Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference Correlates With Lifestyle and Health in Long-Haul Truck Drivers.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined and compared the association between body mass index (BMI) and BMI with waist circumference (WC) on lifestyle measure and health outcomes in Canadian long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs). METHODS: Two hundred LHTDs completed a survey on diet and physical activity, and participated in objective measures of height, weight, WC, and blood pressure. RESULTS: More than half of the sample was classified as obese (57%). Body mass index risk was significantly associated with poorer health ( P < 0.05), increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, increased body fat ( P < 0.001), and sleep apnea ( P < 001). When BMI + WC was used, additional significant associations were observed with age, years of experience, eating breakfast, and hypertension and malignancy. CONCLUSION: Body mass index + WC is a more sensitive measure in assessing cardiometabolic risk in LHTDs than using BMI alone.

Low phytic acid pea supplementation as an approach to combating iron deficiency in female runners: A randomized control trial.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency in the world and the leading cause of anemia globally. Female athletes are at a disproportionate risk for ID due to blood loss through menstruation and decreased iron absorption secondary to exercise. Field peas are a rich source of iron but, similar to iron from other plant-based sources, the iron has limited bioavailability due to high levels of phytic acid, an inherent compound that binds to cations, creating a salt (phytate), which limits absorption during digestion. Aim: The purpose of our research was to investigate the effect of a field pea variety bred to have low levels of phytic acid on plasma ferritin, exercise performance, and body composition in female runners. Methods: Twenty-eight female runners (age:34.6 ± 9.7 years; weight: 65.1 ± 8.1 kg; VO2max: 50.7 ± 8.9 ml/kg/min) underwent measures of ferritin, exercise performance, and body composition before and after being randomly assigned to consume a powder derived from regular peas, low phytic acid peas, or a non-pea control (maltodextrin), plus vitamin C for 8 weeks. Results: The regular pea and low phytic acid pea groups had a 14.4% and 5.1% increase in plasma ferritin, respectively, while the maltodextrin group had a decrease of 2.2%; however, the difference in changes between groups was not statistically significant. No differences between groups were evident in any of the other measures. Conclusion: Larger doses or longer duration of pea supplementation may be necessary to induce meaningful changes in iron status. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04872140).

A 2-yr Randomized Controlled Trial on Creatine Supplementation during Exercise for Postmenopausal Bone Health.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to examine the effects of 2 yr of creatine monohydrate supplementation and exercise on bone health in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-seven postmenopausal women (mean age, 59 yr) were randomized to receive creatine (0.14 g·kg -1 ·d -1 ) or placebo during a resistance training (3 d·wk -1 ) and walking (6 d·wk -1 ) program for 2 yr. Our primary outcome was the femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), with lumbar spine BMD and proximal femur geometric properties as the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, creatine supplementation had no effect on BMD of the femoral neck (creatine: 0.725 ± 0.110 to 0.712 ± 0.100 g·cm -2 ; placebo: 0.721 ± 0.102 to 0.706 ± 0.097 g·cm -2 ), total hip (creatine: 0.879 ± 0.118 to 0.872 ± 0.114 g·cm -2 ; placebo: 0.881 ± 0.111 to 0.873 ± 0.109 g·cm -2 ), or lumbar spine (creatine: 0.932 ± 0.133 to 0.925 ± 0.131 g·cm -2 ; placebo: 0.923 ± 0.145 to 0.915 ± 0.143 g·cm -2 ). Creatine significantly maintained section modulus (1.35 ± 0.29 to 1.34 ± 0.26 vs 1.34 ± 0.25 to 1.28 ± 0.23 cm 3 (placebo), P = 0.0011), predictive of bone bending strength, and buckling ratio (10.8 ± 2.6 to 11.1 ± 2.2 vs 11.0 ± 2.6 to 11.6 ± 2.7 (placebo), P = 0.011), predictive of reduced cortical bending under compressive loads, at the narrow part of the femoral neck. Creatine reduced walking time over 80 m (48.6 ± 5.6 to 47.1 ± 5.4 vs 48.3 ± 4.5 to 48.2 ± 4.9 s (placebo), P = 0.0008) but had no effect on muscular strength (i.e., one-repetition maximum) during bench press (32.1 ± 12.7 to 42.6 ± 14.1 vs 30.6 ± 10.9 to 41.4 ± 14 kg (placebo)) and hack squat (57.6 ± 21.6 to 84.4 ± 28.1 vs 56.6 ± 24.0 to 82.7 ± 25.0 kg (placebo)). In the subanalysis of valid completers, creatine increased lean tissue mass compared with placebo (40.8 ± 5.7 to 43.1 ± 5.9 vs 40.4 ± 5.3 to 42.0 ± 5.2 kg (placebo), P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Two years of creatine supplementation and exercise in postmenopausal women had no effect on BMD; yet, it improved some bone geometric properties at the proximal femur.

Benefits of a plant-based diet and considerations for the athlete.

Individuals may opt to follow a plant-based diet for a variety of reasons, such as religious practices, health benefits or concerns for animal or environmental welfare. Such diets offer a broad spectrum of health benefits including aiding in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. In addition to health benefits, a plant-based diet may provide performance-enhancing effects for various types of exercise due to high carbohydrate levels and the high concentration of antioxidants and phytochemicals found in a plant-based diet. However, some plant-based foods also contain anti-nutrional factors, such as phytate and tannins, which decrease the bioavailability of key nutrients, such as iron, zinc, and protein. Thus, plant-based diets must be carefully planned to ensure adequate intake and absorption of energy and all essential nutrients. The current narrative review summarizes the current state of the research concerning the implications of a plant-based diet for health and exercise performance. It also outlines strategies to enhance the bioavailability of nutrients, sources of hard-to-get nutrients, and sport supplements that could interest plant-based athletes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diet, training habits and fitness of Masters cyclists.

Background: The number of Masters-level athletes (≥ 35 years of age) taking part in cycling has increased in the past years which may have beneficial effects on their health. The restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to negatively impact the diet, training and fitness of these individuals due to restrictions in place to slow the spread of the virus. Aim: To investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the diet, training and fitness of Masters-level cyclists. Methods: 32 Masters cyclists (12 males, 20 females; mean age 47 ± 10 years) completed two incremental exercise tests one month apart during the pandemic to assess sport-specific fitness. Participants also completed online questionnaires to report their sedentary behavior and dietary intake before and during the pandemic, and their training volume and intensity for a specified week in February (before the pandemic) and each of March, April and May (during the pandemic). Results: No differences were seen in fitness (p = 0.6), training volume (p = 0.24) or intensity (p = 0.79) and sedentary behavior (p = 0.14) during the pandemic. Energy intake was unchanged (p = 1.0) during the pandemic, but participants consumed lower amounts of key nutrients such as fiber, vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and potassium (p < 0.05) while consuming more alcohol (p = 0.008) and vitamin C (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Our data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has undesirable effects on nutrient and alcohol intake of Masters cyclists without impacting their training regimes, which may have adverse effects on their overall health and fitness in the long term.

Morphometric, metabolic, and inflammatory markers across a cohort of client-owned horses and ponies on the insulin dysregulation spectrum.

In human metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes, methylglyoxal (MG), D-lactate, and several cytokines have been recognized as biomarkers of important metabolic and inflammatory processes. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) shares many similarities with these human counterparts. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to compare body condition score (BCS), cresty neck score (CNS), resting insulin, MG, D-lactate, L-lactate, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) between horses with and without insulin dysregulation, as classified via combined glucose and insulin test (CGIT). 32 client-owned horses were included. History and morphometric data such as BCS and CNS were recorded. Subjects with abnormalities on physical examination or CBC, elevated ACTH or incomplete information were excluded. Baseline serum or plasma concentrations of biomarkers were tested via commercial ELISA or colorimetric assays. Characteristics of insulin dysregulated and insulin sensitive horses were compared by univariate analysis and forward logistic regression. 12 (38%) of the 32 horses were classified as insulin dysregulated. No significant difference between the 2 groups was found for age, BCS, baseline glucose, triglycerides, MG, D-lactate, L-lactate, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1. Baseline insulin was significantly associated with insulin dysregulation in univariate analysis (P = 0.02), but not in the final model. Horses with CNS ≥ 3 had 11.3 times higher odds of having insulin dysregulation (OR 11.3, 95% C.I. 2.04 - 63.08, P = 0.006). In this population, horses with mild-moderate signs of EMS presented similar metabolic and inflammatory profiles to non-insulin dysregulated controls.

Wearing a Surgical Face Mask Has Minimal Effect on Performance and Physiological Measures during High-Intensity Exercise in Youth Ice-Hockey Players: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial.

COVID-19 transmission is prevalent during ice-hockey; however, it is unknown whether wearing face masks as a mitigation strategy affects hockey players' performance. We used a randomized cross-over study to compare wearing a surgical mask to a sham mask (control) in youth hockey players (21 males, 5 females, 11.7 ± 1.6 y) during a simulated hockey period (cycle ergometry; six shifts of 20 s of "easy" pedaling (40% peak power), 10 s of "hard" pedaling (95% peak power), 20 s of "easy" pedaling, with shifts separated by 5 min rests). A seventh shift involved two 20 s Wingate tests separated by 40 s rest. Heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation and vastus lateralis tissue oxygenation index (hemoglobin saturation/desaturation) was assessed each shift. On-ice testing was conducted with the maximal Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test. No differences between mask and control conditions for performance were found (Wingate average power: 245 ± 93 vs. 237 ± 93 W, Peak power: 314 ± 116 vs. 304 ± 115 W, on-ice distance: 274 ± 116 vs. 274 ± 110 m) and for heart rate or arterial oxygen saturation during simulated hockey shifts. Tissue oxygenation index was lower from shifts one to six for males (p < 0.05) and shift seven for females (p < 0.01) while wearing a mask. Wearing a face mask had no effect on performance in hockey players with only minor effects on muscle oxygenation. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04874766) (accessed on 6 May 2021).

Dietary Supplementation for Para-Athletes: A Systematic Review.

The use of dietary supplements is high among athletes and non-athletes alike, as well as able-bodied individuals and those with impairments. However, evidence is lacking in the use of dietary supplements for sport performance in a para-athlete population (e.g., those training for the Paralympics or similar competition). Our objective was to examine the literature regarding evidence for various sport supplements in a para-athlete population. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MedLine, and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Source. Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in our review. Seven varieties of supplements were investigated in the studies reviewed, including caffeine, creatine, buffering agents, fish oil, leucine, and vitamin D. The evidence for each of these supplements remains inconclusive, with varying results between studies. Limitations of research in this area include the heterogeneity of the subjects within the population regarding functionality and impairment. Very few studies included individuals with impairments other than spinal cord injury. Overall, more research is needed to strengthen the evidence for or against supplement use in para-athletes. Future research is also recommended on performance in para-athlete populations with classifiable impairments other than spinal cord injuries.

Determination of an Acceptable Portion Size of Daal for a Bangladeshi Community-Based Iron Intervention in Adolescent Girls: A Feasibility Study.

Widely consumed daal (lentils) in Bangladesh are an ideal vehicle for iron (Fe) fortification; however, an acceptable portion size in meals needs to be determined to carry out a community feeding study in at-risk adolescent girls. A non-randomized crossover trial was conducted with n = 100 Bangladeshi girls (12.9 ± 2.0 years of age). Two recipes (thin and thick) and three portion sizes (25 g, 37.5 g, 50 g of raw lentil) of daal were served with 250 g of cooked white rice in a counter-balanced manner over 12 weeks. Each meal was fed to participants 5 days/week for two weeks. Ratings of hunger, satiety, and palatability were measured before and after each meal using Visual Analog Scales (VAS). The thick preparation in the 37.5 g portion (~200 g cooked) elicited higher VAS ratings of hunger, satiety, and palatability compared to all other meals. The 50 g portion of the thin preparation had VAS ratings similar to those of the 37.5 g thick preparation. Consuming the 37.5 g portion of fortified daal would provide 6.9 mg Fe/day to girls in a community-based effectiveness study. This would meet ~86% and ~46% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Fe for girls aged 9-13 and 14-18 years, respectively.

The impact of face masks on performance and physiological outcomes during exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Face masks are promoted for preventing spread of viruses; however, wearing a mask during exercise might increase CO2 rebreathing, decrease arterial oxygenation, and decrease exercise performance. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on the impact of wearing a mask during exercise. Data sources included SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and Medline. Eligibility criteria included all study designs comparing surgical, N95, or cloth masks to a no mask condition during any type of exercise where exercise performance and/or physiological parameters were evaluated. Healthy and clinical participants were included. Mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and pooled effects assessed. Twenty-two studies involving 1573 participants (620 females, 953 males) were included. Surgical, or N95 masks did not impact exercise performance (SMD -0.05 [-0.16, 0.07] and -0.16 [-0.54, 0.22], respectively) but increased ratings of perceived exertion (SMD 0.33 [0.09, 0.58] and 0.61 [0.23, 0.99]) and dyspnea (SMD 0.6 [0.3, 0.9] for all masks). End-tidal CO2 (MD 3.3 [1.0, 5.6] and 3.7 [3.0, 4.4] mm Hg), and heart rate (MD 2 [0,4] beats/min with N95 masks) slightly increased. Face masks can be worn during exercise with no influences on performance and minimal impacts on physiological variables. PROSPERO registration: CRD42020224988. Novelty: Face masks can be worn during exercise with no impacts on performance and minimal impacts on physiological variables.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diet, fitness, and sedentary behaviour of elite para-athletes.

BACKGROUND: With the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Paralympic Games were postponed, impacting the athletes' competition schedule for the year. Due to the interrupted competition schedule and potentially decreased motivation, Paralympic athletes may be at risk for a highly disrupted training schedule, impacting their ability to prepare for the 2021 Games. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the training, diet, and fitness of Paralympic cyclists and triathletes. METHODS: Twenty-four paracyclists and one paratriathlete (15 females and 10 males; age 37.6 ± 9.3 years) completed two incremental exercise tests to assess sport-specific fitness and reported their training volume and intensity for a specified week prior to the pandemic (February) and again in March, April, and May (during pandemic). Participants also reported their dietary intake and sedentary screen time prior to and during the pandemic. RESULTS: The amount of time spent engaging in sedentary screen time increased from 4.5 to 6.1 h (p < .001). No effect of the pandemic was found for training volume (14.2 vs 12.5 h; p = .18), intensity (678 vs 650; p = .36), or dietary intake (p > .05). While fitness test duration was nominally increased for the second test (27.3 vs 27.9 min; p = .02), no difference was seen in fitness (average power output: 201 W vs 204 W; p = .5). CONCLUSION: Time spent engaging in sedentary screen time activities increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there were no differences in training, fitness, or dietary intake over a short-term (3 months), demonstrating the resilience of these athletes.

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on university students' dietary intake, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour.

University students are a vulnerable group for poor dietary intake, insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviour. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on university students' dietary intake, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. Participants were students (n = 125) from the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina. An online questionnaire was administered retrospectively (for prepandemic) and prospectively (during the pandemic) to examine students' dietary intake, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. Overall, nutrient and caloric intakes were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) during the pandemic, and alcohol intake increased (p = 0.03). Before the pandemic, 16% and 54% of the participants were meeting the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults (18-64 years) of 150 min of moderate-vigorous physical activity and 8 h or less of sedentary activity, respectively. Only 10% met the guidelines for physical activity while 30% met the guidelines for sedentary behaviour during the pandemic. The minutes per week spent engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity during the pandemic decreased by approximately 20% (p < 0.001). The hours spent in sedentary activities increased by 3 h per day (p < 0.001). Our findings confirm that during the pandemic, students' inadequate dietary intake, high alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and high sedentary behaviour were significantly compounded. Novelty: During COVID-19, the nutrient and caloric intakes of university students decreased, and alcohol intake increased significantly. University students' physical activity levels decreased, and sedentary activity increased significantly during COVID-19. During COVID-19 students did not engage in sufficient physical activity to offset the increased sedentary behaviour.

Effects of Dietary Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load on Cardiometabolic and Reproductive Profiles in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit cardiometabolic (e.g., insulin resistance) and associated reproductive disruptions. Lifestyle modification (e.g., diet) is recommended as the first-line therapy to manage PCOS; however, a favorable dietary regimen remains unclear beyond energy restriction. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to summarize evidence on impacts of dietary glycemic index (GI) or glycemic load (GL) on cardiometabolic and reproductive profiles to update the International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS. Databases of MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched through 30 October 2019, and confirmed on 25 March 2020, to identify RCTs (≥8 wk) comparing the effects of diets with lower (LGI/LGL) and higher (HGI/HGL) GI/GL on glucoregulatory outcomes, lipid profile, anthropometrics, and androgen status in PCOS. The primary outcome was HOMA-IR. Data were pooled by random-effects models and expressed as weighted mean differences and 95% CIs. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane tool. Ten RCTs (n = 403) were eligible. Eight evaluated LGI and 2 LGL diets. LGI diets decreased HOMA-IR (-0.78; -1.20, -0.37; I2 = 86.6%), fasting insulin (-2.39; -4.78, 0.00 µIU/mL; I2 = 76.8%), total cholesterol (-11.13; -18.23, -4.04 mg/dL; I2 = 0.0%), LDL cholesterol (-6.27; -12.01, -0.53 mg/dL; I2 = 0.0%), triglycerides (-14.85; -28.75, -0.95 mg/dL; I2 = 31.0%), waist circumference (-2.81; -4.40, -1.23 cm; I2 = 53.9%), and total testosterone (-0.21; -0.32, -0.09 nmol/L; I2 = 8.6%) compared with HGI diets (all: P ≤ 0.05) without affecting fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol, weight, or free androgen index (all: P ≥ 0.07). Some results were contradictory and only described narratively for 2 RCTs that evaluated LGL diets, since inclusion in meta-analyses was not possible. LGI diets improved glucoregulatory outcomes (HOMA-IR, insulin), lipid profiles, abdominal adiposity, and androgen status, conceivably supporting their inclusion for dietary management of PCOS. Further RCTs should confirm these observations and address whether LGI diets improve more patient-pressing complications, including ovulatory cyclicity, infertility, and cardiovascular disease risk in this high-risk population. This review was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO as CRD42020175300.

Wearing of Cloth or Disposable Surgical Face Masks has no Effect on Vigorous Exercise Performance in Healthy Individuals.

Wearing face masks is recommended for the prevention of contracting or exposing others to cardiorespiratory infections, such as COVID-19. Controversy exists on whether wearing face masks during vigorous exercise affects performance. We used a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over design to evaluate the effects of wearing a surgical mask, a cloth mask, or no mask in 14 participants (7 men and 7 women; 28.2 ± 8.7 y) during a cycle ergometry test to exhaustion. Arterial oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry) and tissue oxygenation index (indicator of hemoglobin saturation/desaturation) at vastus lateralis (near-infrared spectroscopy) were assessed throughout the exercise tests. Wearing face masks had no effect on performance (time to exhaustion (mean ± SD): no mask 622 ± 141 s, surgical mask 657 ± 158 s, cloth mask 637 ± 153 s (p = 0.20); peak power: no mask 234 ± 56 W, surgical mask 241 ± 57 W, cloth mask 241 ± 51 W (p = 0.49)). When expressed relative to peak exercise performance, no differences were evident between wearing or not wearing a mask for arterial oxygen saturation, tissue oxygenation index, rating of perceived exertion, or heart rate at any time during the exercise tests. Wearing a face mask during vigorous exercise had no discernable detrimental effect on blood or muscle oxygenation, and exercise performance in young, healthy participants (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04557605).

Skim milk as a recovery beverage after exercise is superior to a sports drink for reducing next-day postprandial blood glucose and increasing postprandial fat oxidation.

We determined the effect of consuming low-glycemic index (LGI) skim milk compared to a high-glycemic index (HGI) sports drink following evening exercise on fat oxidation and blood lipids after a subsequent high-energy breakfast. We hypothesized that postexercise skim milk consumption, compared to sports drink, would increase fat oxidation and lower harmful blood lipid and glucose concentrations after a next-day high-energy breakfast. In this randomized counterbalanced crossover trial, 20 overweight-obese participants (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) underwent 4 conditions: 90-minute exercise (50% Vo2peak) followed by sports drink (EX-HGI), exercise followed by isoenergetic skim milk (EX-LGI), exercise followed by water (Exercise), and a control condition (Control). The amount of the sports drink or milk consumed postexercise was based on the energy used during exercise plus 10%. Blood lipids, glucose, and fat oxidation were assessed before and for 6 hours after a high-energy breakfast the next morning. Fat oxidation was highest for EX-LGI (6.7 ±â€¯2.7 g/h) and lowest for EX-HGI (6.0 ±â€¯1.8 g/h) (condition main effect; P = .042). Triglyceride concentration and total area under the curve were higher with EX-HGI than Exercise (1.7 ±â€¯1.6 vs 1.3 ±â€¯1.0 mmol/L, P = .037, and 11.7 ±â€¯9.4 vs 8.6 ±â€¯6.0 mmol L-1 h, P = .005, respectively). Glucose concentration was lower with EX-LGI than EX-HGI (4.1 ±â€¯1.1 vs 4.4 ±â€¯1.1 mmol/L, P = .027). Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was higher with EX-HGI than Control (2.32 ±â€¯1.15 vs 1.86 ±â€¯0.97, P = .005). In conclusion, evening postexercise skim milk consumption, compared with a high-GI sports drink, significantly reduced blood glucose and possibly increased fat oxidation after a high-energy breakfast the next morning.

A Low-Glycemic Index, High-Fiber, Pulse-Based Diet Improves Lipid Profile, but Does Not Affect Performance in Soccer Players.

Pulses (i.e., lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas) are low-glycemic index, high-fiber foods that are beneficial for improving blood lipids. Young soccer players typically have low dietary fiber intake, perhaps because of concerns regarding gastro-intestinal problems during exercise performance. Twenty-seven (17 females) soccer players were randomized to receive a pulse-based diet or their regular diet for four weeks in a cross-over study and evaluated for changes in blood lipids and athletic performance, with 19 (22 ± 6y; 12 females) completing the study (eight participants withdrew because of lack of time). Women increased high density lipoproteins (+0.5 ± 0.7 vs. -0.6 ± 0.3 mmol/L; p < 0.01) and reduced total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein ratio (-2.4 ± 2.9 vs. +2.6 ± 2.2; p < 0.01) on the pulse-based vs. regular diet, respectively, while there were no differences between diet phases in men. Athletic performance assessed by distance covered during games by a global positioning system was not significantly different during the pulse-based vs. regular diet (9180 ± 1618 vs. 8987 ± 1808 m per game; p = 0.35). It is concluded that a pulse-based diet can improve blood lipid profile without affecting athletic performance in soccer players.

The Effects of Low- and High-Glycemic Index Sport Nutrition Bars on Metabolism and Performance in Recreational Soccer Players.

Consumption of low-glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates (CHO) may be superior to high-GI CHO before exercise by increasing fat oxidation and decreasing carbohydrate oxidation. We compared the effects of pre-exercise feeding of a low-GI lentil-based sports nutrition bar with a high-GI bar on metabolism and performance during a simulated soccer match. Using a randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced, crossover design, participants (n = 8) consumed 1.5 g/kg available CHO from a low-GI bar (GI = 45) or high-GI bar (GI = 101) two hours before a 90 min simulated soccer match, and 0.38 g/kg body mass during a 15 min half-time break. The test involved alternating 6 min intervals of paced jogging, running, walking, and sprinting, and 3 min intervals of soccer-specific skills (timed ball dribbling, agility running, heading, kicking accuracy). Carbohydrate oxidation rate was lower during the match after consuming the low-GI compared to high-GI bar (2.17 ± 0.6 vs. 2.72 ± 0.4 g/min; p < 0.05). Participants performed better during the low-GI versus high-GI bar condition on the agility test (5.7 ± 0.4 versus 6.1 ± 0.6 s; p < 0.01) and heading (i.e., jumping height 24.7 ± 4.3 versus 22.2 ± 4.5 cm; p < 0.01) late in the soccer match (72 min). A low-GI lentil-based sports nutrition bar provides a metabolic benefit (lower carbohydrate oxidation rate) and a modest improvement in agility running and jumping height (heading) late in the test.

A randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention with longitudinal follow-up on ovarian dysmorphology in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Effects of lifestyle modification on reproductive function in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain poorly elucidated. We compared the effects of a pulse-based diet (lentils, beans, split peas and chickpeas) with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet on ultrasonographic markers of ovarian morphology, hyperandrogenism and menstrual irregularity in PCOS. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS: Women with PCOS (18-35 years). MEASUREMENTS: Thirty women randomized to the pulse-based and 31 to TLC groups completed a 16-week intervention without energy restriction. Groups performed aerobic exercise (minimum of 5 days/wk; 45 minutes/d) and received health counselling (monthly) and longitudinal follow-up. Follicle numbers per ovary (FNPO, 2-9 mm), ovarian volume (OV), free androgen index (FAI) and menstrual cycle length were measured pre- and postintervention. RESULTS: Follicle numbers per ovary (mean change ± SD, -10 ± 15), OV (-2.7 ± 4.8 mL), FAI (-3 ± 2) and menstrual cycle length (-13 ± 47 days) decreased over time in both groups (All: P < .01), without group-by-time interactions (All: P ≥ .13). Attrition rate was 33.7% and comparable between groups (P = .94). Adherence to diet intervention negatively correlated with changes in FNPO (r=-0.54), OV (r=-0.35) and FAI (r = -.29) in pooled groups (All: P ≤ .04). Groups maintained reduced OV, FNPO, FAI and menstrual cycles 6 months postintervention; however, decreased FNPO and FAI at 16 weeks tended to revert to baseline levels 12 months postintervention in both groups (All: P ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Both interventions improved ovarian dysmorphology, hyperandrogenism and menstrual irregularity in PCOS, and no diet appeared to be superior at improving reproductive outcomes. Our observations highlight the importance of longitudinal surveillance for sustainable adherence to newly adopted healthy lifestyle behaviours and reproductive health in PCOS (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01288638).

Effect of a pulse-based diet and aerobic exercise on bone measures and body composition in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with clinical symptoms including menstrual dysfunction and hyperandrogenemia, as well as insulin resistance which is thought to be a key contributing factor to symptoms. Insulin is also thought to positively affect bone while oligo- and amenorrhea are known to negatively affect bone. Lifestyle modification is the first recommendation to treat symptoms of PCOS; however, little is known about the effect of lifestyle interventions on bone measures in this population. Pulses (e.g., chickpeas, beans, split peas, lentils) have been shown to lower fasting insulin, and the objective of this study was to determine the effect of a pulse-based diet compared to the therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) diet on bone measures and body composition in women with PCOS. Women aged 18-35 years with PCOS were randomized to either a pulse-based diet or the TLC diet for 16-weeks while following an aerobic exercise program. Thirty-one in the TLC group and 29 in the pulse group completed dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis following the intervention. After 16-weeks, both groups had a lower BMI, whole body fat mass, and % fat (p < 0.005), with no difference in lean mass. In both groups, lumbar spine bone mineral content (BMC) and density were higher following the intervention (p < 0.05) while femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was lower (p < 0.05). Intertrochanteric section modulus improved in both groups while there was a group x time interaction in femoral shaft subperiosteal width which was more favorable in the pulse group (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that the femoral neck may be compromised during a lifestyle intervention in women with PCOS. Research is warranted to preserve bone health during lifestyle change in women with PCOS.

A pulse-based diet and the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet in combination with health counseling and exercise improve health-related quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: A favorable dietary composition to increase health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PCOS remains unclear. We compared changes in HRQoL of women with PCOS who participated in a low-glycemic-index pulse-based (lentils, beans, split peas, and chickpeas) or the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet intervention.Methods: Thirty women in the pulse-based and 31 in the TLC groups (18-35 years) completed a 16-week intervention without energy-restriction. Groups participated in health counseling (monthly) and aerobic exercise (5 days/week; 45 minutes/day).Results: Fifty-five (90.2%) women completed a PCOS-specific HRQoL survey. Greatest mean increases in time-effects occurred in the domains of healthy eating, PCOS knowledge, active living, healthcare satisfaction, feelings and experiences about intervention, and health concerns, respectively (p ≤ 0.02), without group-by-time interactions (p ≥ 0.13). Decreased weight (r = -0.35) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (r = -0.18) correlated with increased scores of PCOS knowledge; adherence to intervention correlated with increased scores of active living (r = 0.39) and healthy eating (r = 0.53; p ≤ 0.03).Conclusions: Both interventions improved HRQoL scores in women with PCOS without prescribed energy-restriction. Our observations add novel insights into current evidence and elucidate the need for future psychological research to target lifestyle modifications for improving HRQoL and unique psychological complications of PCOS in this high-risk population (CinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT01288638).