Grape Resveratrol Increases Serum Adiponectin and Downregulates Inflammatory Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: A Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, One-Year Clinical Trial in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.[Purpose] The grape and wine polyphenol resveratrol exerts cardiovascular benefits but evidence from randomized human clinical trials is very limited. We investigated dose-depending effects of a resveratrol-containing grape supplement on stable patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) treated according to currently accepted guidelines for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.[Methods] In a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, one-year follow-up, 3-arm pilot clinical trial, 75 stable-CAD patients received 350 mg/day of placebo, resveratrol-containing grape extract (grape phenolics plus 8 mg resveratrol) or conventional grape extract lacking resveratrol during 6 months, and a double dose for the following 6 months. Changes in circulating inflammatory and fibrinolytic biomarkers were analyzed. Moreover, the transcriptional profiling of inflammatory genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was explored using microarrays and functional gene expression analysis.[Results] After 1 year, in contrast to the placebo and conventional grape extract groups, the resveratrol-containing grape extract group showed an increase of the anti-inflammatory serum adiponectin (9.6 %, p = 0.01) and a decrease of the thrombogenic plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) (−18.6 %, p = 0.05). In addition, 6 key inflammation-related transcription factors were predicted to be significantly activated or inhibited, with 27 extracellular-space acting genes involved in inflammation, cell migration and T-cell interaction signals presenting downregulation (p < 0.05) in PBMCs. No adverse effects were detected in relation to the study products.[Conclusions] Chronic daily consumption of a resveratrol-containing grape nutraceutical could exert cardiovascular benefits in stable-CAD patients treated according to current evidence-based standards, by increasing serum adiponectin, preventing PAI-1 increase and inhibiting atherothrombotic signals in PBMCs.This study was supported by public funds: Projects CICYT-BFU2007-60576 and Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (CSD2007-00063, Fun-C-Food) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) and GERM-06-04486 (Fundación Séneca, Murcia, Spain). Dr. Tomé-Carneiro received a FPI grant from MICINN and Dr. Larrosa received a JAE-DOC contract from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC, Spain).Peer reviewe

Effect of a protein supplement on the gut microbiota of endurance athletes: A randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study

Nutritional supplements are popular among athletes to improve performance and physical recovery. Protein supplements fulfill this function by improving performance and increasing muscle mass; however, their effect on other organs or systems is less well known. Diet alterations can induce gut microbiota imbalance, with beneficial or deleterious consequences for the host. To test this, we performed a randomized pilot study in cross-country runners whose diets were complemented with a protein supplement (whey isolate and beef hydrolysate) (n = 12) or maltodextrin (control) (n = 12) for 10 weeks. Microbiota, water content, pH, ammonia, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed in fecal samples, whereas malondialdehyde levels (oxidative stress marker) were determined in plasma and urine. Fecal pH, water content, ammonia, and SCFA concentrations did not change, indicating that protein supplementation did not increase the presence of these fermentation-derived metabolites. Similarly, it had no impact on plasma or urine malondialdehyde levels; however, it increased the abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum and decreased the presence of health-related taxa including Roseburia, Blautia, and Bifidobacterium longum. Thus, long-term protein supplementation may have a negative impact on gut microbiota. Further research is needed to establish the impact of protein supplements on gut microbiota

Different Psychophysiological Responses to a High-intensity Repetition Session Performed Alone or in a Group by Elite Middle-distance Runners

Internal training load refers to the degree of disturbance in psychophysiological homeostasis provoked by a training session and has been traditionally measured through session-RPE, which is the product of the session Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and the duration. External training load refers to the actual physical work completed, and depends on session volume, intensity, frequency and density. Drafting, which is achieved by running closely behind another runner has been demonstrated to reduce the energy cost of running at a fixed speed and to improve performance. Therefore, it is hypothesized that psychophysiological responses might reflect different levels of internal load if training is performed individually or collectively. 16 elite middle-distance runners performed two high-intensity training sessions consisting of 4 repetitions of 500 m separated by 3 minutes of active recovery. Sessions were performed individually and collectively. Times for each repetition, RPE, core affect (valence and felt arousal) and blood lactate concentrations [BLa] were measured after each repetition. Main time effect was significant and increased across repetitions for [BLa] and RPE (p <0.001), and decreased for valence (p =0.001). Main group effect was significant and values were higher when training individually for [BLa] (p =0.003) and RPE (p =0.001), and lower for valence (p =0.001). No differential responses were found between conditions in terms of repeat time or felt arousal. Findings demonstrate that elite middle-distance athletes running collectively display lower levels of internal training load compared to running alone, despite external training load being similar

Associations between chronic exposure to bisphenols and parabens and gut microbiota in children

Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The AuthorsBisphenols and parabens are endocrine-disrupting chemicals widely used in food packaging and personal care products. Early-life exposure to these compounds has been associated with adverse health effects, but their potential role in modulating the gut microbiota during childhood remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between chronic exposure to bisphenols and parabens and gut microbiota diversity, composition, and function in children. A cross-sectional study in 97 Spanish children aged 4–12 year was conducted. Bisphenols and parabens in hair were quantified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS). Gut microbiota composition was assessed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and functional potential was inferred using PICRUSt2. Associations were explored using linear regression and random forest models, adjusting for age and sex. Total bisphenols and parabens were detected in 100 % of the children, with median concentrations of 311.33 ng/g and 1904.11 ng/g, respectively. No significant differences in overall gut microbiota diversity were observed between children with low and high exposure levels to bisphenols and parabens. However, regression models revealed associations between specific microbial genera and individual compounds. Additionally, bisphenol S was negatively associated with a predicted microbial pathway involved in methionine metabolism. Notably, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001 emerged as a predictive genus for propylparaben exposure. Although gut microbiota composition was similar across exposure levels, specific taxa and functional pathways were linked to chronic bisphenol and paraben exposure. These findings support the need for further research on the health implications of early-life exposure to these endocrine-disrupting chemicals.Peer reviewe

Intake of animal protein blend plus carbohydrate improves body composition with no impact on performance in endurance athletes

The impact of animal blend protein supplements in endurance athletes is scarcely researched. We investigated the effect of ingesting an admixture providing orange juice and protein from beef and whey versus carbohydrate alone on body composition and performance over a 10-week training period in male endurance athletes. Participants were randomly assigned to a protein (CHO+PRO, n=15) or a non-protein isoenergetic carbohydrate (CHO, n=15) group. Twenty grams of supplement mixed with orange juice was ingested post-workout or before breakfast on non-training days. Measurements were performed pre- and post-intervention on body composition (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), and maximal aerobic speed (MAS). Twenty-five participants (CHO+PRO, n=12; CHO, n=13) completed the study. Only the CHO+PRO group significantly (p<0.05) reduced whole body fat (mean}SD) (-1.02 } 0.6 kg), total trunk fat (-0.81 } 0.9 kg) and increased total lower body lean mass (+0.52 } 0.7 kg), showing close to statistically significant increases of whole-body lean mass (+0.57 } 0.8 kg, p=0.055). Both groups reduced (p<0.05) visceral fat (CHO+PRO, -0.03 } 0.1 kg; CHO, -0.03 } 0.5 kg) and improved the speed at MAS (CHO+PRO, +0.56 } 0.5 km.h-1; CHO, +0.35 }0.5 km.h-1). Although consuming animal blend protein mixed with orange juice over 10 weeks helped to reduce fat mass and to increase lean mass, no additional performance benefits in endurance runners were observed

Acute Impacts of Different Types of Exercise on Circulating α-Klotho Protein Levels

[EN] Elevated plasma α-klotho (αKl) protects against several ageing phenotypes and has been proposed as a biomarker of a good prognosis for different diseases. The beneficial health effects of elevated plasma levels of soluble αKl (SαKl) have been likened to the positive effects of exercise on ageing and chronic disease progression. It has also been established that molecular responses and adaptations differ according to exercise dose. The aim of this study is to compare the acute SαKl response to different exercise interventions, cardiorespiratory, and strength exercise in healthy, physically active men and to examine the behavior of SαKl 72h after acute strength exercise.S

Differences in gut microbiota profile between women with active lifestyle and sedentary women

Artículos en revistasLa actividad física en dosis bajas pero de forma continua puede incrementar la abundancia de bacterias que promueven cambios positivos en la salud (Bifidobacterium spp, R. hominis, A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii). A pesar de no encontrar aumentos en la riqueza de la microbiota, encontramos una asociación inversa entre parámetros relacionados con el sedentarismo y la riqueza de la microbiota (número especies y los índices de Shannon y Simpson).The results presented here together with previous findings show that physical activity modulates the microbiota profile. Our results indicate that physical activity performed at low doses but continuously can increase the abundance of health-promoting bacteria (Bifidobacterium spp, R. hominis, A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii) in the microbiota. Although we failed to findan increase in microbiota richness, we found an inverse association between sedentary parameters and microbiota richness (number of species, and Shannon and Simpson indices), which might indicate that perhaps not only is the dose and mode of exercise important, but also the pattern of exercise, such as breaks in sedentary time, avoiding long periods of inactivity in daily life, to induce changes in gut microbiota.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of a Blend of Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Bixa orellana L. Herbal Supplement on the Recovery of Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness Induced by Unaccustomed Eccentric Resistance Training: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

[EN] Background: There is an increasing interest in the use of eccentric muscle exercise to improve physical condition, especially with regards to its health-related benefits. However, it is known that unaccustomed eccentric exercise causes muscle damage and delayed pain, commonly defined as “delayed onset muscle soreness” (DOMS). The efficacy of herbal preparations in subjects suffering from DOMS has been reported in a few previous studies with small or moderate outcome measures related to muscle recovery. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a polyherbal mixture containing whole Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Bixa orellana L., powders called ReWin(d), in young male athletes suffering from DOMS induced by a 1 h session of plyometric exercises.Methods: Thirty-three young male athletes participated in this randomized, Triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial: 17 of them assigned to the ReWin(d) group and 16 of them to the placebo group. Creatine kinase (CK) was measured as a muscle damage marker, pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), muscle performance was measured through half-squat exercise (HS) monitored with an accelerometer (Encoder), and heart rate variability (HRV) was monitored for 5 min with the subjects in the supine position. All determinations were performed before and after the eccentric session and 24, 48, and 72 h after the session.Results: The eccentric exercise session caused an increase in CK at 24 and 48 h after exercise intervention in both groups (p < 0.001). There was no interaction between groups regarding muscle damage. The pain increased after the training session in both groups (p < 0.001), and a significant interaction was observed between groups at 48 h after exercise (p = 0.004). Lower limb muscular power showed a significant interaction between groups 24 h after exercise (p = 0.049); the placebo group showed a reduction in muscle power compared to the ReWin(d) group. The LF/HF ratio decreased significantly at 72 h after exercise in the herbal group but not in the placebo group.Conclusion: The herbal supplement maintained the maximum power of the lower limbs and attenuated muscle pain.SIThis work was supported by the Natural Origin grant and conducted in the Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spai

Industrial-produced lemon nanovesicles ameliorate experimental colitis-associated damages in rats via the activation of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses and microbiota modification

Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) have recently emerged as natural delivery systems of biofunctional compounds toward mammalian cells. Considering their already described composition, anti-inflammatory properties, stability, and low toxicity, PDNVs offer a promising path for developing new preventive strategies for several inflammatory diseases, among which the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we explore the protective effects of industrially produced lemon vesicles (iLNVs) in a rat model of IBD. Characterization of iLNVs reveals the presence of small particles less than 200 nm in size and a profile of bioactive compounds enriched in flavonoids and organic acids with known beneficial properties. In vitro studies on human macrophages confirm the safety and anti-inflammatory effects of iLNVs, as evidenced by the reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased levels of anti-inflammatory markers. As evidenced by in vivo experiments, pre-treatment with iLNVs significantly alleviates symptoms and histological features in 2,4 dinitrobenzensulfuric acid (DNBS)-induced colitis in rats. Molecular pathway analysis reveals modulation of NF-κB and Nrf2, indicating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Finally, iLNVs affects gut microbiota composition, improving the consistent colitis-related alterations. Overall, we demonstrated the protective role of industrially produced lemon nanovesicles against colitis and emphasized their potential in managing IBD through multifaceted mechanisms

Chronic flavanol-rich cocoa powder supplementation reduces body fat mass in endurance athletes by modifying the follistatin/ myostatin ratio and leptin levels

Flavonols-rich cocoa has positive effects on lipid metabolism and might enhance the performance of athletes through an improvement in their body composition. To test this hypothesis a placebo-controlled intervention study in training endurance athletes who received 5 g of cocoa daily (425 mg of flavan-3-ols) for 10 weeks was performed. Dietary intake, body composition, exercise performance and plasma levels of follistatin, myostatin and leptin were measured. Cocoa intake significantly reduced body fat percentage (p = 0.020), specifically in the trunk (p = 0.022), visceral area (p = 0.034) and lower limbs (p = 0.004). The reduction in body fat mass was accompanied by an increase in plasma follistatin and a decrease in leptin, while myostatin levels remained unchanged. The intake of cocoa reduced the percentage of body fat of athletes, without any impact on athletes' performance. The change in fat body composition did not improve athletes' performance