A home-based treadmill training reduced epicardial and abdominal fat in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The current study was designed to determine the effect of home-based treadmill training on epicardial and abdominal adipose tissue in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MS). A secondary objective was to identify significant correlations between imaging and conventional anthropometric parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty postmenopausal women with MS volunteered for the current trial. Thirty were randomly assigned to perform a supervised home-based 16-week treadmill training program, 3 sessions/week, consisting of a warm-up, 30-40 min treadmill exercise (increasing 5-minutes each 4-weeks) at a work intensity of 60-75% of peak heart rate (increasing 5% each 4-weeks) and cooling-down. Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) was assessed by echocardiography. Abdominal fat mass in the lumbar regions L1-L4 and L4-L5 was determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Epicardial fat thickness and abdominal fat percentages were significantly improved after the completion of the training program. Another striking feature of the current study was the moderate correlation that was found between EFT and waist circumference (WC). CONCLUSION: Home-based treadmill training reduced epicardial and abdominal fat in postmenopausal women with MS. A secondary finding was that a moderate correlation was found between EFT and WC. While current investigations are promising, future studies are still required to consolidate this approach in clinical application.

Introducción: El presente estudio se diseñó para conocer la influencia de un programa de entrenamiento aeróbico domiciliario en la masa grasa epicárdica y abdominal de mujeres postmenopausicas con síndrome metabólico (SM). Un segundo objetivo fue identificar correlaciones significativas entre las variables antropométricas ensayadas. Material y Método: Participaron voluntariamente un total de 60 mujeres postmenopausicas con diagnóstico de SM que se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en el grupo de intervención (n=30) o control (n=30). El programa de intervención, desarrollado en el domicilio, consistió en un entrenamiento en tapiz rodante de 16 semanas, 3 sesiones/ semana. La parte principal se realizó a una intensidad del 60-75%FCmax (incrementando 5% cada 4 semanas) durante 30-40 minutos (incrementando 5-minutos cada 4-semanas). La masa grasa epicárdica se determinó mediante ecocardiografía. La masa grasa abdominal de las regiones de interés L1-L4 y L4-L5 se determinó mediante densitometría. Resultados: Se observó un descenso significativo tanto de la masa grasa epicárdica como abdominal tras completar el entrenamiento. Se identificó una correlación moderada entre la masa grasa epicárdica y el perímetro de la cintura de las participantes que podría facilitar su seguimiento clínico. Conclusión: Un programa de entrenamiento de resistencia redujo la masa grasa epicárdica y abdominal. Futuros estudios en esta línea son aún necesarios.

Anti-inflammatory effect of exercise, via reduced leptin levels, in obese women with Down syndrome.

Recent studies have reported that obese young people with Down syndrome suffer from low-grade systemic inflammation. Whereas this condition may be improved in the general population by regular exercise, the problem has received no attention in the case of people with intellectual disability. Therefore, the authors' aim was to assess the influence of aerobic training on plasma adipokines in obese women with Down syndrome. Twenty obese young women with Down syndrome volunteered for this study, 11 of whom were randomly assigned to a 10-wk aerobic-training program. They attended 3 sessions/wk, which consisted of warm-up exercises followed by the main activity on a treadmill (30-40 min) at a work intensity of 55-65% of peak heart rate and ended with a cooling-down period. The control group included 9 women with Down syndrome matched for age, sex, and body-mass index. Fat-mass percentage and distribution were measured, and plasma adipokine levels (leptin and adiponectin) were assessed. In addition, each participant performed a maximal graded continuous treadmill exercise test. These parameters were assessed pre- and postintervention. Aerobic training produced a significant increase in participants' maximal oxygen uptake (20.2 ± 5.8 vs.23.7 ± 6.3 ml · kg-1 · min-1; p < .001), and plasma leptin levels were significantly reduced in the intervention group (54.2 ± 6.7 vs.45.7 ± 6.1 ng/ml; p = .026). Further significant correlations between plasma leptin and indices of obesity were found. In contrast, no significant changes were found in adiponectin levels (p > .05). None of the tested parameters changed in the control group. In conclusion, a 10-week training program reduced leptin levels in obese young women with Down syndrome.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Exercise, Via Reduced Leptin Levels, in Obese Women with Down Syndrome.

Recent studies have reported that obese young people with Down syndrome suffer from low-grade systemic inflammation. Whereas this condition may be improved in the general population by regular exercise, the problem has received no attention in the case of people with intellectual disability. Therefore, our aim was to assess the influence of aerobic training on plasma adipokines in obese women with Down syndrome. Twenty obese young women with Down syndrome volunteered for this study, eleven of whom were randomly assigned to a 10-week aerobic training programme. They attended 3 sessions/week, which consisted of warm-up exercises followed by the main activity on a treadmill (30-40 min) at a work intensity of 55-65% of peak heart rate, and ended with a cooling-down period. The control group included 9 women with Down syndrome matched for age, sex and BMI. Fat mass percentage and distribution were measured and plasma adipokine levels (leptin and adiponectin) were assessed. In addition, each participant performed a maximal graded continuous treadmill exercise test. These parameters were assessed pre- and post-intervention. This protocol was approved by an Institutional Ethics Committee. Aerobic training produced a significant increase in participants' VO2max (20.2±5.8vs.23.7±6.3ml/kg/min;p<0.001), and plasma leptin levels were significantly reduced in the intervention group (54.2±6.7vs.45.7±6.1ng/ml;p=0.026). Further significant correlations between plasma leptin and indices of obesity were found. In contrast, no significant changes were found in adiponectin levels (p>0.05). None of tested parameters changed in the control group. In conclusion, a 10-week training programme reduced leptin levels in obese young women with Down syndrome.

A 6-week training program increased muscle antioxidant system in elderly diabetic fatty rats.

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that oxidative stress is associated with the physiopathology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In fact, it has been pointed out as a therapeutic target in T2DM. Fortunately, several papers have reported that long-term training programs improved the antioxidant system in young and adult diabetic rats. Accordingly, this study was designed to assess the influence of a shorter training program in elderly diabetic fatty rats. MATERIAL/METHODS: Study subjects were 24 male homozygous Zucker diabetic fatty rats (Gmi, fa/fa) aged 18 weeks with an average weight of 370-450 g. After a 2-week period of environmental adaptation, animals were randomly distributed into the Exercised Group (n=12) that performed a 6-week swimming training protocol and the Sedentary Group (n=12). Animals were sacrificed under anesthesia 24 h after the last exercise session. Serum metabolic profile was determined. Total antioxidant status (TAS), MnSOD expression, glutathione status and ROS generation were assayed in gastrocnemius muscle. RESULTS: When compared with controls, exercised rats significantly improved their metabolic profile. Total antioxidant status (0.19±0.002 vs. 0.13±0.002 µg/mg protein; p<0.001) and MnSOD expression (8471±90 vs. 6258±102 U/µg protein; p=0.003) were also increased in exercised rats. CONCLUSIONS: A 6-week swimming training program improved the antioxidant system in elderly fatty diabetic rats. Fortunately, this improvement was enough to reduce oxidative damage, expressed as protein oxidation. A major finding of this study was that our training protocol lasted just 6 weeks, in contrast to longer protocols previously published.

La morfología femenina como método de valoración de la estética corporal em estudiantes universitarias de Andalucia (España) / Na aesthetic analysis by means of assessment of female morphology in university students from Andalusia (Spain)

El presente trabajo pretende conocer y analizar la morfoestética corporal real e ideal de la mujer joven universitaria de Andalucía (España). Para ello diseñamos un estudio en el que participarán 400 jóvenes, 50 porcada una de las universidades de las 8 provincias andaluzas, a las que se hará un examen antropométrico paradeterminar su índice de masa corporal así como el porcentaje de masa grasa. Asimismo cada participantecumplimentará un cuestionario diseñado por nuestro propio equipo con 20 ítems referentes a la morfoestética. El valor medio del IMC de las encuestadas fue de 21.45 ± 1.68 Kg/m2 con un porcentaje de masa grasa del 25.13 ± 2.46 % lo que en conjunto muestra una clara tendencia a la delgadez. Igualmente convendría destacarse que el 77% de las jóvenes universitarias afirmó encontrarse satisfecha con su imagen corporal y que tan solo el 11% considero que si adelgazara se sentiría más feliz. En cualquier caso es interesante que la práctica deejercicio físico sea el método preferido mayoritariamente para perder peso.De todo esto se deduce, además dela coherencia en las respuestas, que las jóvenes estudiantes universitarias andaluzas son conscientes de sufigura corporal y se sienten mayoritariamente a gusto con su cuerpo que encaja en un prototipo muy similar almarcado por la sociedad actual.

In the present study the actual and desired morpho-aesthetic aspects of young female university students from Andalusia (Spain) were assessed and analyzed. To reach this goal, 400 young female students from 8 Universities of Andalusia enrolled the study. Initially they all underwent a kineanthropometric assessment to determine their Body Mass Index as well as their fat mass percentage. They filled out an anonymous questionnaire that included 20 items referred to morpho-aesthetics aspects. The mean value of BMI was 21.45 ± 1.68 Kg/m2 and the fat mass percentage of the group was 25.13 ± 2.46 % of total body mass. In addition, 77% of participants accept their body image whereas only 11% of them expressed that they would be happier if they lose weight. In any case it should be mentioned that physical activity was considered the best strategy to loseweight. Finally, we concluded that young female university students from Andalucia accept their body imagebecause, among other reasons, it is very similar to the morphological type valued by our society.