Anti-inflammatory Dietary Interventions and Supplements to Improve Performance during Athletic Training

Health-Related Lifestyles among University Students: Focusing on Eating Habits and Physical Activity

The transition to higher education at University is a critical moment for young adults to acquire unhealthy habits regarding physical activity (PA) and adherence to a healthy diet. Negative behaviors might be maintained in the years to come with a major risk of suffering from a Non-Communicable Disease. This study aims to determine the relationship between diet and PA in the student community of University of Milano-Bicocca. Students between 18 and 30 years old completed an online survey (6949 students). Two analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), chi-square tests of independence, and a binomial logistic regression were performed to examine the relationship between adequacy of food consumption and PA, in association also with sociodemographic characteristics. Data show a strong correlation between behaviors analyzed, with a proportional positive association between PA and healthy diet. Nevertheless, a third of the sample students incur in incorrect habits for both diet and PA. Further, students performing intensive PA have the healthiest food consumption in general but the worst red meat and pork intake. Accordingly, men practice more PA but have a less adequate diet, exactly contrary to women. In conclusion, policies promoting consciousness of well-being would transform Universities into healthy hubs for virtuous habits.

Circulating H-FABP as a biomarker of frailty in patients with chronic heart failure

Increased vulnerability to physiologic stressors, termed frailty, is a common occurrence in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the definite biomarkers to assess frailty in CHF patients are not known. Here, we assessed the frailty phenotype and its potential association with heart failure (HF) markers in CHF patients. We categorized controls (n = 59) and CHF patients (n = 80), the participants, into robust, pre-frail, and frail based on the cardiovascular health study (CHS) frailty index. The plasma levels of HF markers, including tumorigenicity 2 (s-ST2), galectin-3, and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), were measured and correlated with frailty phenotype and cardiac function. The levels of plasma s-ST2, galectin-3, and H-FABP were profoundly elevated in CHF patients. Conversely, the frailty index scores were significantly lower in ischemic and non-ischemic CHF patients versus controls. Of the assessed HF markers, only H-FABP was positively correlated (r2 = 0.07, P = 0.02) with the frailty score in CHF patients. Collectively, these observations suggest that circulating H-FABP may serve as a biomarker of frailty in CHF patients.

Elevated temperature decreases cardiovascular toxicity of nanoplastics but adds to their lethality: A case study during zebrafish (Danio rerio) development

To highlight the key role of global warming on the toxicity of contaminants, the cardiovascular toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) was estimated in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) at different exposure temperatures, and the toxicity mechanisms were explored via multi-omic analyses. Polystyrene NPs (50 nm) at 0.1 mg·L^-1 entered zebrafish embryos at 24 h post-fertilization and caused cardiovascular toxicity in the developing zebrafish at 27 ℃. This was explained by the down-regulation of the branched-chain amino acid and insulin signaling pathways owing to induced oxidative stress. Elevated exposure temperatures promoted the accumulation of NPs in developing zebrafish, increased the levels of oxidative stress and enhanced the oxidative phosphorylation rate in mitochondria, thus resulting in an additive effect on the mortality of zebrafish larvae. Notably, elevated exposure temperatures reduced the cardiovascular toxicity of NPs, as the effective concentration of NPs for inhibiting embryonic heartbeat rate increased from 0.1 mg·L^-1 at 27 ℃ to 1.0 mg·L^-1 at 30 ℃. Experiments of transgenic zebrafish Tg(myl7:GFP) and multi-omic analyses revealed that elevated temperatures enhanced the myocardial contractility of larvae, thus reducing the cardiovascular toxicity of NPs. However, the health risks of enhanced myocardial contraction caused by NP exposure at elevated temperatures requires further consideration.

Plasma Galectin-3 and H-FABP correlate with poor physical performance in patients with congestive heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is often associated with compromised physical capacity in patients. However, it is unclear if established HF markers correlate with the physical performance of patients with congestive HF (CHF). We assessed the left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) and ejection fraction (LVEF) and, physical performance parameters, including short physical performance battery (SPPB), gait speed (GS), and handgrip strength (HGS) in 80 patients with CHF along with 59 healthy controls. Furthermore, levels of plasma HF markers galectin-3 and heart-specific fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) were measured in relation to the severity of HF and physical performance. Irrespective of etiology, significantly greater LVESD and lower LVEF were observed in HF patients versus controls. As expected, the levels of HF markers galectin-3 and H-FABP were upregulated in the CHF patients which were accompanied by significantly elevated levels of plasma zonulin and inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP). The SPPB scores, GS, and HGS were significantly lower in the ischemic and non-ischemic HF patients than controls. The level of galectin-3 was inversely correlated with SPPB scores (r2 = 0.089, P = 0.01) and HGS (r2 = 0.078, P = 0.01). Similarly, H-FABP levels were also inversely correlated with SPPB scores (r2 = 0.06, P = 0.03) and HGS (r2 = 0.109, P = 0.004) in the patients with CHF. Taken together, CHF adversely affects physical performance, and galectin-3 and H-FABP may serve as biomarkers of physical disability in patients with CHF. The robust correlations of galectin-3 and H-FABP with the physical performance parameters and CRP in CHF patients suggest that the poor physical performance may partly be caused due to systemic inflammation.

Inflammatory Profile of Older Adults in Response to Physical Activity and Diet Supplementation: A Systematic Review

Chronic, low-grade inflammation in the elderly, usually known as inflammaging, accelerates the development of age-related diseases, including cancer, obesity, sarcopenia, and cardio-metabolic diseases. Two of the most studied interventions against inflammation are diet supplementation and the regular practice of exercise. The search for this systematic review was performed in Scopus, EBSCO, and PubMed databases within the last 10 years. Only randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of supplementation and exercise against inflammatory markers in older adults were included. After applying eligibility criteria and risk-of-bias assessment, 11 studies were included in the systematic review. In total, 638 participants were analyzed and the main supplements evaluated were amino acid or protein supplementation from different sources. In the counterpart, the exercise applied in the evaluations included strengthening exercises or aerobic training. The interventions had a range of duration between 4 and 24 weeks, and the effects on inflammation markers in most of the studies showed a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and non- or slightly significant change in anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, these results suggest that exercise and supplement interventions can contribute to diminishing the inflammation process in the elderly. We can also conclude that further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the possible synergistic effects of exercise and food supplementation against inflammation in the elderly due to the limited studies that currently exist. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, ID CRD42023387184.

Impacts of Eccentric Resistance Exercise on DNA Methylation of Candidate Genes for Inflammatory Cytokines in Skeletal Muscle and Leukocytes of Healthy Males

Physical inactivity and a poor diet increase systemic inflammation, while chronic inflammation can be reduced through exercise and nutritional interventions. The mechanisms underlying the impacts of lifestyle interventions on inflammation remain to be fully explained; however, epigenetic modifications may be critical. The purpose of our study was to investigate the impacts of eccentric resistance exercise and fatty acid supplementation on DNA methylation and mRNA expression of TNF and IL6 in skeletal muscle and leukocytes. Eight non-resistance exercise-trained males completed three bouts of isokinetic eccentric contractions of the knee extensors. The first bout occurred at baseline, the second occurred following a three-week supplementation of either omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid or extra virgin olive oil and the final bout occurred after eight-weeks of eccentric resistance training and supplementation. Acute exercise decreased skeletal muscle TNF DNA methylation by 5% (p = 0.031), whereas IL6 DNA methylation increased by 3% (p = 0.01). Leukocyte DNA methylation was unchanged following exercise (p > 0.05); however, three hours post-exercise the TNF DNA methylation decreased by 2% (p = 0.004). In skeletal muscle, increased TNF and IL6 mRNA expression levels were identified immediately post-exercise (p < 0.027); however, the leukocyte mRNA expression was unchanged. Associations between DNA methylation and markers of exercise performance, inflammation and muscle damage were identified (p < 0.05). Acute eccentric resistance exercise is sufficient to induce tissue-specific DNA methylation modifications to TNF and IL6; however, neither eccentric training nor supplementation was sufficient to further modify the DNA methylation.

Functional Properties of Meat in Athletes’ Performance and Recovery

Physical activity (PA) and sport play an essential role in promoting body development and maintaining optimal health status both in the short and long term. Despite the benefits, a long-lasting heavy training can promote several detrimental physiological changes, including transitory immune system malfunction, increased inflammation, and oxidative stress, which manifest as exercise-induced muscle damages (EIMDs). Meat and derived products represent a very good source of bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Bioactive molecules represent dietary compounds that can interact with one or more components of live tissue, resulting in a wide range of possible health consequences such as immune-modulating, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, and antioxidative activities. The health benefits of meat have been well established and have been extensively reviewed elsewhere, although a growing number of studies found a significant positive effect of meat molecules on exercise performance and recovery of muscle function. Based on the limited research, meat could be an effective post-exercise food that results in favorable muscle protein synthesis and metabolic performance.

Validation of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire to Measure Dietary Intake of a Selection of Micronutrients in Oncology Patients Undergoing Systemic Therapy

Dietary intake, specifically consumption of anti-inflammatory micronutrients, can play a role in both cancer initiation as well as the treatment-related outcomes experienced by patients receiving systemic cancer therapy. Increasing research is being conducted to determine whether micronutrient supplementation can aid in altering the tumor microenvironment (TME), reducing inflammatory side effects and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). However, further research pertaining to the adequacy of dietary micronutrient intake is indicated in the oncology cohort. Currently, no tool measuring dietary intakes of various micronutrients exists in the oncology population. In this study, a 21-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) measuring intakes of 14 different micronutrients was validated using diet history as the reference method in 112 oncology patients. Bland Altman plot and Passing Bablok regression analysis were conducted to determine agreement between the two methods. The results showed adequate agreement between FFQ and diet history for 12 nutrients including copper, iron, vitamins A, E, and D, alpha linolenic acid (ALA), long-chain omega 3 fatty acids (LC n3-FA), arginine, glutamic acid, isoleucine, leucine, and valine. This 21-item FFQ, which takes an average of 10 min to complete, can be utilized as a quick screening tool to determine adequacy for 12 different micronutrients in place of a diet history.

Identification of Urinary Biomarkers for Exercise-Induced Immunosuppression by iTRAQ Proteomics

Purpose

To identify noninvasive immune biomarkers of exercise-induced immunosuppression using the iTRAQ proteomics technique.

Methods

Fifteen healthy males were recruited and subjected to a four-week incremental treadmill running training program. After each week of training, WBC counts and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes were measured to monitor the immune function status. iTRAQ proteomics technology was used to identify differential proteins and their characteristics in urine.

Results

Our data showed that the WBC counts, CD4⁺ lymphocytes, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio decreased by more than 10% after four weeks of training, suggesting exercise-induced immunosuppression. A total of 1854 proteins were identified in urine during the incremental running using the iTRAQ technology. Compared with the urine before training, there were 89, 52, 77, and 148 proteins significantly upregulated and 66, 27, 68, and 114 proteins significantly downregulated after each week, respectively. Among them, four upregulated proteins, SEMG-1, PIP, PDGFRL, and NDPK, increased their abundance with the increased exercise intensity. Bioinformatics analysis indicates that these proteins are involved in stress response and immune function.

Conclusion

Four weeks of incremental treadmill running induced immunosuppression in healthy males. By using iTRAQ proteomics, four proteins in the urine, SEMG-1, PIP, PDGFRL, and NDPK, were found to increase incrementally with the increased exercise intensity, which have the potential to be used as noninvasive immune biomarkers of exercise-induced immunosuppression.

Genipin, a natural AKT inhibitor, targets the PH domain to affect downstream signaling and alleviates inflammation

The iridoid compound genipin (GNP) is a geniposide hydrolysate of β-glucosidase. GNP has many pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammation effects. However, its exact target and mechanism of action remain poorly understood. In this study, the binding of GNP to AKT protein was demonstrated via a GNP-modified magnetic microspheres (GNP-MMs) capture and immunofluorescence co-localization test. GNP-MMs fishing coupled with competitive testing and AKT plasma transport experiments indicate that GNP may act on the PH domain of AKT, and affect AKT plasma transport. The specific binding directly inhibits phosphorylation of AKT, affecting the downstream activation, and reducing inflammatory responses. The results indicate that GNP targets the PH domain region of AKT, inhibits the phosphorylation of AKT, and attenuates the transduction of AKT based inflammation signal pathway.

Effects of almond, dried grape and dried cranberry consumption on endurance exercise performance, recovery and psychomotor speed: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Background

Foods rich in nutrients, such as nitrate, nitrite, L-arginine and polyphenols, can promote the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which may induce ergogenic effects on endurance exercise performance. Thus, consuming foods rich in these components, such as almonds, dried grapes and dried cranberries (AGC), may improve athletic performance. Additionally, the antioxidant properties of these foods may reduce oxidative damage induced by intense exercise, thus improving recovery and reducing fatigue from strenuous physical training. Improvements in NO synthesis may also promote cerebral blood flow, which may improve cognitive function.

Methods and analysis

Ninety-six trained male cyclists or triathletes will be randomised to consume ~2550 kJ of either a mixture of AGC or a comparator snack food (oat bar) for 4 weeks during an overreaching endurance training protocol comprised of a 2-week heavy training phase, followed by a 2-week taper. The primary outcome is endurance exercise performance (5 min time-trial performance) and secondary outcomes include markers of NO synthesis (plasma and urinary nitrites and nitrates), muscle damage (serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase), oxidative stress (F2-isoprostanes), endurance exercise function (exercise efficiency, submaximal oxygen consumption and substrate utilisation), markers of internal training load (subjective well-being, rating of perceived exertion, maximal rate of heart rate increase and peak heart rate) and psychomotor speed (choice reaction time).

Conclusion

This study will evaluate whether consuming AGC improves endurance exercise performance, recovery and psychomotor speed across an endurance training programme, and evaluate the mechanisms responsible for any improvement.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12618000360213.

Effects of Protein Versus Carbohydrate Supplementation on Markers of Immune Response in Master Triathletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: This study examines the long-term effects of ingesting hydrolyzed beef protein versus carbohydrate on indirect markers of immunity during 10 weeks of endurance training in master-aged triathletes (n = 16, age 35-60 years). Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either a hydrolyzed beef protein (PRO, n = 8) or nonprotein isoenergetic carbohydrate (CHO, n = 8) condition, which consisted of ingesting 20 g of each supplement, mixed with water, once a day immediately post workout, or before breakfast on nontraining days. Salivary human neutrophil peptides (HNP1-3) were measured before and after performing an incremental endurance test to volitional exhaustion at both pre and post intervention. Additionally, baseline levels of platelets, neutrophils, eosinophil basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes were determined at pre and post intervention. Results: No significant changes in baseline concentration and secretion rate of salivary HNP1-3 were observed for either treatment. The CHO group showed a nonsignificant decrease in resting HNP1-3 concentrations following the intervention (p = 0.052, effect size d = 0.53). Protein supplementation demonstrated a significant reduction in lymphocyte counts pre to post intervention (mean [SD]: 2.30 [0.57] vs. 1.93 [0.45] 10³/mm³, p = 0.046, d = 0.77), along with a moderate but not statistically significant increase (d = 0.75, p = 0.051) of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Conclusions: In master-aged triathletes, postworkout ingestion of only protein, with no carbohydrate, may not be as effective as carbohydrate alone to attenuate negative long-term changes of some salivary and cellular immunological markers. Future studies should consider the co-ingestion of both macronutrients.

Clinical and laboratory factors contributing to uninterpretable beryllium lymphocyte proliferation tests (BeLPT)

BACKGROUND

The beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT), has become the principal clinical test for detecting beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease. Uninterpretable BeLPT results can occur in a small but significant proportion of tests from poor lymphocyte growth (PG) or over proliferation of lymphocytes (OP). The clinical and laboratory causes of uninterpretable results are not known.

METHODS

BeLPT data from the US Department of Energy-supported Former Worker Screening Program were analyzed for a 10-year period. Drivers of uninterpretable BeLPTs were investigated using multivariable models and classification techniques.

RESULTS

Three participant attributes were significantly associated with PG, while OP showed no significant associations. Serum lot for the lymphocyte growth medium accounted for 21% of the variation in PG and 16% in OP.

CONCLUSION

Serum lots influence the likelihood of having uninterpretable BeLPT. To better understand uninterpretable results and possibly reduce their occurrence, additional laboratory-related factors should be addressed.

Comparison of the effects of two antioxidant diets on oxidative stress markers in triathletes

Intense exercise generates an imbalance in the redox system. However, chronic exercise can yield antioxidant adaptations. A few studies with humans have investigated the effects of antioxidant diets on athletes. Therefore we compared the effects of two dietary interventions on oxidative stress in competitive triathletes. Thirteen male triathletes were selected and divided into 2 groups: one that had a regular antioxidant diet (RE-diet) and the other that had a high antioxidant diet (AO-diet). The diet period was 14 days and blood samples were collected before and after this period. The AO-diet provided twice the dietary reference intake (DRI) of α-tocopherol (30 mg), five times the DRI of ascorbic acid (450 mg), and twice the DRI of vitamin A (1800 g), while the RE-diet provided the DRI of α-tocopherol (15 mg), twice the DRI of ascorbic acid (180 mg) and the DRI of vitamin A (900 μg). The oxidative stress parameters evaluated were: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP), total sulfhydryl, carbonyl, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, hydrogen peroxide consumption and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. We observed, after the diet period, an increase in sulfhydryl, TRAP, TBARS and SOD activity, and a decrease in carbonyl levels. However, no changes were found in hydrogen peroxide consumption or GPx activity. We concluded that antioxidant-enriched diets can improve the redox status of triathletes.

Tocotrienols: the unsaturated sidekick shifting new paradigms in vitamin E therapeutics

Vitamin E family members: tocotrienols and tocopherols are widely known for their health benefits. Decades of research on tocotrienols have shown they have diverse biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective and skin protection benefits, as well as improved cognition, bone health, longevity and reduction of cholesterol levels in plasma. Tocotrienols also modulate several intracellular molecular targets and, most importantly, have been shown to improve lipid profiles, reduce total cholesterol and reduce the volume of white matter lesions in human clinical trials. This review provides a comprehensive update on the little-known therapeutic potentials of tocotrienols, which tocopherols lack in a variety of inflammation-driven diseases.