Macronutrient Intake of Pregnant Exercisers and Non-Exercisers

With the childhood obesity pandemic, it is vital for pregnant women to focus on healthy habits (i.e. proper nutrition, exercise) in order to ensure a positive in utero environment. Exercise during pregnancy is associated with normalizing birth weight and decreased body fat of infants. Research of maternal diet finds that increases in maternal consumption of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and animal and vegetable proteins cause an increase in birth weight. To date, research has not investigated potential differences in nutrition among women that exercise or not during pregnancy. This research project aims to determine if differences exist in maternal nutrition, more specifically macronutrient intake, related to exercise during pregnancy. Based on previous literature, we hypothesize that pregnant exercisers will have an increased intake of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) compared to pregnant women who do not exercise, but similar frequencies of macronutrients. Women were either exercise trained (moderate intensity, 50 minutes, 3 times per week) or not (control). All women completed a food frequency questionnaire in the first trimester prior to training and at the end of pregnancy (after 20 week training period). Data from 21 uncomplicated pregnancies was analyzed utilizing t-test for all measures. All women had healthy, singleton pregnancy and delivered healthy infants with normal birth weights. Preliminary findings from this study show there are no group differences in most first trimester macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, vegetable/fruit, fat/sweet). Preliminary FFQ results show that pregnant women in the exercise group have significantly higher intake of dairy compared to pregnant women that do not exercise during pregnancy. By third trimester, there are no group differences in macronutrient intake of protein, dairy, carbohydrate, vegetables/fruits, and fat/sweets. In addition, gestational weight gain measures show that exercise during pregnancy helps maintain normal weight gain during pregnancy and appropriate birth weight of infants. These findings suggest all pregnant women obtain similar levels of macronutrients regardless of exercise activity, or not. Although this supports the impact of exercise, and not nutrition per se, on previously beneficial fetal/infant outcomes, further analysis is required regarding quality of macronutrients

Concentrated oat β-glucan, a fermentable fiber, lowers serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic adults in a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Soluble fibers lower serum lipids, but are difficult to incorporate into products acceptable to consumers. We investigated the physiological effects of a concentrated oat β-glucan on cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints in human subjects. We also compared the fermentability of concentrated oat β-glucan with inulin and guar gum in a model intestinal fermentation system. METHODS: Seventy-five hypercholesterolemic men and women were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 6 grams/day concentrated oat β-glucan or 6 grams/day dextrose (control). Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline, week 3, and week 6 and analyzed for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, homocysteine and C-reactive protein (CRP). To estimate colonic fermentability, 0.5 g concentrated oat β-glucan was incubated in a batch model intestinal fermentation system, using human fecal inoculum to provide representative microflora. Fecal donors were not involved with the β-glucan feeding trial. Inulin and guar gum were also incubated in separate serum bottles for comparison. RESULTS: Oat β-glucan produced significant reduction from baseline in total cholesterol (-0.3 ± 0.1 mmol/L) and LDL cholesterol (-0.3 ± 0.1 mmol/L), and the reduction in LDL cholesterol were significantly greater than in the control group (p = 0.03). Concentrated oat β-glucan was a fermentable fiber and produced total SCFA and acetate concentrations similar to inulin and guar gum. Concentrated oat β-glucan produced the highest concentrations of butyrate at 4, 8, and 12 hours. CONCLUSION: Six grams concentrated oat β-glucan per day for six weeks significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol in subjects with elevated cholesterol, and the LDL cholesterol reduction was greater than the change in the control group. Based on a model intestinal fermentation, this oat β-glucan was fermentable, producing higher amounts of butyrate than other fibers. Thus, a practical dose of β-glucan can significantly lower serum lipids in a high-risk population and may improve colon health

Macronutrient Intake of Pregnant Exercisers and Non-Exercisers

With the childhood obesity pandemic, it is vital for pregnant women to focus on healthy habits (i.e. proper nutrition, exercise) in order to ensure a positive in utero environment. Exercise during pregnancy is associated with normalizing birth weight and decreased body fat of infants. Research of maternal diet finds that increases in maternal consumption of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and animal and vegetable proteins cause an increase in birth weight. To date, research has not investigated potential differences in nutrition among women that exercise or not during pregnancy. This research project aims to determine if differences exist in maternal nutrition, more specifically macronutrient intake, related to exercise during pregnancy. Based on previous literature, we hypothesize that pregnant exercisers will have an increased intake of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) compared to pregnant women who do not exercise, but similar frequencies of macronutrients. Women were either exercise trained (moderate intensity, 50 minutes, 3 times per week) or not (control). All women completed a food frequency questionnaire in the first trimester prior to training and at the end of pregnancy (after 20 week training period). Data from 21 uncomplicated pregnancies was analyzed utilizing t-test for all measures. All women had healthy, singleton pregnancy and delivered healthy infants with normal birth weights. Preliminary findings from this study show there are no group differences in most first trimester macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, vegetable/fruit, fat/sweet). Preliminary FFQ results show that pregnant women in the exercise group have significantly higher intake of dairy compared to pregnant women that do not exercise during pregnancy. By third trimester, there are no group differences in macronutrient intake of protein, dairy, carbohydrate, vegetables/fruits, and fat/sweets. In addition, gestational weight gain measures show that exercise during pregnancy helps maintain normal weight gain during pregnancy and appropriate birth weight of infants. These findings suggest all pregnant women obtain similar levels of macronutrients regardless of exercise activity, or not. Although this supports the impact of exercise, and not nutrition per se, on previously beneficial fetal/infant outcomes, further analysis is required regarding quality of macronutrients

Measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive WW production in pp collisions at s=7\sqrt{s} = 7 TeV

A measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive pp to WX production at sqrt(s)= 7 TeV is presented based on data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns. This high precision measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry, performed in both the W to e nu and W to mu nu channels, provides new insights into parton distribution functions.A measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive pp to WX production at sqrt(s)= 7 TeV is presented based on data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns. This high precision measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry, performed in both the W to e nu and W to mu nu channels, provides new insights into parton distribution functions.A measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive pp to WX production at sqrt(s)= 7 TeV is presented based on data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns. This high precision measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry, performed in both the W to e nu and W to mu nu channels, provides new insights into parton distribution functions