Clinical Study Limited Effects of Endurance or Interval Training on Visceral Adipose Tissue and Systemic Inflammation in Sedentary Middle-Aged Men

properly cited. Purpose. Limited data exists for the effects of sprint-interval training (SIT) and endurance training (ET) on total body composition, abdominal visceral adipose tissue, and plasma inflammation. Moreover, whether "active" or "passive" recovery in SIT provides a differential effect on these measures remains uncertain. Methods. Sedentary middle-aged men ( = 62; 49.5±5.8 y; 29.7±3.7 kg⋅m 2 ) underwent abdominal computed tomography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, venepuncture, and exercise testing before and after the interventions, which included the following: 12 wks 3 d⋅wk −1 ET ( = 15; 50-60 min cycling; 80% HR max ), SIT (4-10 × 30 s sprint efforts) with passive (P-SIT; = 15) or active recovery (A-SIT; = 15); or nonexercise control condition (CON; = 14). Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, whole-body and visceral fat mass, and plasma systemic inflammation were examined. Results. Compared to CON, significant increases in interpolated power output (P-SIT, < 0.001; ET, = 0.012; A-SIT, = 0.041) and test duration (P-SIT, = 0.001; ET, = 0.012; A-SIT, = 0.046) occurred after training. Final VO 2 consumption was increased after P-SIT only ( < 0.001). Despite >90% exercise compliance, there was no change in whole-body or visceral fat mass or plasma inflammation ( > 0.05). Conclusion. In sedentary middle-aged men, SIT was a time-effective alternative to ET in facilitating conditioning responses yet was ineffective in altering body composition and plasma inflammation, and compared to passive recovery, evidenced diminished conditioning responses when employing active recovery

Effects of mode and intensity on the acute exercise-induced IL-6 and CRP responses in a sedentary, overweight population

This study sought to compare the respective effects of resistance or aerobic exercise of higher or lower intensities on the acute plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) response in a sedentary, middle-aged, disease-free cohort. Following baseline testing, and in a randomized cross-over design, 12 sedentary males completed four exercise protocols, including 40 min of moderate-vigorous (M-VA) or low-intensity (LA) aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer; and a moderate-vigorous (M-VR) or low-intensity (LR) full-body resistance session matched for protocol duration. Venous blood was obtained pre-, post-, 3 h post and 24 h post-exercise and analysed for IL-6, CRP, leukocyte count, myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), and cortisol. Diet and physical activity were standardized 24 h before and after exercise. Results indicated an elevated CRP response in the M-VR protocol in comparison to the low-intensity protocols (P < 0.05); however, no changes were evident between the moderate-vigorous intensity protocols. The moderate-vigorous intensity protocols induced significant increases of IL-6, cortisol, and leukocytes in comparison to the low-intensity protocols (P < 0.05). However, the IL-6 response showed no significant differences between the moderate-vigorous intensity protocols, despite the M-VR protocol inducing the largest response of markers indicative of muscle damage (CK, myoglobin, and neutrophil count) (P < 0.05). Hence, indicating a disassociation between the IL-6 response and markers of muscle damage within the respective exercise bouts. The highest IL-6 response was evident in the moderate-vigorous intensity protocols immediately post-exercise. Moreover, the exercise modality did not seem to influence the acute IL-6 and CRP response, with the main determinant of the IL-6 response being exercise intensity. © 2010 Springer-Verlag

Association between Haem and Non-Haem Iron Intake and Serum Ferritin in Healthy Young Women

Iron is an essential micronutrient for human health and inadequate intake may result in iron deficiency (ID) or iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). Unlike other recent studies investigating iron status in young women, this cross-sectional study analysed dietary intake and biochemical data from healthy young (18–35 years) women (n = 299) to determine the association between both haem iron (HI) and non-haem iron (NHI) intakes and serum ferritin (SF). Dietary restraint and possible inflammation secondary to obesity were also measured and accounted for, and energy intake was adjusted for using the residuals method. Independent samples t-tests and chi-squared tests were performed, and factors found to be significantly different between iron replete (IR) and ID/IDA participants were analysed using general linear modelling. ID/IDA participants consumed significantly lower total energy than iron replete (IR) (p = 0.003). Lower energy intake was also associated with higher levels of dietary restraint (p = 0.001). Both HI and NHI were positively associated with SF with HI was found to be a stronger predictor (β = 0.128, p = 0.009) than NHI (β = 0.037, p = 0.028). The study demonstrates that intake of both HI and NHI, as well as adequate dietary energy, are associated with normal iron status levels in young women, and that restrained eaters may be at greater risk of low iron status

Concurrent resistance and aerobic exercise stimulates both myofibrillar and mitochondrial protein synthesis in sedentary middle-aged men

We determined myofibrillar and mitochondrial protein fractional synthesis rates (FSR), intramuscular signaling protein phosphorylation, and mRNA expression responses after isolated bouts of resistance exercise (RE), aerobic exercise (AE), or in combination [termed concurrent exercise (CE)] in sedentary middle-aged men. Eight subjects (age = 53.3 ± 1.8 yr; body mass index = 29.4 ± 1.4 kg·m2) randomly completed 8 × 8 leg extension repetitions at 70% of one repetition-maximum, 40 min of cycling at 55% peak aerobic power output (AE), or (consecutively) 50% of the RE and AE trials (CE). Biopsies were obtained (during a primed, constant infusion of L-[ring-13C6]phenylalanine) while fasted, and at 1 and 4 h following postexercise ingestion of 20 g of protein. All trials increased mitochondrial FSR above fasted rates (RE = 1.3-fold; AE = 1.5; CE = 1.4; P 0.05), while rpS6 (Ser 235/236) increased only in RE (10.4) (P < 0.05). CE and AE both resulted in increased peroxisome proliferator receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (PGC1α) expression at 1 h (CE = 2.9; AE = 2.8; P < 0.05) and 4 h (CE = 2.6; AE = 2.4) and PGC1β expression at 4 h (CE = 2.1; AE = 2.6; P < 0.05). These data suggest that CE-induced acute stimulation of myofibrillar and mitochondrial FSR, protein signaling, and mRNA expression are equivalent to either isolate mode (RE or AE). These results occurred without an interference effect on muscle protein subfractional synthesis rates, protein signaling, or mRNA expression. Copyright © 2012 the American Physiological Society

Relationship between Obesity and Cognitive Function in Young Women: The Food, Mood and Mind Study

Limited research addresses links between obesity and cognitive function in young adults. Objective. To investigate the relationship between obesity and cognitive function in young women. Methods. This cross-sectional study recruited healthy, young (18–35 y) women of normal (NW: BMI = 18.5–24.9 kg·m−2) or obese (OB: BMI ≥ 30.0 kg·m−2) weight. Participants completed a validated, computer-based cognitive testing battery evaluating impulsivity, attention, information processing, memory, and executive function. Questionnaires on depression and physical activity and a fasting blood sample for C-reactive protein and the Omega-3 Index were also collected. Cognition data are presented as z-scores (mean ± SD), and group comparisons were assessed via ANOVA. Potential confounding from questionnaire and blood variables were evaluated using ANCOVA. Results. 299 women (NW: n = 157; OB: n = 142) aged 25.8 ± 5.1 y were enrolled. Cognition scores were within normal range (±1 z-score), but OB had lower attention (NW: 0.31 ± 1.38; OB: −0.25 ± 1.39; ES: 0.41, CI: 0.17–0.64; p<0.001) and higher impulsivity (NW: 0.36 ± 1.14; OB: −0.07 ± 1.07; ES: 0.39, CI: 0.15–0.62; p=0.033). Confounder adjustment had minimal impact on results. Conclusion. The OB group had normal but significantly lower performance on attention and were more impulsive compared to NW participants. This may indicate early cognitive decline, but longitudinal research confirming these findings is warranted

Iron Deficiency Anemia, Not Iron Deficiency, Is Associated with Reduced Attention in Healthy Young Women

Women of reproductive age are at increased risk for iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), with both implicated in decreased cognitive function (CF). Obesity may complicate this association via inflammatory-mediated ferritin elevation. This cross-sectional study examined the association between hematological iron status (iron replete (IR), ID or IDA) and CF in healthy, young (18–35 years) women of normal-weight (NW: BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) or obese-weight (OB: BMI &gt;30 kg/m2). Participants completed a validated, computer-based cognition assessment evaluating impulsivity, attention, information processing, memory and executive function; CF reported as z-scores (mean ± SD). Iron status and CF were compared between groups via ANOVA, with adjustment for potential confounders (BMI, physical activity, C-reactive protein) via ANCOVA. A total of 157 NW and 142 OB women (25.8 ± 5.1 years) participated. Prevalence of ID and IDA were 14% and 6% respectively, with no significant difference between NW and OB groups. Women with IDA scored significantly lower on attention (although within normal range; ±1 z-score), compared to ID (IDA: −0.75 ± 1.89; ID: 0.53 ± 1.37; p = 0.004) but not IR (0.03 ± 1.33, p = 0.21) groups; there were no significant differences between ID and IR groups (p = 0.34). Adjustment for confounders did not significantly alter these results. In conclusion, women with IDA showed significantly reduced attention compared to women with ID