Abundant daily non-sedentary activity is associated with reduced prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: Non-exercise activity thermogenesis has recently drawn attention because of its potential to prevent weight gain. AIM: This study evaluated the relationships between the duration of daily non-sedentary activities and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance (IR) in the Japanese population. MATERIAL/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 518 eligible subjects (380 men and 138 women) who attended the Tokushima Prefectural General Health Checkup Center and participated in the baseline survey of a cohort study conducted in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan were analyzed. Information about lifestyle characteristics including leisure-time exercise and daily non-exercise activities was obtained from a questionnaire. Logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between the duration of daily non-exercise non-sedentary activities (beyond sitting) and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (and its components) and IR. RESULTS: Subjects with longer duration of daily non-sedentary activities had significantly lower adjusted odds ratios for metabolic syndrome (p for trend =0.024), abdominal obesity (p for trend =0.023), and low HDLcholesterol levels (p for trend =0.002), after adjustment for sex, age, and other probable covariates including leisure-time exercise. Longer duration of daily non-sedentary activities was further associated with lower homeostasis model of assessment- IR (HOMA-IR) values (p for trend =0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that abundant daily non-sedentary activity might be associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome, especially for the components of central obesity and low HDL-cholesterol levels, and with a lower prevalence of IR, independent of leisure-time exercise.

Quadriceps strength to body weight ratio is a significant indicator for initiating jogging after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Quadriceps strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is an important criterion for progress in rehabilitation and return to sports. The purpose of this study was to determine whether quadriceps strength to body weight ratio (QS/BW) is a significant indicator for initiating jogging after ACL reconstruction. METHODS: Isokinetic quadriceps strength at 60°/s was measured and a jogging trial was completed 3 months after ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft in 83 patients (36 male, 47 female; mean age, 26.6 ± 12.4 years). Based on the jogging trial results, patients were assigned to either a successful jogging group (mean velocity ≥ 9 km/h) or an unsuccessful jogging group (mean velocity < 9 km/h). The association between QS/BW and successful jogging after surgery was investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis and the cut-off value was determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (53.0%) were assigned to the successful jogging group and 39 (47.0%) to the unsuccessful jogging group. QS/BW was independently associated with initiating jogging 3 months after surgery. The cut-off value of QS/BW for successful jogging was 1.45 Nm/kg (area under the curve = 0.94; sensitivity = 88.6%, specificity = 87.2%). All of the patients who initiated jogging with QS/BW of > 1.45 Nm/kg at 3 months returned to sports without recurrence or contralateral injury by 10 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: QS/BW is a significant indicator for safely initiating jogging 3 months after ACL reconstruction. The cut-off value of QS/BW for initiating jogging was 1.45 Nm/kg.

Consumption of coffee, not green tea, is inversely associated with arterial stiffness in Japanese men.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Studies on the associations between coffee and green tea consumption and arterial stiffness are rare. This study evaluated the possible relationships between coffee and green tea consumption and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) values in Japanese men. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 540 eligible men who enrolled in the baseline survey of a cohort study in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, and who underwent ba-PWV measurement were analyzed. Information about lifestyle characteristics including coffee and green tea intake were obtained from a structural self-administered questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between coffee and green tea consumption and ba-PWV. RESULTS: Subjects with greater coffee consumption were younger and showed higher proportions of current smoking and alcohol consumption. Subjects with greater green tea consumption were older and showed lower proportions of current smoking and alcohol consumption. Greater coffee consumption was significantly inversely associated with ba-PWV after the adjustment for probable covariates, including serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P for trend =0.031). After additional adjustment for serum triglycerides, this inverse association persisted, but was somewhat attenuated (P for trend =0.050). In contrast, green tea consumption was not associated with ba-PWV. CONCLUSIONS: Coffee consumption was inversely associated with arterial stiffness independent of known atherosclerotic risk factors, and this association was partly mediated by reduced circulating triglycerides. Further prospective or interventional studies are needed to confirm the causal association.