Effects of Soy Milk in Conjunction With Resistance Training on Physical Performance and Skeletal Muscle Regulatory Markers in Older Men.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the effects of 12 weeks of soy milk consumption combined with resistance training (RT) on body composition, physical performance, and skeletal muscle regulatory markers in older men. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 60 healthy elderly men (age = 65.63 ± 3.16 years) were randomly assigned to four groups: resistance training (RT; n = 15), soy milk consumption (SMC; n = 15), resistance training + soy milk (RSM; n = 15), and control (CON; n = 15) groups. The study was double-blind for the soy milk/placebo. Participants in RT and RSM groups performed resistance training (3 times/week) for 12 weeks. Participants in the SMC and RSM groups consumed 240 mL of soy milk daily. Body composition [body mass (BM), body fat percent (BFP), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and fat mass (FM)], physical performance [upper body strength (UBS), lower body strength (LBS), VO2max, upper anaerobic power, lower anaerobic power, and handgrip strength], and serum markers [follistatin, myostatin, myostatin-follistatin ratio (MFR), and growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11)] were evaluated before and after interventions. Results: All 3 interventions significantly (p < 0.05) increased serum follistatin concentrations (RT = 1.7%, SMC = 2.9%, RSM = 7.8%) and decreased serum myostatin (RT = -1.3% SMC = -5.4%, RSM = -0.5%) and GDF11 concentrations (RT = -1.4%, SMC = -1.4%, RSM = -9.0%), and MFR (RT = -2.6%, SMC = -3.2%, RSM = -12%). In addition, we observed significant reduction in all 3 intervention groups in BFP (RT = -3.6%, SMC = -1.4%, RSM = -6.0%), WHR (RT = -2.2%, SMC = -2.1%, RSM = -4.3%), and FM (RT = -9.6%, SMC = -3.8%, RSM = -11.0%). Moreover, results found significant increase only in RT and RSM groups for muscle mass (RT = 3.8% and RSM = 11.8%), UBS (RT = 10.9% and RSM = 21.8%), LBS (RT = 4.3% and RSM = 7.8%), upper anaerobic power (RT = 7.8% and RSM = 10.3%), and lower anaerobic power (RT = 4.6% and RSM = 8.9%). Handgrip strength were significantly increased in all 3 intervention groups (RT = 7.0%, SMC = 6.9%, RSM = 43.0%). VO2max significantly increased only in RSM (1.7%) after 12 weeks of intervention. Additionally, significant differences were observed between the changes for all variables in the RSM group compared to RT, SMC, and CON groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: There were synergistic effects of soy milk and RT for skeletal muscle regulatory markers, body composition, and physical performance. Results of the present study support the importance of soy milk in conjunction with RT for older men.

The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Inflammatory Markers, Body Composition, and Physical Fitness in Overweight/Obese Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Chronic inflammation associated with breast cancer (BC) poses a major challenge in care management and may be ameliorated by physical activity. This randomized controlled trial assessed the effects of a 12-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on inflammatory markers, body composition, and physical fitness in BC survivors (BCS). Methods: Forty BCS (age = 57 ± 1 years; body mass [BM] = 74.8 ± 1.5 kg; VO2peak = 20.8 ± 2.1 mL·kg-1·min-1) were randomly assigned to three groups: HIIT (n = 15), MICT (n = 15), or control (CON; n = 15). The intervention groups (HIIT and MICT) performed their respective exercise protocols on a cycle ergometer 3 days/week for 12 weeks while the CON group maintained their current lifestyle. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included body composition (BM, fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM)), physical fitness (VO2peak, lower body strength (LBS), upper body strength (UBS)), and serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), leptin, and adiponectin. Results: Both intervention groups significantly (p < 0.05) decreased BM (HIIT = -1.8 kg, MICT = -0.91 kg), FM (HIIT = -0.81 kg, MICT = -0.18 kg), TNF-α (HIIT = -1.84 pg/mL, MICT = -0.99 pg/mL), IL-6 (HIIT = -0.71 pg/mL, MICT = -0.36 pg/mL), leptin (HIIT = -0.35 pg/mL, MICT = -0.16 pg/mL) and increased VO2peak (HIIT = 0.95 mL·kg-1·min-1, MICT = 0.67 mL·kg-1·min-1), LBS (HIIT = 2.84 kg, MICT = 1.53 kg), UBS (HIIT = 0.53 kg, MICT = 0.53 kg), IL-10 (HIIT = 0.63 pg/mL, MICT = 0.38 pg/mL), and adiponectin (HIIT = 0.23 ng/mL, MICT = 0.1 ng/mL) compared to baseline. The changes in BM, FM, TNF-α, leptin, and LBS were significantly greater in HIIT compared to all other groups. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that compared to the often-recommended MICT, HIIT may be a more beneficial exercise therapy for the improvement of inflammation, body composition and LBS in BCS; and consequently, merits long-term study.

Strategic Ingestion of High-Protein Dairy Milk during a Resistance Training Program Increases Lean Mass, Strength, and Power in Trained Young Males.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of high-protein dairy milk ingestion on changes in body composition, strength, power, and skeletal muscle regulatory markers following 6 weeks of resistance training in trained young males. METHODS: Thirty resistance-trained young males (age: 27 ± 3 years; training experience: 15 ± 2 months) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: high-protein dairy milk (both whey and casein) + resistance training (MR; n = 15) or isoenergetic carbohydrate (maltodextrin 9%) + resistance training (PR; n = 15). Milk and placebo were ingested immediately post-exercise (250 mL; 30 g protein) and 30 min before sleep (250 mL; 30 g protein). Before and after 6 weeks of linear periodized resistance training (4 times/week), body composition (bioelectrical impedance), strength, power, and serum levels of skeletal muscle regulatory markers (insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), growth hormone, testosterone, cortisol, follistatin, myostatin, and follistatin-myostatin ratio) were assessed. RESULTS: The MR group experienced a significantly higher (p < 0.05) increase in lean mass, strength, and power (upper- and lower-body) than the PR group. Further, IGF-1, growth hormone, testosterone, follistatin, and follistatin-myostatin ratio were significantly increased, while cortisol and myostatin significantly decreased in the MR group than the PR group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The strategic ingestion of high-protein dairy milk (post-exercise and pre-sleep) during 6 weeks of resistance training augmented lean mass, strength, power, and altered serum concentrations of skeletal muscle regulatory markers in trained young males compared to placebo.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in combination with resistance training reduced blood pressure in the elderly hypertensive men: A randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: We aimed to determine the independent and combined effects of saffron and resistance training on blood pressure (BP) and some chemical biomarkers in the elderly with hypertension. METHODS: The present study was a randomized clinical trial on hypertensive men aged 60-70 years who were assigned to a control group (CO) and 3 experimental groups; resistance training (RT); saffron (S); and resistance training + saffron (RTS) for 12 weeks. Dynamic resistance training was applied with moderate intensity. Patients in S and RTS received 1 tablet containing 200 mg of saffron daily. BP variables, chemical biomarkers and anthropometric indicators were measured at weeks 0, 6, 12 and 18. Data were analysed by repeated measurements ANOVA with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: In comparison to the CO (153.3 ± 1.18, CI = 10.9-20.2, P < .001) and S (143.3 ± 1.18, CI = 0.97-10.2, P = .01), RTS (137.7 ± 1.18) reduced systolic BP with the effect size partial η2 of 0.68. Nitric oxide increased in the RTS compared to the CO group (CI = 0.13-0.62, P = .001). There was a significant increase and decrease in adiponectin and endothelin-1 in the S (CI = 0.03-1.20, P = .012; CI = 4.30-17.3, P < .001) and RT (CI = 0.36-1.60, P < .001; CI = 2.26-15.3, P = .003) compared to the CO, respectively. The partial η2 for nitric oxide, adiponectin and ET-1 were 0.35, 0.35 and 0.38, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups for atrial natriuretic peptide. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance training and consumption of saffron can improve BP in the elderly with hypertension by affecting the factors involved in altering vascular endothelial resistance. The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Iran's sports science research institution (IR.SSRC.REC.1398.020) and registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20190731044398N1).

Whole Egg Vs. Egg White Ingestion During 12 weeks of Resistance Training in Trained Young Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT: Bagheri, R, Moghadam, BH, Ashtary-Larky, D, Forbes, SC, Candow, DG, Galpin, AJ, Eskandari, M, Kreider, RB, and Wong, A. Whole egg vs. egg white ingestion during 12 weeks of resistance training in trained young males: a randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 35(2): 411-419, 2021-The primary purpose was to compare the effects of whole egg ingestion and egg white ingestion during 12 weeks of resistance training (RT) on muscle cross-sectional area, body composition, muscular strength, and anaerobic power in resistance-trained young males. A secondary purpose was to examine systemic hormonal responses. Thirty resistance-trained young males were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: Whole eggs + RT (WER; n = 15) or egg whites + RT (ERT; n = 15). Whole eggs + RT ingested 3 whole eggs immediately following RT, whereas ERT ingested an isonitrogenous quantity consisting of 6 egg whites immediately following RT. Before and after 12 weeks of whole-body undulating periodized RT (3 sessions per week), knee extensor muscle mass and cross-sectional area (computed tomography), lean body mass and body fat percentage (bioelectrical impedance), muscular strength (knee extension, handgrip strength), Wingate (cycle ergometer), and serum concentrations of hormones were assessed. There was a significant group × time interaction for body fat percentage, serum testosterone, knee extension, and handgrip strength with greater improvements observed in WER. There was a significant main effect of time (p < 0.05) for knee extensor muscle mass, cross-sectional area, lean body mass, anaerobic power, and all other blood hormones. There was a trend (p = 0.06) in the WER group for having a greater change in lean body mass compared with that of ERT. Postexercise whole egg ingestion increases knee extension and handgrip strength, testosterone, and reduces body fat percentage compared with postexercise egg white ingestion, despite no group differences in muscle mass, in resistance-trained young males. Whole eggs consumption may be preferable during RT programs geared toward the improvement of muscular strength and body fat percentage.

Effects of Interval Jump Rope Exercise Combined with Dark Chocolate Supplementation on Inflammatory Adipokine, Cytokine Concentrations, and Body Composition in Obese Adolescent Boys.

We examined the effects of six weeks of dark chocolate supplementation combined with interval jump rope exercise (JRE) on inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and body composition in obese adolescent boys. Forty-eight obese adolescent boys (age = 15.4 ± 1.1 years and body mass index = 32.2 ± 2.4 kg/m2) were randomly assigned into one of four groups: JRE + white chocolate (JW; n = 13), JRE + dark chocolate supplementation (JD; n = 13), dark chocolate supplementation (DS; n = 12), or control (C; n = 12). Participants in JW and JD groups performed JRE for three times per week for six weeks. Participants in the DS and JD groups consumed 30 g of dark chocolate containing 83% of cocoa. Body composition, pro-inflammatory cytokines ((hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6), adipokines (leptin, resistin, RBP-4, chemerin, MCP-1), and anti-inflammatory adipokines (irisin, adiponectin)) were evaluated prior to and after the intervention trials. All three intervention trials significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body mass, waist-hip ratio, fat mass, hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, leptin, resistin, RBP-4, and MCP-1, and increased irisin and adiponectin concentrations. The improvements in these parameters were greater in the JD group, and additionally, chemerin concentrations decreased only in the JD group. JD enhanced adiponectin concentrations and decreased IL-6 concentrations compared to C. Moreover, JD significantly reduced chemerin concentrations, an effect not observed in any of the other interventions. We demonstrated that dark chocolate supplementation potentiated JRE-induced decreases in body mass, WHR, FM, hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, leptin, resistin, RBP-4, and MCP-1, chemerin as well as increases irisin and adiponectin concentrations in obese adolescent boys. Therefore, JRE combined with dark chocolate supplementation could be a beneficial in reducing obesity-induced inflammation in adolescent boys.

The effect of 12-week resistance exercise training on serum levels of cellular aging process parameters in elderly men.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity has a positive effect on the prevention of cellular aging. The present study investigated the effect of 12-week resistance training (RT) on serum levels of Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3), Sirtuin-6 (SIRT6), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1-α), and telomerase enzyme in elderly men. METHODS: For this purpose, 30 elderly men (age 66.23 ± 0.57 years) were randomly divided into two groups: resistance training group (RET, n = 15) and control group (CTR, n = 15). Participants in RET performed RT protocols with intensity of 60% one-repetition maximum (3×/week, 4 sets of the six exercise circuits). Body composition, physical functioning and, blood samples were assessed before (pre-test) and after (post-test) a 12-week intervention. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant increase in serum levels of SIRT1 (P = 0.001), SIRT3 (P = 0.001), SIRT6 (P = 0.02), PGC1-α (P = 0.001), and telomerase enzyme (P = 0.001) in RET. Also, we found a significant difference between the RET and CTR in serum levels of SIRT1 (P = 0.001), SIRT3 (P = 0.001), SIRT6 (P = 0.037), PGC1-α (P = 0.007), and telomerase enzyme (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: 12-Week RT increased the levels of proteins associated with the biological aging process in elderly men. It seems that the RT may have beneficial effects on cellular senescence and also improved impaired mitochondrial protein and enzymatic functional induced aging.

Comparison of whole egg v. egg white ingestion during 12 weeks of resistance training on skeletal muscle regulatory markers in resistance-trained men.

Eggs are considered a high-quality protein source for their complete amino acid profile and digestibility. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of whole egg (WE) v. egg white (EW) ingestion during 12 weeks of resistance training (RT) on the skeletal muscle regulatory markers and body composition in resistance-trained men. Thirty resistance-trained men (mean age 24·6 (sd 2·7) years) were randomly assigned into the WE + RT (WER, n 15) or EW + RT (EWR, n 15) group. The WER group ingested three WE, while the EWR group ingested an isonitrogenous quantity of six EW per d immediately after the RT session. Serum concentrations of regulatory markers and body composition were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Significant main effects of time were observed for body weight (WER 1·7, EWR 1·8 kg), skeletal muscle mass (WER 2·9, EWR 2·7 kg), fibroblast growth factor-2 (WER 116·1, EWR 83·2 pg/ml) and follistatin (WER 0·05, EWR 0·04 ng/ml), which significantly increased (P < 0·05), and for fat mass (WER -1·9, EWR -1·1 kg), transforming growth factor-ß1 (WER -0·5, EWR -0·1 ng/ml), activin A (WER -6·2, EWR -4·5 pg/ml) and myostatin (WER -0·1, EWR -0·06 ng/ml), which significantly decreased (P < 0·05) in both WER and EWR groups. The consumption of eggs absent of yolk during chronic RT resulted in similar body composition and functional outcomes as WE of equal protein value. EW or WE may be used interchangeably for the dietary support of RT-induced muscular hypertrophy when protein intake is maintained.

The effects of concurrent training order on body composition and serum concentrations of follistatin, myostatin and GDF11 in sarcopenic elderly men.

BACKGROUND: Due to the important role of follistatin (FLST), myostatin (MSTN) and growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) in muscle mass regulation; alterations in the FLST to MSTN ratio (F:M) may result in muscle mass changes in response to different concurrent training (CT) order. This study investigated the influence of 8 weeks of CT order on body composition and serum concentrations of FLST, MSTN, their ratio (F:M) and GDF11 in sarcopenic elderly men. METHODS: Thirty sarcopenic elderly men (age = 64.3 ± 3.5 years) were randomly assigned into one of three groups, endurance followed by resistance training (E + R; n = 10), resistance followed by endurance training (R + E; n = 10) or control (C; n = 10). Serum concentrations of muscle regulatory markers, body composition, maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2max), and upper and lower body strength were evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks. The training protocol consisted of three training sessions per week for eight weeks. RESULTS: There were significant group-by-time interactions (P < 0.05) for FLST, MSTN, GDF11 and F:M ratio. FLST (E + R = 187 pg/mL and R + E = 292 pg/mL) and F:M ratio (E + R = 0.20 and R + E = 0.27) significantly increased (P < 0.05) while MSTN (E + R = -308 pg/mL and R + E = -294 pg/mL) and GDF11 (E + R = -12 pg/mL and R + E = -10 pg/mL) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) following eight weeks in the E + R and R + E compared to no changes in the C group. In addition, there were significant group x time interactions (P < 0.01) for weight, BMI, body fat percentage (BFP), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), VO2max, upper body strength, and lower body strength. BFP (E + R = -1.5% and R + E = -2%) significantly decreased (P < 0.01) while weight (E + R = 2.4 kg and R + E = 1.1 kg), BMI (E + R = 0.8 kg/m2 and R + E = 0.3 kg/m2), SMM (E + R = 0.7 kg and R + E = 0.5 kg), VO2max (E + R = 2.0 mL/kg/min and R + E = 1.8 mL/kg/min), upper body strength (E + R = 6.9 kg and R + E = 2.3 kg), and lower body strength (E + R = 9.8 kg and R + E = 4.4 kg) significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the E + R and R + E compared to no changes in the C group. CONCLUSIONS: CT increases the F:M ratio and FLST as well as reducing MSTN and GDF11 in sarcopenic elderly men. Additionally, CT improved weight, body composition, muscle mass, function, and aerobic fitness. Notably, these results after CT were achieved irrespective of endurance and resistance exercise order in this population.

Assessment of EGFR Gene Expression Following Vitrification of 2-cell and Blastocyst Mouse Embryos.

BACKGROUND: Exact mechanisms of fetal harm following vitrification are still unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the cryopreservation impact on the expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene in mouse 2-cell and blastocysts. METHODS: To stimulate ovulation in mice, hCG was injected, followed by collecting 2-cells and blastocysts after 44-46 and 88-89 hr, respectively. These embryos were divided into two case and control groups. The fresh case group was cryopreserved using cryotop and warmed after 4 mounts. Normal 2-cells were selected based on their morphology and their RNA was extracted. Quantitative expression of EGFR gene in both groups was investigated by applying real time-PCR. RESULTS: The statistical Real-Time (RT)-PCR analyses performed using SPSS revealed that the expression level of EGFR gene was diminished in the case group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The current study indicated the negative effect of cryopreservation on expression amount of EGFR gene in 2-cell and blastocyst mouse embryos.