Comparison of enjoyment and energy expenditure of exergame with and without blood flow restriction in men and women.

This study compared the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) on intensity and perceived enjoyment during an exergame. Fourteen healthy young participants engaged in a boxing exergame for 20 min, with or without BFR, across two sessions. Perceived enjoyment levels were assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. Heart rate was monitored, and energy expenditure (EE) during exercise was calculated. A mixed model analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to evaluate differences in EE and enjoyment between exergame conditions (with and without BFR) as well as the interaction effects of these protocols with gender. Although not statistically significant, perceived enjoyment decreased with BFR inclusion for both genders. No significant differences were observed between men and women for both protocols. Regarding EE, there was no significant difference between the two groups (with and without BFR). However, a significant main effect of gender was found, with men exhibiting higher EE values in both protocols compared to women. In conclusion, exergames incorporating BFR impact perceptual responses, particularly perceived enjoyment. Furthermore, significant gender differences in EE were found, with men displaying higher values.

Effects of Spirulina supplementation in patients with ulcerative colitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

AIM: We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Spirulina (SP) supplementation on disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, and serum pentraxin 3 (PTX-3) levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Eighty patients with UC were randomly assigned to consume either 1 g/day (two 500 mg capsules/day) of SP (n = 40) or control (n = 40) for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, physical activity, disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum PTX-3 levels were assessed and compared between groups at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (91.3%) completed the trial. We observed increases in serum total antioxidant capacity levels in the SP supplementation group compared to the control group after 8 weeks of intervention (p ≤ 0.001). A within-group comparison indicated a trend towards a higher health-related quality of life score after 8 weeks of taking two different supplements, SP (p < 0.001) and PL (p = 0.012), respectively. However, there were no significant changes in participant's disease activity score in response to SP administration (p > 0.05). Similarly, changes in ESR and PTX-3 levels were comparable between groups post-intervention (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SP improved antioxidant capacity status and health-related quality of life in patients with UC. Our findings suggest that SP supplementation may be effective as an adjuvant treatment for managing patients with UC. Larger trials with longer interventions periods are required to confirm our findings.

The Effects of 12 Weeks of Concurrent and Combined Training on Inflammatory Markers, Muscular Performance, and Body Composition in Middle-Aged Overweight and Obese Males.

AIM: Previous studies have focused on the order of endurance and resistance training when performing concurrent training (CT). However, no study has compared the effects of combined training with CT orders on inflammatory markers, muscular performance, and body composition in overweight and obese males. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of 12 weeks of CT and combined training on the aforementioned markers in overweight and obese males. METHODS: Sixty middle-aged overweight and obese males (age 51 ± 4 years) were randomly assigned into one of four groups: endurance followed by resistance training (ER; n = 15), resistance followed by endurance training (RE; n = 15), combined resistance and endurance training (COM), or control (CON; n = 15). Anthropometric, body composition, inflammatory marker, and muscular performance measurements were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: FFM remained unchanged in all three intervention groups (p > 0.05). Reductions in FM in the RE group were significantly greater than in CON (p = 0.038). The increases in serum concentrations of adiponectin in the RE group were significantly greater than in all other groups (p < 0.05). Increased serum concentrations of CTRP3 in all intervention groups were significantly greater than the CON group (p < 0.05); moreover, the increases in the RE group were significantly greater than CON (p < 0.001). Regarding CTRP5, the increase in RE was significantly greater than COM (p = 0.014). The RE group experienced significantly greater increases in CTRP9 than all other groups (p < 0.05), and the decreases in serum concentrations of CRP and TNF-α were significantly greater in the RE group compared to CON and ER (p < 0.05). Vo2max in the ER group was significantly greater than COM (p = 0.009), and all interventions resulted in higher gains compared to CON (p < 0.05). The increases in leg press strength, chest press strength, lower-body power, and upper-body power in the RE group were significantly greater than in the COM group (p < 0.05). In addition, the increases in chest press strength in the ER group were significantly greater than COM (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of training order, CT improved inflammatory markers, body composition, power, and VO2max. Notably, our analysis indicated significantly greater improvements in adiponectin, CTRP5, CTRP9, CRP, and TNF-α levels when RT preceded ET in CT sessions compared to other exercise training sequences. These findings suggested that the order of exercise training may have a significant impact on the effectiveness of CT on inflammatory markers, which has potential implications for exercise prescription and optimization of health-related training outcomes.

Mean versus variability of lipid measurements over 6 years and incident cardiovascular events: More than a decade follow-up.

Background: Lipid variability (LV) has emerged as a contributor to the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), even after considering the effect of mean lipid levels. However, these associations have not been examined among people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We aimed to investigate the association of 6-year mean lipid levels versus lipid variability with the risk of CVD among an Iranian population. Methods: A total of 3,700 Iranian adults aged ≥ 30 years, with 3 lipid profile measurements, were followed up for incident CVD until March 2018. Lipid variability was measured as standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), average real variability (ARV), and variability independent of mean (VIM). The effects of mean lipid levels and LV on CVD risk were assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. Results: During a median 14.5-year follow-up, 349 cases of CVD were recorded. Each 1-SD increase in the mean levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), TC/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and non-HDL-C increased the risk of CVD by about 26-29%; for HDL-C, the risk was significantly lower by 12% (all p-values < 0.05); these associations resisted after adjustment for their different LV indices. Considering LV, each 1-SD increment in SD and ARV variability indices for TC and TC/HDL-C increased the risk of CVD by about 10%; however, these associations reached null after further adjustment for their mean values. The effect of TC/HDL-C variability (measured as SD) and mean lipid levels, except for LDL-C, on CVD risk was generally more pronounced in the non-elderly population. Conclusion: Six-year mean lipid levels were associated with an increased future risk of incident CVD, whereas LV were not. Our findings highlight the importance of achieving normal lipid levels over time, but not necessarily consistent, for averting adverse clinical outcomes.

The clinical value of metabolic syndrome and its components with respect to sudden cardiac death using different definitions: Two decades of follow-up from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of different definitions of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and their components on the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among the Iranian population according to the World Health Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. METHODS: The study population included a total of 5,079 participants (2,785 women) aged ≥ 40 years, free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline. Participants were followed for incident SCD annually up to 20 March 2018. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MetS and its components for incident SCD. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS ranged from 27.16% to 50.81%, depending on the criteria used. Over a median of 17.9 years of follow-up, 182 SCD events occurred. The WHO, IDF, and JIS definitions were strong predictors of SCD with multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) of 1.68 (1.20-2.35), 1.51 (1.12-2.03), and 1.47 (1.08-1.98), respectively; these associations significantly attenuated after further adjustment for MetS components. MetS by the ATP III definition was not associated with the risk of SCD after controlling for antihypertensive, glucose-lowering, and lipid-lowering medication use. Among the components of MetS, high blood pressure (WHO definition), high waist circumference (using the national cutoff of ≥ 95 cm), and high glucose component by the JIS/IDF definitions remained independent predictors of SCD with HRs of 1.79 (1.29-2.48), 1.46 (1.07-2.00), and 1.52 (1.12-2.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The constellation of MetS, except for when defined with ATP III definition, is a marker for identifying individuals at higher risk for SCD; however, not independent of its components. Among MetS components, abdominal obesity using the population-specific cutoff point, high glucose component (JIS/IDF definitions), and high blood pressure (WHO definition) were independent predictors of SCD.

The impact of bariatric surgery procedures on the modulation of cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with severe obesity: a 12-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in patients with severe obesity. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with severe obesity who had undergone OAGB, RYGB, or SG between 2015 and 2017 and follow-up assessments over 12-months. RESULTS: Among 485 included patients, anthropometric measurements, body composition, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, and comorbidities were significantly improved for all three procedures throughout the follow-up period. Weight, % total weight loss (%TWL), body mass index, fat mass and fat mass to fat-free mass ratio improvements were higher with RYGB and OAGB than SG. There were no significant differences between procedures in all other variables. A significant trend toward remission rate of dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus was observed with all three procedures, with no significant difference between the three groups. %TWL statistically correlated with fat mass, FBG, and triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: OAGB, RYGB, and SG had a beneficial impact on CMRFs and comorbidities during 12 months of follow-up. Of note, RYGB and OAGB may result in better outcomes, particularly anthropometric and body composition indices. Further large-sample, long-term follow-up studies are required to expand on the present findings.

The Combined Effects of 6 Weeks of Jump Rope Interval Exercise and Dark Chocolate Consumption on Antioxidant Markers in Obese Adolescent Boys.

Research has shown that both dark chocolate and exercise training may have favorable effects on antioxidant function in obese cohorts. However, their combined effect has not been established. We assessed the influences of six weeks of dark chocolate consumption combined with jump rope exercise on antioxidant markers in adolescent boys with obesity. Fifty adolescent boys with obesity (age = 15 ± 1 years) were randomly assigned into one of four groups; jump rope exercise + white chocolate consumption (JW; n = 13), jump rope exercise + dark chocolate consumption (JD; n = 13), dark chocolate consumption (DC; n = 12), or control (C; n = 12). Two participants dropped out of the study. Participants in JW and JD groups performed jump rope exercise three times per week for six weeks. Participants in the DC and JD groups consumed 30 g of dark chocolate containing 83% of cocoa during the same period. Serum concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were evaluated prior to and after the interventions. All 3 intervention groups noted significant (p < 0.01) increases in serum concentrations of TAC, SOD, and GPx from baseline to post-test. In contrast, all intervention groups showed significantly reduced serum concentrations of TBARS from pre- to post-test (p ≤ 0.01). Bonferroni post hoc analysis revealed that post-test serum concentrations of TAC in the JD group were significantly greater than C (p < 0.001), DC (p = 0.010), and JW (p < 0.001) groups. In addition, post-test serum concentrations of SOD in the JD group were significantly greater than C group (p = 0.001). Post-test serum concentrations of GPx in the JD group were significantly greater than C (p < 0.001), DC (p = 0.021), and JW (p = 0.032) groups. The post-test serum concentrations of TBARS in the JD group was significantly lower than C (p < 0.001). No other significant between-group differences were observed. The current study provides evidence that dark chocolate consumption in combination with jump rope exercise is more efficient in improving antioxidant capacity than dark chocolate consumption or jump rope exercise alone among obese adolescent boys.

The Effects of TRX Suspension Training Combined with Taurine Supplementation on Body Composition, Glycemic and Lipid Markers in Women with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week total-body resistance exercise (TRX) suspension training intervention combined with taurine supplementation on body composition, blood glucose, and lipid markers in T2D females. METHODS: Forty T2D middle-aged females (age: 53 ± 5 years, body mass = 84.3 ± 5.1 kg) were randomly assigned to four groups, TRX suspension training + placebo (TP; n = 10), TRX suspension training + taurine supplementation (TT; n = 10), taurine supplementation (T; n = 10), or control (C; n = 10). Body composition (body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP)), blood glucose (fasting blood sugar (FBS)), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Insulin, and Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid markers (low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC)) were evaluated prior to and after interventions. RESULTS: All three interventions significantly decreased body mass, BMI, and BFP with no changes between them for body mass and BMI; however, BFP changes in the TT group were significantly greater than all other groups. FBS was significantly reduced in TP and TT. Insulin concentrations' decrement were significantly greater in all experimental groups compared to C; however, no between group differences were observed between TT, TP, and T. In regards to HOMA-IR, decreases in TT were significantly greater than all other groups TG, HbA1c, and LDL were reduced following all interventions. HDL values significantly increased only in the TT group, while TC significantly decreased in TP and TT groups. Changes in HbA1c, TG, HDL, and TC were significantly greater in the TT compared to all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: TRX training improved glycemic and lipid profiles, while taurine supplementation alone failed to show hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. Notably, the synergic effects of TRX training and taurine supplementation were shown in HbA1c, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, HDL, and BFP changes. Our outcomes suggest that TRX training + taurine supplementation may be an effective adjuvant therapy in individuals with T2D.

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.

Effects of 6 Months of Soy-Enriched High Protein Compared to Eucaloric Low Protein Snack Replacement on Appetite, Dietary Intake, and Body Composition in Normal-Weight Obese Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: The favorable effects of high protein snacks on body composition and appetite status in lean and athletic populations have been illustrated previously. However, the effects of soy-enriched high protein snacks have not been investigated in women with normal-weight obesity (NWO). Consequently, we aimed at comparing the effects of six months of soy-enriched high protein snack replacement on appetite, body composition, and dietary intake in women with NWO. (2) Methods: One hundred seven (107) women with NWO [(age: 24 ± 3 yrs, BMI: 22.7 ± 2.3 kg/m2, body fat percentage (BFP): 38 ± 3.2%)] who were assigned to one of two groups; high protein snack (HP, n = 52) containing 50 g soybean or isocaloric low-protein snack (protein: 18.2 g, carbohydrate: 15 g, fat: 10 g, energy: 210 kcal) or isocaloric low protein snack (LP, n = 55) containing 3.5 servings of fruit (protein: <2 g, carbohydrate: ≈50 g, fat: <1 g, energy: ≈210 kcal) as part of their daily meals (as a snack at 10 a.m.), successfully completed the study interventions. Body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), BFP, skeletal muscle mass, dietary intake, and appetite levels were evaluated prior to and after the six-month intervention. (3) Results: Appetite (HP = -12 mm and LP = -0.6 mm), energy intake (HP = -166.2 kcal/day and LP = 91.3 kcal), carbohydrate intake (HP = -58.4 g/day and LP = 6.4 g/day), WC (HP = -4.3 cm and LP = -0.9 cm), and BFP (HP = -3.7% and LP = -0.9%) were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced, while skeletal muscle mass (HP = 1.2 kg and LP = 0.3 kg) significantly increased in the HP compared to the LP group, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Six months of a soy-enriched high protein snack replacement decreased appetite and improved body composition in women with NWO. Our findings suggest that soy-enriched high protein snacks are an efficacious strategy for body composition improvement.