Conservative Clothing Effects on Body Composition Assessment by Air Displacement Plethysmography

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 687-695, 2021. Form-fitting spandex swimsuits or single-layer compression shorts are recommended during BOD POD® testing to ensure accurate results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of various outfit types on body composition measurements using the BOD POD®, and self-reported comfort level wearing each outfit. Twenty-one participants, 8 females and 13 males, (age 31.6 ± 9.8 years) wore a spandex swim cap and three different outfits during BOD POD® testing (manufacturer-recommended form-fitting spandex swimsuit, short sleeve spandex, long sleeve spandex). Measured variables include body mass, body fat percentage, body volume, and self-reported comfort level wearing each outfit. Calculated variables include BMI and body density. Mean body density when wearing the control outfit was 0.004 g/cm3 lower than both short (p \u3c 0.001) and long sleeve (p = 0.001) alternatives. Short and long sleeve outfits resulted in body fat percentage underestimations of 2.0% and 2.1%, respectively (p \u3c 0.001). The short sleeve outfit had the highest mean comfort rating followed by the long sleeve outfit, and the lowest was the control swimsuits. The short sleeve outfit and control outfit had the largest differences in reported comfort levels (p \u3c 0.05). Wearing short and long sleeve spandex outfits instead of recommended form-fitting swimsuits resulted in body density increases and body fat percentage underestimations. Participants should follow manufacturer recommendations by wearing spandex swimsuits. Participants had higher self-reported comfort levels when wearing short or long sleeve outfits

The Carboxyl-Terminal Segment of Apolipoprotein A-V Undergoes a Lipid-Induced Conformational Change

Apolipoprotein (apo) A-V is a 343-residue, multidomain protein that plays an important role in regulation of plasma triglyceride homeostasis. Primary sequence analysis revealed a unique tetraproline sequence (Pro293-Pro296) near the carboxyl terminus of the protein. A peptide corresponding to the 48-residue segment beyond the tetraproline motif was generated from a recombinant apoA-V precursor wherein Pro295 was replaced by Met. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of the precursor protein, followed by negative affinity chromatography, yielded a purified peptide. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis verified that apoA-V(296-343) solubilizes phospholipid vesicles, forming a relatively heterogeneous population of reconstituted high-density lipoprotein with Stokes’ diameters\u3e17 nm. At the same time, apoA-V(296-343) failed to bind a spherical lipoprotein substrate in vitro. Far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed the peptide is unstructured in buffer yet adopts significant R-helical secondary structure in the presence of the lipid mimetic solvent trifluoroethanol (TFE; 50% v/v). Heteronuclear multidemensional NMR spectroscopy experiments were conducted with uniformly 15N- and 15N/13C-labeled peptide in 50% TFE. Peptide backbone assignment and secondary structure prediction using TALOSþ reveal the peptide adopts R-helix secondary structure from residues 309 to 334. In TFE, apoA-V(296-343) adopts an extended amphipathic R-helix, consistent with a role in lipoprotein binding as a component of full-length apoA-V

Pilot Study Examining Pregnancy-specific Equations to Estimate Percent Body Fat in an Overweight/obese Pregnant Hispanic Population

Background and Purpose: Over half of women entering pregnancy are overweight or obese, increasing metabolic risk. This pilot study investigated whether established equations for estimating maternal percent body fat using anthropometry are accurate for Hispanic, overweight or obese pregnant women. Methods: The Siri technique of calculating percent body fat from direct measurements of body density and total body water was the gold-standard. Other pregnancy-specific equations were also examined. The study population included 15 normoglycemic, pregnant Hispanic women in their third trimester (33.2±1.9 gestational week) with a pre-pregnancy body mass index ≥25 to <40kg/m2 , and with no history of chronic disease, or illicit drug, cigarette or alcohol use. Five skinfold sites, pre-pregnancy weight, current weight, and wrist circumference were measured. Body density was measured using air displacement plethysmography. Total body water was measured using 2H2O. Results: Paired t-tests showed that the Paxton equation (intended for use at gestational week 37) overestimated percent body fat compared to the Siri method, p<0.001, whereas the Presley equation (intended for use at gestational week 30) produced statistically similar results to the gold-standard, p=0.842. Discussion: Using skinfold thickness measurements and the Presley equation to assess percent body fat may be useful and accessible for this population

The Age of Artificial Intelligence: Use of Digital Technology in Clinical Nutrition

Purpose of review Computing advances over the decades have catalyzed the pervasive integration of digital technology in the medical industry, now followed by similar applications for clinical nutrition. This review discusses the implementation of such technologies for nutrition, ranging from the use of mobile apps and wearable technologies to the development of decision support tools for parenteral nutrition and use of telehealth for remote assessment of nutrition. Recent findings Mobile applications and wearable technologies have provided opportunities for real-time collection of granular nutrition-related data. Machine learning has allowed for more complex analyses of the increasing volume of data collected. The combination of these tools has also translated into practical clinical applications, such as decision support tools, risk prediction, and diet optimization. Summary The state of digital technology for clinical nutrition is still young, although there is much promise for growth and disruption in the future

Structure-Function Analysis of Apolipoprotein A-V: Insight into Plasma Triglyceride Homeostasis

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and epidemiological studies have shown that an elevated plasma triglyceride level is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In 2001, a new member of the exchangeable apolipoprotein (apo) family, apoA-V, was discovered using comparative genomics. Studies with transgenic mice over-expressing human apoA-V and apoA-V knock-out mice have shown that there exists a negative correlation between apoA-V levels and plasma triglyceride concentrations. Such findings have also been observed in humans, where single nucleotide polymorphisms within the APOA5 gene have been associated with hypertriglyceridemia. These physiological findings suggest that apoA-V plays a major role in the regulation of triglyceride metabolism, and elucidating the mechanism by which apoA-V functions could yield therapeutic effects.Several features of apoA-V, including an extremely low plasma concentration, a lack of correlation with cholesterol levels despite its association with high density lipoprotein, and its insolubility at neutral pH in the absence of lipid, are unlike other exchangeable apolipoproteins. Findings indicate apoA-V is comprised of two independently folded structural domains, with the amino-terminal domain forming an amphipathic alpha-helix bundle in the absence of lipid. In the presence of lipid, the helix bundle motif is postulated to unfurl, exposing hydrophobic residues for lipid interaction. The carboxy-terminal region plays a key function in apoA-V lipid binding, consistent with its known association with plasma lipoproteins

Structure-Function Analysis of Apolipoprotein A-V: Insight into Plasma Triglyceride Homeostasis

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and epidemiological studies have shown that an elevated plasma triglyceride level is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In 2001, a new member of the exchangeable apolipoprotein (apo) family, apoA-V, was discovered using comparative genomics. Studies with transgenic mice over-expressing human apoA-V and apoA-V knock-out mice have shown that there exists a negative correlation between apoA-V levels and plasma triglyceride concentrations. Such findings have also been observed in humans, where single nucleotide polymorphisms within the APOA5 gene have been associated with hypertriglyceridemia. These physiological findings suggest that apoA-V plays a major role in the regulation of triglyceride metabolism, and elucidating the mechanism by which apoA-V functions could yield therapeutic effects.Several features of apoA-V, including an extremely low plasma concentration, a lack of correlation with cholesterol levels despite its association with high density lipoprotein, and its insolubility at neutral pH in the absence of lipid, are unlike other exchangeable apolipoproteins. Findings indicate apoA-V is comprised of two independently folded structural domains, with the amino-terminal domain forming an amphipathic alpha-helix bundle in the absence of lipid. In the presence of lipid, the helix bundle motif is postulated to unfurl, exposing hydrophobic residues for lipid interaction. The carboxy-terminal region plays a key function in apoA-V lipid binding, consistent with its known association with plasma lipoproteins

A comparative analysis of outpatient nutrition clinic scheduling outcomes based on in-person and telehealth patient care delivery modalities

During the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, patient care modalities changed from in-person to telehealth to comply with physical distancing guidelines. Our study uniquely examines operations data from three distinct periods: before the transition to telehealth, early transition from in-person care to telehealth, and the eventual adoption of telehealth. We present a comparative analysis of outpatient nutrition clinic scheduling outcomes based on care delivery modality. We used descriptive statistics to report means and variance and frequencies. We used inferential statistics to make comparisons: categorical data were compared using chi-square analysis with post-hoc comparisons using a z-test with alpha at 0.05. Means of continuous variables were compared using ANOVA with Tukey HSD post-hoc analysis. We found patient demographics remained widely unchanged across the three distinct periods as the demand for telehealth visits increased, with a notable rise in return patient visits, signaling both adaptability across the patient population and acceptance of the telehealth modality. These analyses along with evidence from the included literature review point to many the benefits of telehealth, thus telehealth as a healthcare delivery modality is here to stay. Our work serves as a foundation for future studies in this field, provides information for decision-makers in telehealth-related strategic planning, and can be utilized in advocacy for the extension of telehealth coverage

A Comparative Analysis of the Water Use and Nutritional Value for California Commodities

To create a more sustainable food system, this study analyzed the water use and nutritional data for California commodities. The data were separated into quadrants based on median scores, with results that include a list of commodities lower in agricultural water use while being higher in nutritional value. Because the agricultural sector is the dominant water user, there is an opportunity here to influence growers, consumers and policymakers to choose and support the growth of foods that would reduce water consumption while still providing beneficial nutrients. The goal of this paper is to educate the public on this important issue

The Type of Dietary Fat in an Isocaloric Breakfast Meal Does Not Modify Postprandial Metabolism in Overweight/Obese Pregnant Women

Almonds provide a satiating, healthy source of fat and fiber. The postprandial metabolic and satiety response to 2 ounces of nuts or dairy was assessed in 18 overweight/obese women during late pregnancy. Serum glucose, triglycerides, insulin, c-peptide, leptin, ghrelin, and lipoprotein particles were measured prior to and during a 5-h postprandial period following the consumption of an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from either nuts or dairy on two separate mornings. Satiety was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires and ad libitum food intake at the end of the study. At 33 weeks gestation, the women had gained an average of 7.0 ± 4.4 kg during gestation. Body fat averaged 41.9 ± 5.5% and hemoglobin A1c levels were elevated, (7.2 ± 0.6%). Fasting glucose levels were normal, but hyperinsulinemia was evident. The two test meals did not affect the postprandial metabolic response, but glucose, triglyceride, and ghrelin concentrations changed with time during the postprandial period (p \u3c 0.001, p = 0.0008, p = 0.006). Satiety measures did not differ between the two test meals. Consuming an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from nuts or dairy did not alter postprandial levels of blood lipids, glucose, hormones, or measures of satiety in overweight/obese, pregnant women

The Type of Dietary Fat in an Isocaloric Breakfast Meal Does Not Modify Postprandial Metabolism in Overweight/Obese Pregnant Women.

Almonds provide a satiating, healthy source of fat and fiber. The postprandial metabolic and satiety response to 2 ounces of nuts or dairy was assessed in 18 overweight/obese women during late pregnancy. Serum glucose, triglycerides, insulin, c-peptide, leptin, ghrelin, and lipoprotein particles were measured prior to and during a 5-h postprandial period following the consumption of an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from either nuts or dairy on two separate mornings. Satiety was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires and ad libitum food intake at the end of the study. At 33 weeks gestation, the women had gained an average of 7.0 ± 4.4 kg during gestation. Body fat averaged 41.9 ± 5.5% and hemoglobin A1c levels were elevated, (7.2 ± 0.6%). Fasting glucose levels were normal, but hyperinsulinemia was evident. The two test meals did not affect the postprandial metabolic response, but glucose, triglyceride, and ghrelin concentrations changed with time during the postprandial period (p < 0.001, p = 0.0008, p = 0.006). Satiety measures did not differ between the two test meals. Consuming an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from nuts or dairy did not alter postprandial levels of blood lipids, glucose, hormones, or measures of satiety in overweight/obese, pregnant women