetition maximum (1RM); n = 19); 3 sets of 12 repetitions (3 × 12 at 70% of 1RM; n = 14); 4 sets of 9 repetitions (4 × 9 at 80% of 1RM; n = 13); 6 sets of 6 repetitions (6 × 6 at 90% of 1RM; n = 19); circuit (2 × 18 at 50% of 1RM; n = 12); and a control session (n = 12). The exercise sequence consisted of 8 exercises. An oral glucose tolerance test was conducted with metabolic measurements immediately after each RE protocol and every 15 min until 120 min of recovery. All groups exhibited significantly lower values (p < 0.05) in the glucose area under the curve (AUC) when compared with control over a 120 min monitoring period. The 6 × 6 group showed a significantly lower glucose AUC versus the 3 × 12 and 4 × 9 groups (p = 0.004; p = 0.001, respectively). As for blood lactate, the control and 6 × 6 groups exhibited lower AUC values versus all other groups (p < 0.05), and AUC for glucose and lactate concentration showed a negative and significant correlation (r = -0.46; p < 0.0001). It appears that a combination of 9-12 repetitions per set and 3-4 sets per muscle group might be optimal for acute postprandial glucose control.

Fatores associados a condição física ativa em pacientes com hipertensão arterial sistêmica: Um estudo transversal / Factors associated with active physical condition in hypertensive patients: A cross sectional study

O exercício físico é uma intervenção não farmacológica que pode colaborar para o controle dos valores pressóricos em pacientes hipertensos, sendo este recomendado por diretrizes internacionais e nacionais. Entretanto, a adesão de pacientes hipertensos a programas de exercício físico ainda está longe do ideal. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar os fatores que podem influenciar um estilo de vida ativo em pacientes hipertensos. Participaram do estudo oitenta e sete (87) indivíduos diagnosticados clinicamente com hipertensão arterial sistêmica que aceitaram participar de forma voluntária. Os pacientes foram submetidos a dois questionários que abordavam as características socioeconômicas, demográficas, tempo de diagnóstico da doença, conhecimento sobre a ação benéfica do exercício físico na hipertensão arterial sistêmica; bem como caracterizavam o nível de atividade física dos pacientes (IPAq). A partir dos resultados do IPAq, os pacientes foram dicotomizados em ativos ou sedentários. O teste de qui-quadrado demonstrou associação significante entre a condição física e o fator idade, sexo, tempo de diagnóstico de hipertensão arterial sistêmica e ser estimulado a praticar exercícios físicos por um profissional da área da saúde. Após a inserção dos fatores significantes na regressão logística binária univariada, os resultados demonstraram que os fatores: idade maior que 55 anos (OR bruta=2,27), ser estimulado por um profissional da área da saúde, (OR bruta=0,169) e ser homem (OR bruta=2,95) eram preditores da condição física ativa do paciente hipertenso. Por sua vez, a análise multivariada demonstrou que apenas os fatores idade (OR ajustada=12,43) e ser estimulado por um profissional da área da saúde a praticar exercício físico (OR ajustada=-2,21) continuavam preditores da condição hipertensa ativa. Os dados do presente estudo apresentam indícios que pacientes hipertensos com mais de 55 anos que são estimulados por profissionais da área da saúde a praticar exercícios físicos apresentam mais chance de serem fisicamente ativos.(AU)

Physical exercise is a non-pharmacological approach recommended by national and international guidelines from health care associations, to collaborate with blood pressure control in hypertensive people. However, hypertensive patients adherence to physical exercise programs is far from the ideal. Thus, the aim of the present study is determine the factors associated with active physical condition in hypertensive patients. Eighty-seven (87) clinically diagnosed patients with hypertension were recruited to participate in this study. Patients were underwent to two questionnaires. The first-one recorded socio economic and demographic characteristics, time since diagnosis and knowledge about the beneficial effects of physical exercise in hypertension; The second questionnaire dichotomized hypertensive people to active or sedentary state (IPAq). Since the classification of physical state, the chi-square test showed significantly association between physical condition and age, gender, time since diagnosis and be encouraged to practice physical exercises by a health professional. Univariate binary logistic regression showed that be older than 55 year (unadjusted OR =2.27), be encouraged to practice physical exercises by a health professional, (unadjusted OR =0,169) and be a man (unadjusted OR =2.95) were predictor factors of the active physical condition in hypertensive patients. In turn, multivariate binary logistic regression showed age (adjusted OR =12, 43) and be encouraged to practice physical exercises by a health professional (adjusted OR =-2.21) as the significantly predictor factor in active hypertensive state. Data of the present study evidenced that hypertensive patients older than 55 years, which are encouraged to practice physical exercises by a health professional, present higher odds ratio to be active physically.(AU)