The association between meat consumption and muscle strength index in young adults: the mediating role of total protein intake and lean mass percentage

Relationship between dietary intake and growth and development in Chinese pupils

Background

A nutritional diet is essential for children's growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary intake and growth and development of pupils to provide more specific nutritional recommendations for their healthy growth.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 592 pupils, and standardized questionnaires were used to collect information on students' sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and dietary intake. Growth and development assessment indicators were measured according to standard protocols. The multivariate generalized linear regression models adjusted for covariates were used to investigate the association between dietary intake and growth and development of pupils.

Results

The generalized linear regression model showed that standing long jump of all pupils (β = -6.735, 95% CI: -12.064, -1.406) and body fat rate (β = -2.650, 95% CI: -4.794, -0.507), fat weight (β = -1.283, 95% CI: -2.286, -0.280) and chest circumference (β = -1.456, 95% CI: -2.789, -0.123) of boys were negatively correlated with dietary diversity score. Among all pupils, meat intake was positively correlated with chest circumference (β = 0.420, 95% CI: 0.119, 0.721) and negatively correlated with standing long jump(β = -1.991, 95% CI: -3.902, -0.080); milk intake was positively correlated with waist circumference (β = 0.470, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.932); soybean intake was negatively correlated with body fat rate (β = -0.583, 95% CI: -1.125, -0.042), fat weight (β = -0.262, 95% CI: -0.517, -0.006), and waist circumference (β = -0.607, 95% CI: -1.050, -0.164); and vegetable intake was negatively correlated with height (β = -0.290, 95% CI: -0.496, -0.084), and positively correlated with stature-sitting height index and waist circumference (p < 0.05). Certain associations retained significance even after stratified analysis based on gender and frequency of dietary intake.

Conclusion

Dietary diversity score and their respective food groups such as meat, milk, coarse grain, soybean and vegetable will impact growth and development indicators, requiring purposefully controlled dietary intake.

Higher ultra processed foods intake is associated with low muscle mass in young to middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study

Design

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a pressing global health concern, prompting investigations into their potential association with low muscle mass in adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 10,255 adults aged 20-59 years who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) during cycles spanning from 2011 to 2018. The primary outcome, low muscle mass, was assessed using the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) definition, employing restricted cubic splines and weighted multivariate regression for analysis. Sensitivity analysis incorporated three other prevalent definitions to explore optimal cut points for muscle quality in the context of sarcopenia.

Results

The weighted prevalence of low muscle mass was 7.65%. Comparing the percentage of UPFs calories intake between individuals with normal and low muscle mass, the values were found to be similar (55.70 vs. 54.62%). Significantly linear associations were observed between UPFs consumption and low muscle mass (P for non-linear = 0.7915, P for total = 0.0117). Upon full adjustment for potential confounding factors, participants with the highest UPFs intake exhibited a 60% increased risk of low muscle mass (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.26, P for trend = 0.003) and a decrease in ALM/BMI (β = -0.0176, 95% CI: -0.0274 to -0.0077, P for trend = 0.003). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the consistency of these associations, except for the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS) definition, where the observed association between the highest quartiles of UPFs (%Kcal) and low muscle mass did not attain statistical significance (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.87, P for trend = 0.082).

Conclusion

Our study underscores a significant linear association between higher UPFs consumption and an elevated risk of low muscle mass in adults. These findings emphasize the potential adverse impact of UPFs on muscle health and emphasize the need to address UPFs consumption as a modifiable risk factor in the context of sarcopenia.

The effect of 8-weeks of combined resistance training and chocolate milk consumption on maximal strength, muscle thickness, peak power and lean mass, untrained, university-aged males

The overarching aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of chocolate milk consumption (500 mL) with 8-week of resistance training on muscle hypertrophy, body composition, and maximal strength in untrained healthy men. A total of 22 Participants were randomly divided into two experimental groups: combined resistance training (3 sessions per week for 8 weeks) and chocolate milk consumptions (include 30 g protein) Resistance Training Chocolate Milk (RTCM) (Age: 20.9 ± 0.9 years old) and resistance training (RT) only (Age: 19.8 ± 0.7 years old). Muscle thickness (MT), using a portable ultrasound, body composition, body mass, maximal strength (one repetition maximum (1 RM), counter movement jump (CMJ) and peak power (PP) were determined at baseline and 8 weeks later. In the RTCM, finding showed a significant improvement in the outcomes compared to the RT group, besides the main effect of time (pre and post). The 1 RM total increased by 36.7% in RTCM group compared to 17.6% increased in the RT group (p &lt; 0.001). Muscle thickness increased by 20.8% in the RTCM group and 9.1% in the RT group (p &lt; 0.001). In the RTCM group, the PP increased by 37.8% compared to only 13.8% increase in the RT group (p = 0.001). The group*time interaction effect was significant for MT, 1RM, CMJ, and PP (p &lt; 0.05), and it was observed that the RTCM and the 8-week resistance training protocol maximized performance. Body fat percentage (%) decreased more in the RTCM (18.9%) group than in the RT (6.7%) group (p = 0.002). In conclusion, chocolate milk (500 mL) with high protein content consumed in addition to resistance training provided superior gains in terms of MT, 1 RM, body composition, CMJ, and PP. The finding of the study demonstrated the positive effect of casein-based protein (chocolate milk) and resistance training on the muscle performance. Chocolate milk consumption has a more positive effect on muscle strength when combined with RT and should be considered as a suitable post-exercise nutritional supplement. Future research could be conducted with a larger number of participants of different ages and longer study durations.