Polyphenols as Therapeutic Approach to High Altitude Mediated Skeletal Muscle Impairments

Skeletal muscle impairments at high altitudes resulted into various consequences in un-acclimatised individuals thus hampering their physical activities by imposing severe oxidative stress, skeletal muscle atrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction/autophagy, and regeneration disability. Researchers have described many natural and synthetic supplements to alleviate oxidative stress-induced muscle impairments. In this review article we are focusing on the skeletal muscle impairments and their alleviation by using natural polyphenols. Polyphenols are plant-based compounds showing anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties like Curcumin, Catechins, Resveratrol, Quercetin and Salidrosides appear to mainly act by reversing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction eventually ameliorate skeletal muscle impairments under various imposed pathological conditions. This review also drew attention on the molecular targets of polyphenols and their possible therapeutic effects in preventing HA induced muscle impairments. Unavailability of suitable intervention, there is a need to find a probable solution having highly protective anti-atrophic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory properties with the tint of performance enhancer

Effects of nutritional supplements on the immune function of athletes

Prolonged exercise has been associated with depressed immune function, and hence an increased risk of infection. However, several nutritional supplements may reduce or overcome this problem. Thus, the aims of this thesis were to investigate the effects of some nutritional supplements on athletes immune function. In study 1 (Chapter 3), effects of several vaccine stimulant dose on whole blood culture cytokine production was carried out to determine effective vaccine stimulant dose; which was found to be between a dilution of 4000 (dose 4) and 1000 (dose 6) of the original vaccine. This finding was used for the other studies (Chapter 4 and 5). In addition, the relationship between data obtained from Evidence Investigator analyser and enzyme linked-immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-10 was analysed and the results show a positive strong correlation between them. In study 2 (Chapter 4), in vitro effects of various immunomodulatory nutritional compounds on antigen-stimulated whole blood culture cytokine production was investigated and it was found that caffeine and quercetin showed tendency towards decrease cytokine production as the doses were increased. On the other hand, an upward trend was evident with kaloba, where high dose of kaloba seemed to increase the cytokine production. Since kaloba appeared to act as an immunostimulant in vitro, its effects on the immune response to prolonged exercise were examined in study 3 (Chapter 5). However, 7 days kaloba supplementation (20 mg of the root extract) did not alter athletes immune response although prolonged moderate intensity exercise significantly decreased S-IgA secretion rate and concentration post-exercise with the values returning to baseline by 1 h post-exercise. A 14-strain probiotic supplement effects on salivary antimicrobial proteins at rest and in response to an acute bout of prolonged exercise was investigated in study 4 (Chapter 6). Unfortunately, 30 days supplementation of the 14-strain probiotic appeared not enough to induce any significant effects on salivary antimicrobial proteins. Lastly, in study 5 (Chapter 7), the effects of a Lactobacillus probiotic on healthy people, who tend to have a higher than normal incidence of infection due to exercise stress-induced immune impairment was studied. In summary, this 16-week intervention study on 267 athletes found that regular ingestion of the probiotic reduced the extent to which training was negatively affected in endurance athletes when infection was present, and increased both S-IgA concentration and secretion rate over time. But it did not appear to reduce URTI incidence or the duration and severity of URTI episodes. Two major confounding factors, namely the unexpectedly low incidence of URTI during the winter period and the lower baseline S-IgA in the probiotic group may have prevented potential beneficial effects of probiotic supplementation from being identified

Cancer Related Anemia: An Integrated Multitarget Approach and Lifestyle Interventions

Cancer is often accompanied by worsening of the patient's iron profile, and the resulting anemia could be a factor that negatively impacts antineoplastic treatment efficacy and patient survival. The first line of therapy is usually based on oral or intravenous iron supplementation; however, many patients remain anemic and do not respond. The key might lie in the pathogenesis of the anemia itself. Cancer-related anemia (CRA) is characterized by a decreased circulating serum iron concentration and transferrin saturation despite ample iron stores, pointing to a more complex problem related to iron homeostatic regulation and additional factors such as chronic inflammatory status. This review explores our current understanding of iron homeostasis in cancer, shedding light on the modulatory role of hepcidin in intestinal iron absorption, iron recycling, mobilization from liver deposits, and inducible regulators by infections and inflammation. The underlying relationship between CRA and systemic low-grade inflammation will be discussed, and an integrated multitarget approach based on nutrition and exercise to improve iron utilization by reducing low-grade inflammation, modulating the immune response, and supporting antioxidant mechanisms will also be proposed. Indeed, a Mediterranean-based diet, nutritional supplements and exercise are suggested as potential individualized strategies and as a complementary approach to conventional CRA therapy

An Integrated Approach to Skeletal Muscle Health in Aging

A decline in muscle mass and function represents one of the most problematic changes associated with aging, and has dramatic effects on autonomy and quality of life. Several factors contribute to the inexorable process of sarcopenia, such as mitochondrial and autophagy dysfunction, and the lack of regeneration capacity of satellite cells. The physiologic decline in muscle mass and in motoneuron functionality associated with aging is exacerbated by the sedentary lifestyle that accompanies elderly people. Regular physical activity is beneficial to most people, but the elderly need well-designed and carefully administered training programs that improve muscle mass and, consequently, both functional ability and quality of life. Aging also causes alteration in the gut microbiota composition associated with sarcopenia, and some advances in research have elucidated that interventions via the gut microbiota-muscle axis have the potential to ameliorate the sarcopenic phenotype. Several mechanisms are involved in vitamin D muscle atrophy protection, as demonstrated by the decreased muscular function related to vitamin D deficiency. Malnutrition, chronic inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, and an imbalance in the muscle-gut axis are just a few of the factors that can lead to sarcopenia. Supplementing the diet with antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, proteins, kefir, and short-chain fatty acids could be potential nutritional therapies against sarcopenia. Finally, a personalized integrated strategy to counteract sarcopenia and maintain the health of skeletal muscles is suggested in this review

Dietary factors, epigenetic modifications and obesity outcomes: Progresses and perspectives

Nutritional factors play a life-long role in human health. Indeed, there is growing evidence that one of the mechanisms by which nutrients and bioactive compounds affect metabolic traits is epigenetics. Complex interactions among food components and histone modifications, DNA methylation, non-coding RNA expression and chromatin remodeling factors lead to a dynamic regulation of gene expression that controls the cellular phenotype. Although perinatal period is the time of highest phenotypic plasticity, contributing largely to developmental programming, also during adulthood there is evidence about a nutritional influence on epigenetic regulation. Similarly to type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis and other metabolic disorders, obesity predisposition and weight loss outcomes have been repeatedly associated to changes in epigenetic patterns. Different non-nutritional risk factors that usually accompany obesity seem also to be involved in these epigenetic modifications, especially hyperglycemia, inflammation, hypoxia and oxidative stress. There are currently three major objectives in epigenetic research in relation to obesity: to search for epigenetic biomarkers to predict future health problems or detect the individuals at most risk, to understand the obesity-related environmental factors that could modulate gene expression by affecting epigenetic mechanisms, and to study novel therapeutic strategies based on nutritional or pharmacological agents that can modify epigenetic marks. At this level, the major tasks are: development of robust epigenetic biomarkers of weight regulation, description of those epigenetic marks more susceptible to be modified by dietary exposures, identification of the active ingredients (and the doses) that alter the epigenome, assessment of the real importance of other obesity-related factors on epigenetic regulation, determination of the period of life in which best results are obtained, and understanding the importance of the inheritance of these epigenetic marks

Nutrition and Athletic Performance

Exercise necessitates increased energy production to match the elevated demand of physical activity, the magnitude of which varies significantly by activity, sport, and/or athletic position. While long term nutritional habitus is known to impact exercise performance, short term or acute nutritional strategies may also prove beneficial, or detrimental, to athletic performance. Modifications to macro- or micro-nutrient intakes likely influence athletic capacity through the altered metabolic capacity, although cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurocognitive effects are not to be discounted as possibly being influenced by altering the nutritional approach. Similarly, dietary supplementation with factors such as probiotics or antioxidants, either acutely or chronically, is also a likely avenue in which to optimize athletic performance. Supplementation, or the timing of supplementation, diurnally or with activity, may help to bridge gaps between dietary intakes and needs, perhaps as a result of either an inadequate intake and/or high level of athletic demand via high intensity, frequency, volume, or a combination thereof. Altering nutritional strategy for athletic performance is a de facto approach employed by athletes, often occurring seemingly independent of knowledge or evidence for or against a particular strategy. Rigorous studies of nutritional manipulation, supplementation, or those exploring the temporal optimization of nutrition or supplementation are desperately needed in an ever-changing sports nutrition landscape with an increasingly larger audience

Metabolic profiling of firefighter plasma using 1H NMR platform following curcumin, ketone supplementations and carbohydrate restricted diet benefits for oxidative stress suppression

Occupational health surveys reported that first responders such as firefighters (FF) have some of the highest levels of cardiovascular disease in the nation from poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Three studies were established with goals to identify oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers and improve cardiovascular health for FF including: 1) a 28-day-carbohydrate restricted diet (CRD), 2) a heat-house search and clear protocol in personal protection equipment (PPE) plus curcumin supplementation, and 3) a treadmill exercise protocol in PPE with ketone salt supplementation. During those studies, stored blood plasma subsamples were evaluated for targeted antioxidants or untargeted metabolite concentration fluctuations using 1H NMR. Results from the 28-day-CRD tracked 40 metabolites consistently pre- and post-diet using 1H NMR platform. Of these metabolites’ acetone, β-hydroxybutyrate, leucine, and valine significantly upregulated while isoleucine downregulated. The plasma from the curcumin supplementation study contained 34 metabolites that were consistently identified. Lactate significantly upregulated immediate after exercise but returned to pre-exercise levels at 30 min post exercise while all the other metabolites were similar. From the ketone salt study 38 metabolites that were consistently identified from the pre- and post-exercise samples. Mean concentrations of acetone and β-hydroxybutyrate were significantly upregulated as were leucine and valine pre- and post-exercise while isoleucine downregulated. Lactate increased with ketone salt ingestion post-exercise and up to 30 min post-exercise but returned to normal at 24 h post-exercise compared to pre-exercise levels. Six other metabolites significantly differed in concentrations when compared across sampling times with no discernable impacts to OS or other notable trends. Multivariate analyses using principal components analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models were not supported using cross-validation for Q2 coefficients and permutations values at p ≤ 0.05. From these results no metabolites were shown to support transient OS suppression

Design of an anti-inflammatory diet (ITIS diet) for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that affects synovial joints, leading to inflammation, joint destruction, loss of function, and disability. Although recent pharmaceutical advances have improved treatment of RA, patients with RA often inquire about dietary interventions to improve RA symptoms, as they perceive rapid changes in their symptoms after consumption of certain foods. There is evidence that some ingredients have pro- or anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, recent literature has shown a link between diet and microbiome changes. Both diet and the gut microbiome are linked to circulating metabolites that may modulate inflammation. However, evidence of the effects of an anti-inflammatory and probiotic-rich diet in patients with RA is scarce. There is also a need for biological data to support its anti-inflammatory effects. Methods:The main goal of this study is to delineate the design process for a diet tailored to our RA population. To achieve this goal, we collected information on diet, supplements, cooking methods, and intake of different ingredients for each patient. Different groups were interviewed, and their feedback was assessed to design a diet that incorporates suggested anti-inflammatory ingredients in a manner that was easy for patients to adopt based on their lifestyles and backgrounds. Results:We designed a diet that includes a high intake of potential anti-inflammatory ingredients. Feedback from highly motivated patients was critical in constructing an anti-inflammatory diet (ITIS diet) with elevated adherence. Conclusion:In order to tailor our diet, we surveyed our patients on several different parameters. We obtained important feedback on how feasible our ITIS diet is for RA patients. Using this feedback, we made minor improvements and finalized the design of the ITIS diet. This diet is being used in an on-going pilot study to determine their anti-inflammatory effect in pain and joint swelling in RA patients. Trial registration:Not applicable

Biomarkers and Nutrients in Musculoskeletal Disorders

The present Special Issue summarizes the available scientific evidence concerning the nutrients and biomarkers in musculoskeletal diseases linked to the metabolic conditions secondary to COVID-19 confinement, osteoporosis prevention for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, and the nutritional status in patients with spinal muscular atrophy. Furthermore, it explores the novel findings for experimental animal models of pharmacological agents to improve the regeneration of muscle tissue; acetylcholine spontaneous release located in the neuromuscular junction in mice, secondary to hypercaloric diet supplementation with an increase in spontaneous neurotransmission and the activation of myofascial trigger points associated with myofascial pain syndrome; and myogenic biomarkers in musculoskeletal conditions and gene expression associated with vitamin D and L-cysteine co-supplementation. This Special Issue is edited by a multidisciplinary group comprising the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Universidade da Coruña, and Universidad Europea de Madrid