Effects of plant- and animal-based-protein meals for a day on serum nitric oxide and peroxynitrite levels in healthy young men.

Plant-based diets that replace animal-based proteins with plant-based proteins have received increased attention for cardiovascular protection. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an essential role in the maintenance of endothelial function. However, under higher oxidative stress, NO generation produces peroxynitrite, a powerful oxidant and vasoconstrictor. Diet-replaced protein sources has been reported to decrease oxidative stress. However, the effects of plant-based protein on NO and peroxynitrite have not yet been clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of plant- and animal-based-protein meals for a day on NO, peroxynitrite, and NO/peroxynitrite balance. A crossover trial of two meal conditions involving nine healthy men was performed. Participants ate standard meals during day 1. On day 2, baseline measurements were performed and the participants were provided with plant-based-protein meals or animal-based-protein meals. The standard and test meals consisted of breakfast, lunch, and dinner and were designed to be isocaloric. Plant-based-protein meals contained no animal protein. Blood samples were collected in the morning after overnight fasting before and after the test meals consumption. In the plant-based-protein meal condition, serum NOx levels (the sum of serum nitrite and nitrate) significantly increased, while serum peroxynitrite levels did not change significantly. Animal-based-protein meals significantly increased serum peroxynitrite levels but showed a trend of reduction in the serum NOx levels. Furthermore, serum NO/peroxynitrite balance significantly increased after plant-based-protein meals consumption, but significantly decreased after animal-based-protein meals consumption. These results suggest that, compared with animal-based-protein meals, plant-based-protein meals increase NO levels and NO/peroxynitrite balance, which reflects increased endothelial function.

Association of Lower Extremity Muscle Strength and Function with Renal Resistive Index in Individuals with and without Chronic Kidney Disease.

Age-related loss of lower extremity muscle strength is pronounced in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In contrast, an increase in intrarenal flow pulsatility results in initial age-related changes in renal hemodynamics, leading to the development of CKD. To date, it remains unclear whether lower extremity muscle strength determines elevated renal flow pulsatility. This study aimed to determine the association of lower extremity muscle strength and function with intrarenal hemodynamics in individuals with and without CKD. One hundred seventy-six individuals without CKD (aged 63 ± 9 years) and 101 individuals with CKD (aged 66 ± 8 years) were included in this study. Using Doppler ultrasound, the renal resistive index (RI) was measured as a parameter of renal hemodynamics. Knee extensor muscle strength (KES), gait speed (GS), and the 30 s chair stand test (30s-CST) were used to measure lower extremity muscle strength and function. Multivariate analyses showed that GS and 30s-CST scores were independent determinants of renal RI, whereas the KES score was not associated with renal RI in individuals with and without CKD. In the two-way analysis of covariance, renal RI was the highest in individuals with CKD who had lower KES, GS, and 30s-CST scores. Reduced lower extremity muscle strength and function are independent determinants of elevated renal flow pulsatility in individuals with and without CKD.

Effects of lactotripeptide ingestion and physical activity intervention on the fatigue status of middle-aged and older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of lactotripeptide (LTP) ingestion, physical activity (PA) intervention, and combined intervention on the fatigue status of middle-aged and older adults. A total of 78 middle-aged and older adults (63 ± 8 years of age) were randomly assigned to four groups: placebo, LTP, placebo with PA intervention (placebo + PA), and LTP with PA intervention (LTP + PA). All participants ingested the placebo or LTP tablets daily (three tablets/day). The placebo + PA and LTP + PA groups participated in a weekly supervised exercise class and were instructed to increase their moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA at home. The visual analog scale, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Profile of Mood States second edition (POMS2), and Beck Depression Inventory second edition (BDI-II) were administered before and after the intervention. No significant interactions or main effects were observed between LTP ingestion and PA intervention on any of the fatigue scales. The main-effect analyses revealed that the PA intervention improved the total mood disturbance score of the POMS2 (F = 5.22, P = 0.03) and BDI-II score (F = 4.81, P = 0.03). After the post hoc paired comparisons, the total mood disturbance and BDI-II scores improved more with the combined intervention than with the PA intervention alone (percentage difference between the effect of combined intervention and PA intervention alone was 3.7% for total mood disturbance score and 13.7% for BDI-II score). The present study suggests that eight weeks of LTP ingestion and PA intervention did not have a significant effect on fatigue status. However, the PA intervention improved mood status and depressive symptoms, and these effects were enhanced by LTP ingestion.

Association between trunk flexibility and renal flow pulsatility in middle-aged and older adults.

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies have indicated that poor trunk flexibility is associated with arterial stiffness in the aged. Arterial stiffness leads to elevated renal flow pulsatility, which accelerates age-related renal dysfunction and damages. However, data indicating the potential link between flexibility fitness and renal flow pulsatility are lacking. This study examined the cross-sectional association between trunk flexibility and renal flow pulsatility in middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: A total of 175 middle-aged and older adults (aged 63 ± 9 years) were included in this study. Sit-and-reach tests (SRT) were performed to assess their trunk flexibility. Using a Doppler ultrasound, renal pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) were measured as parameters of renal flow pulsatility. RESULTS: The study found that, in middle-aged and older adults, the SRT score was an independent determinant of renal PI (ß = -0.134, P = 0.027) and RI (ß = -0.135, P = 0.027). In the one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the renal PI and RI in the older group with a lower SRT score were found to be significantly higher than those in the middle-aged group. CONCLUSIONS: Trunk flexibility is an independent determinant of renal flow pulsatility in middle-aged and older adults.

Association between the intake of plant and animal proteins and the serum fibroblast growth factor-23 level in patients with chronic kidney disease analyzed by the isocaloric substitution model.

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a phosphaturic hormone secreted by the bone in response to dietary phosphate intake. Since the phosphate content in the diet correlates with the protein content, both plant- and animal-based protein intake can increase the serum FGF23 level. However, a higher percentage of energy from plant protein than from animal protein is associated with a lower serum FGF23 level in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States. Since dietary habits differ between Asian and Western populations, we performed a cross-sectional study to determine the association between the percentages of energy from plant and animal proteins and the serum FGF23 level in Japanese CKD patients. In 107 non-dialysis CKD patients (age: 66 ± 9 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate: 56 ± 21 mL/min/1.73 m2), the percentages of energy from plant and animal proteins were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire based on food groups. Venous blood samples were used to measure the serum FGF23, phosphate, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and intact parathyroid hormone levels. The percentages of energy from plant and animal proteins showed a negative and positive association, respectively, with the serum FGF23 level. Furthermore, isocaloric substitution modeling showed that replacing animal protein with plant protein was associated with a low serum FGF23 level. Our findings suggest that encouraging diets with high plant protein level may prevent an increase in the serum FGF23 level in Japanese CKD patients.

Acute influences of tennis services on cardiac output and brachial hemodynamics in young male tennis players.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the influences of tennis service exercise on cardiac output (CO) and bilateral brachial hemodynamics in young tennis players. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: Ten young male tennis players (21 ±â€¯2 years of age) participated. Each performed 100 tennis services without a return shot for experimental tennis exercise. Cardiovascular hemodynamic variables, including bilateral brachial blood flow (BF), shear rate (SR), blood pressure, and CO, were collected under three conditions: 1) baseline, 2) immediately after the tennis services (post), and 3) 1 h after the tennis services (1-hour). The positive incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for brachial hemodynamic variables was calculated. RESULTS: Immediately after the 100 tennis services, CO, brachial BF, SR, and brachial vascular conductance (VC) in the dominant and non-dominant arms increased (p < 0.05). At the 1-hour condition, CO returned to baseline; the brachial BF, SR, and VC in the non-dominant arm returned to baseline levels, whereas the same variables in the dominant arm remained increased. The iAUC for brachial BF and VC in the dominant arm was higher than that in the non-dominant arm. Furthermore, the brachial BF/CO ratio index in the dominant arm increased at the post and 1-hour conditions, whereas that in the non-dominant arm was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Tennis service exercise specifically increases brachial BF, SR, and VC in the dominant arm, independent of increased CO. Our findings contribute to unveiling the underlying mechanisms of brachial artery adaptations in tennis players.

Sedentary behavior and estimated nephron number in middle-aged and older adults with or without chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Excessive sedentary behavior may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The nephron index is a novel methodology for non-invasively estimating the number of functional nephrons, under the assumption that serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) concentrations should correlate with phosphate excretion per nephron. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional associations between daily sedentary time and the nephron index in middle-aged and older adults with or without CKD. METHODS: The daily time spent in sedentary behavior was assessed using a tri-axial accelerometer in 294 participants (182 non-CKD adults and 112 CKD patients). The nephron index value was calculated by measuring blood and spot urine phosphate and creatinine, together with serum FGF23 concentrations and estimated glomerular filtration rate. RESULTS: We observed that advancing age and CKD were associated with a progressive decrease in the nephron index value. Additionally, CKD patients with more sedentary time also had a greater nephron index decrease compared to those with less sedentary time (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed the independent association between sedentary time and the nephron index after adjusting for age, sex, presence of CKD, overweight/obesity, medication use, and total wear time (ß = -0.13, P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: These cross-sectional findings suggest that age- or CKD-related decreases in the estimated nephron number (that is, the nephron index) may be accelerated by increased sedentary behavior.

Suppression of Oral Sweet Sensations during Consumption of Sweet Food in Humans: Effects on Gastric Emptying Rate, Glycemic Response, Appetite, Food Satisfaction and Desire for Basic Tastes.

Suppression of oral sweet sensation (OSS) acutely reduces intake of sweet-tasting food due to lower liking. However, little is known about other physiological responses during both the prandial and postprandial phase. Here, we explored the effects of Gymnema sylvestre (GS)-based suppression of OSS of several types of sweet-tasting food (muffin, sweet yogurt, banana) on gastric emptying, blood glucose (BG), plasma insulin (PI), appetite indices (hunger, fullness and prospective consumption), satisfaction and desire for tastes. Fifteen healthy subjects (22 ± 3 years, 9 women) took part in the study. Subjects rinsed their mouth with either GS solution or distilled water before eating the sweet-tasting food. Subjects felt decreased sweet taste intensity and reduced taste liking associated with GS rinsing after consuming each food, compared with rinsing with distilled water (p < 0.05). Gastric emptying, BG, PI and appetite indices during and after the prandial phase did not significantly change with GS rinsing compared to rinsing with distilled water (p > 0.05). Higher desire for sweet taste as well as lower satisfaction (p < 0.05) in the postprandial phase were observed with GS rinsing. These results suggest that the suppression of OSS does not affect gastric emptying, glycemic response and appetite during and after consumption of sweet-tasting food.