Association Between Vitamin E and Handgrip Strength in the Korean General Population in KNHANES VII (2018)

Evaluation of personal water footprint components in Turkey: factors associated with obesity and food consumption

This study aimed to evaluate the personal water footprint individuals, and was conducted with 3431 individuals İbetween 18-95 years. A questionnaire form included questions about demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and food consumption was applied. The "Extended Water Footprint Calculator" was used to evaluate the personal water footprint, and various questions were asked to determine the components of food consumption, domestic water, and industrial water use. The average age of the participants was 34.6 ± 13.93 years. The total water footprint of the male was significantly higher than the female. The total water footprint of individuals between the ages of 41-64 was higher than other age groups, and also obese individuals had the highest total water footprint (p < 0.05). Meat and meat products contributed the most to the total water footprint. Having a normal body weight and adopting more sustainable dietary patterns should be emphasized because of their impacts on the environment and health.

Narrative Review of Sex Differences in Muscle Strength, Endurance, Activation, Size, Fiber Type, and Strength Training Participation Rates, Preferences, Motivations, Injuries, and Neuromuscular Adaptations

ABSTRACT

Nuzzo, JL. Narrative review of sex differences in muscle strength, endurance, activation, size, fiber type, and strength training participation rates, preferences, motivations, injuries, and neuromuscular adaptations. J Strength Cond Res 37(2): 494-536, 2023-Biological sex and its relation with exercise participation and sports performance continue to be discussed. Here, the purpose was to inform such discussions by summarizing the literature on sex differences in numerous strength training-related variables and outcomes-muscle strength and endurance, muscle mass and size, muscle fiber type, muscle twitch forces, and voluntary activation; strength training participation rates, motivations, preferences, and practices; and injuries and changes in muscle size and strength with strength training. Male subjects become notably stronger than female subjects around age 15 years. In adults, sex differences in strength are more pronounced in upper-body than lower-body muscles and in concentric than eccentric contractions. Greater male than female strength is not because of higher voluntary activation but to greater muscle mass and type II fiber areas. Men participate in strength training more frequently than women. Men are motivated more by challenge, competition, social recognition, and a desire to increase muscle size and strength. Men also have greater preference for competitive, high-intensity, and upper-body exercise. Women are motivated more by improved attractiveness, muscle "toning," and body mass management. Women have greater preference for supervised and lower-body exercise. Intrasexual competition, mate selection, and the drive for muscularity are likely fundamental causes of exercise behaviors in men and women. Men and women increase muscle size and strength after weeks of strength training, but women experience greater relative strength improvements depending on age and muscle group. Men exhibit higher strength training injury rates. No sex difference exists in strength loss and muscle soreness after muscle-damaging exercise.

Folic Acid Is Related to Muscle Strength and Vitamin A Is Related to Health-Related Quality of Life: Results of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII 2016-2018)

This study investigated how folic acid affects muscle strength and the effects of vitamin A on quality of life in adults. Baseline data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII 2016–2018) was used to find 6112 adults (ages 19–80) meeting study criteria. The participants were divided into three groups: young adults (ages 19–39), middle-aged (ages 40–64), and elderly (≥65 years). Muscle strength was measured using a digital grip strength dynamometer. The EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire measured quality of life. Associations were assessed using multivariate regression and logistic regression. Vitamins and handgrip strength were divided into low and high groups based on the mean. Although vitamin A and folate levels were related to handgrip strength in all subjects, regression demonstrated a significant association between folate and handgrip strength in the elderly. The odds ratios (OR) of higher handgrip strength were statistically significant for elderly participants with high levels of folate compared to those with low levels (OR: 1.55). Vitamin A was associated with quality of life, especially in the self-care dimension for the elderly. Further longitudinal research is needed to examine the relationship between vitamins and muscle strength, as well as vitamins and quality of life.