Can Anthocyanins Reduce Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or Are We Barking Up the Wrong Tree?

Exercise-induced muscular overload can trigger delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). DOMS is related to the indiscriminate use of analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without proper guidance, decreased physical exercise adherence and degenerating sports performance, increased risk of injury, and reduced muscle strength and function. Dietary anthocyanins have been extensively studied as potential natural treatments for DOMS, but the indication, dosage, and form of use remain highly variable. Therefore, this review aims to synergize and present evidence relating to the effect of anthocyanins on DOMS in clinical studies. Notably, the results of anthocyanin supplementation for DOMS were found to be inconclusive. The use of protocols with lower anthocyanin doses yielded better results than those with high-dose supplements, suggesting that anthocyanin-rich foods are more accessible as therapeutic tools, leading to the conclusion that these foods could be used to prevent and treat DOMS. However, consumption protocols for this purpose are not yet well established, and the answer is dependent on the methodological quality of future studies.

Desenvolvimento, avaliação sensorial e da composição nutricional de preparações destinadas a esportistas / Development, sensory evaluation, and nutritional composition of food preparations for sportspersons

Introdução: A associação entre dietas balanceadas e exercícios físicos é crescente devido à preocupação atual da população com o bem-estar físico e um estilo de vida mais saudável. No entanto, preparações que ofereçam bom valor nutricional com características sensoriais atrativas não são frequentemente encontradas por este público. Objetivo: Desenvolver quatro preparações (barra proteica, docinho de tâmara, torta de batata-doce e patê caprese) destinadas a esportistas e verificar o perfil nutricional, a aceitabilidade e a atitude de consumo de cada receita. Métodos: A avaliação sensorial e a atitude de consumo foram realizadas com 224 julgadores utilizando escala hedônica de nove pontos. No desenvolvimento das preparações, foram priorizados ingredientes com teores reduzidos de açúcares, sódio e gorduras saturadas. Resultados: As preparações barra proteica, docinho de tâmara, torta de batata-doce e patê caprese apresentaram, no teste de intenção de consumo e na avaliação sensorial, para todos os atributos avaliados, notas médias superiores a 6, e índice de aceitabilidade superior a 75%. Quanto ao valor nutricional, a barra proteica e a torta de batata-doce apresentaram bom conteúdo proteico, de energia e de carboidratos; e o docinho de tâmara e o patê caprese se destacaram pela baixa quantidade de calorias, gorduras totais e saturadas. Conclusão: Conclui-se que os resultados encontrados são satisfatórios, dada a realidade de grande parte dos consumidores que, em meio à atribulada rotina diária, estão em busca de produtos que possam aliar sabor, praticidade e melhor custo-benefício, e que resultarão em saúde e bem-estar físico geral.

Introduction: The association of balanced diets with physical exercise is increasing due to the population's current concern with physical well-being and a healthy lifestyle. However, food preparations that offer good nutritional value along with attractive sensory characteristics are not found often by the public. Objective: The objective of this study is to develop four food preparations (protein bar, date candy, sweet potato pie, and caprese pate) for sportspersons and to verify the nutritional profile, acceptability, and consumption intention of each food preparation. Methods: Sensory and consumption intention evaluation were performed with 224 tasters using a hedonic scale of 9 points. Ingredients with reduced levels of sugars, sodium, and saturated fats were prioritized for the development of the food preparations. Results: In the consumption intention and sensory evaluation tests, for all attributes evaluated, the food preparations protein bar, date candy, sweet potato pie, and caprese pate presented average scores higher than 6, and an acceptability index higher than 75%. Regarding the nutritional value, the protein bar and sweet potato pie presented good protein, energy, and carbohydrate content, and the date candy and the caprese pate stood out for the low number of calories, and total and saturated fats. Conclusion: It is concluded that the results found are satisfactory, given that a large number of consumers, amid a harsh daily routine, are in search of food preparations that can combine flavor, practicality, and cost-benefit, that will ultimately result in health and physical well-being. (AU)

Social context of neighborhood and socioeconomic status on leisure-time physical activity in a Brazilian urban center: The BH Health Study.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity and investigate its association with contextual characteristics of the social and physical environment in different socioeconomic statuses, using a household survey in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (2008-2009). Leisure-time physical activity was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; and the social and physical environment by scales arising from perception of neighborhood attributes. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed separately for each socioeconomic status stratum. The overall prevalence of leisure-time physical activity was 30.2%, being 20.2% amongst participants of low socioeconomic status, 25.4% in the medium and 40.6% in the high socioeconomic status group. A greater perception of social cohesion was associated with increased leisure-time physical activity only amongst participants of the lowest socioeconomic status even after adjusting for individual characteristics. The results demonstrate the importance of social cohesion for the promotion of leisure-time physical activity in economically disadvantaged groups, supporting the need to stimulate interventions for enhancing social relationships in this population.

Social context of neighborhood and socioeconomic status on leisure-time physical activity in a Brazilian urban center: The BH Health Study / Contexto social de moradia na prática de atividade física no lazer de residentes de um centro urbano: Estudo Saúde em Beagá / El contexto social del barrio en la práctica de actividad física durante el tiempo libre de los residentes de un centro urbano: Estudio Salud en Beagá

Abstract This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity and investigate its association with contextual characteristics of the social and physical environment in different socioeconomic statuses, using a household survey in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (2008-2009). Leisure-time physical activity was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; and the social and physical environment by scales arising from perception of neighborhood attributes. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed separately for each socioeconomic status stratum. The overall prevalence of leisure-time physical activity was 30.2%, being 20.2% amongst participants of low socioeconomic status, 25.4% in the medium and 40.6% in the high socioeconomic status group. A greater perception of social cohesion was associated with increased leisure-time physical activity only amongst participants of the lowest socioeconomic status even after adjusting for individual characteristics. The results demonstrate the importance of social cohesion for the promotion of leisure-time physical activity in economically disadvantaged groups, supporting the need to stimulate interventions for enhancing social relationships in this population.

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência de atividade física de lazer e investigar sua associação com características contextuais do ambiente social e físico, em diferentes níveis socioeconômicos, utilizando inquérito domiciliar realizado em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil (2008-2009). A atividade física de lazer foi mensurada por meio do Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física, e o ambiente social e físico por escalas originadas da percepção dos atributos da vizinhança. Foram realizadas análises de regressão logística multinível para cada estrato de níveis socioeconômicos. A prevalência geral de atividade física de lazer foi de 30,2%, sendo 20,2% no nível socioeconômico baixo, 25,4% no médio e 40,6% no nível socioeconômico alto. Maior percepção de coesão social na vizinhança foi associada à atividade física de lazer apenas para o estrato socioeconômico mais baixo, mesmo após o ajuste pelas características individuais. Os resultados evidenciam a importância da coesão social para a promoção da prática de atividade física de lazer em grupos economicamente mais desfavorecidos, reforçando a necessidade de se estimular ações que possam incrementar as relações sociais nesta população.

Resumen Este estudio tuvo como objetivo estimar la prevalencia de actividad física durante el tiempo libre e investigar su asociación con características contextuales del entorno físico y social en diferentes estatus socioeconómicos, mediante una encuesta de hogares en Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil (2008-2009). Actividad física durante el tiempo libre se midió con el International Physical Activity Questionnaire; y el entorno social y físico por las escalas derivadas de la percepción de atributos del vecindario. El análisis de regresión logística multinivel se realizó por separado para cada estrato socioeconómico. La prevalencia general de actividad física en el tiempo libre fue de un 30,2%, siendo el 20,2% en el bajo estatus socioeconómico, el 25,4% en el medio y el 40,6% en el alto. Una mayor percepción de la cohesión social se asoció con mayor actividad física en el tiempo libre, sólo para el estatus socioeconómico más bajo, incluso después de ajustarlo según las características individuales. Los resultados demuestran la importancia de la cohesión social para la promoción de actividad física en el tiempo libre en grupos económicamente desfavorecidos, reforzando la necesidad de estimular acciones que puedan mejorar las relaciones sociales en esta población.

Health behaviors and occupational stress of Brazilian civil servants living in an urban center.

BACKGROUND: Occupational stress and unhealthy lifestyles are common characteristics of urban workers. The association between health behaviors and job stress of urban Brazilian civil servants was studied. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 893 workers. Health markers, the dependent variables, were: Fruit/vegetable (FV) and alcohol (A) intake, physical activity (PA), including at work (PAW), smoking (S), BMI ≥ 25 Kg/m(2). Occupational stress, assessed by Job Stress Scale-Brazilian version, classified employees into: High-strain, Low-strain, Active, and Passive. Prevalence rates and multivariate Poisson models were adopted. RESULTS: On average, employees (mean age = 40.2 years; 69.1% female) reported healthy lifestyle factors: FV (56%); PA (59.7%); S (13.3%); however, 49.4% were overweight. Compared to low-strain, high-strain workers reported higher PAW; passive workers lesser PA and higher PAW. After adjusting for socio-demographics and work characteristics, the occupational stress dimensions were no longer associated to health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support the hypothesis of an effect for occupational stress on urban employees' health behaviors.

Intake of nutritional supplements among people exercising in gyms and influencing factors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess supplement intake in people who exercise regularly in gyms in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and discuss the influencing factors on its ingestion. METHODS: A total of 1102 enrolled subjects who exercised in 50 gyms throughout the city were part of this cross-sectional study. Men and women were recruited and all subjects were at least 18 y old. Participants were asked to complete written questionnaires about their use of supplements. Data were collected over a period of 4 mo. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed. RESULTS: The intake of nutritional supplements was reported by 36.8% of participants. The highest intake was in men (44.6%). Five products were consumed almost daily: those rich in proteins and amino acids (58%), isotonic drinks (32%), those rich in carbohydrates (23%), natural/phytotherapeutic (20%), and multivitamin/mineral supplements (19%). Most people (55%) reported using nutritional supplements without any specialized professional guidance and based primarily on self-prescription. Individuals younger than 30 y, mainly men (odds ratio 3.28, 95% confidence interval 2.06-5.20, P < 0.01), took supplements rich in proteins (odds ratio 2.73, 95% confidence interval 1.26-5.94, P < 0.05). In contrast, older participants reported taking supplements rich in multivitamin/minerals and natural/phytotherapeutic agents (odds ratio 5.52, 95% confidence interval 2.76-11.06, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results show that supplement intake in people exercising in gyms is high and is usually self-prescribed. We emphasize that the use of dietary supplements must be always done under the supervision of a specialist (physician or nutritionist).