Moderate Protein Intake Improves Total and Regional Body Composition and Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight Adults

A high protein intake (~40% of energy intake) combined with aerobic and resistance exercise training is more closely associated with improved body composition and cardiovascular risk profile than a traditional protein intake (~15% of intake) combined with moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. However, there is concern that such high-protein diets may adversely affect health. We therefore tested the hypothesis that moderate protein intake (~25% of energy intake) would elicit similar benefits on body composition and metabolic profile as high protein intake. Twenty-four overweight/obese men and women (body mass index [BMI] = 32.2 ± 3.4, percentage of body fat [%BF] = 37.3 ± 8.0) were matched for BMI and %BF and randomly assigned to one of 3 groups for a 3-month nutrition/exercise training intervention: (1) high-protein diet (~40% of energy intake) and combined high-intensity resistance and cardiovascular training (HPEx, n = 8, 5 female and 3 male), (2) moderate-protein diet (~25% of energy intake) and combined high-intensity resistance and cardiovascular training (MPEx, n = 8, 5 female and 3 male), or (3) high-protein diet only (HPNx, n = 8, 5 female and 3 male). Total and regional body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), insulin sensitivity (insulin sensitivity index to the oral glucose tolerance test), insulin-like growth factor–1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein–1 (IGFBP-1), IGF binding protein–3 (IGFBP-3), and blood lipids were measured at baseline and after the intervention. All groups experienced significant (P \u3c .05) and similar losses of body weight, BMI, and total and abdominal %BF, and similar improvements in insulin sensitivity (HPEx, 6.3 ± 1.2 vs 9.5 ± 0.98; MPEx, 6.2 ± 1.4 vs 8.4 ± 1.6; HPNx, 3.7 ± 1.1 vs 7.0 ± 1.1; insulin sensitivity index to the oral glucose tolerance test; P \u3c .05) and leptin levels. Furthermore, the HPEx group demonstrated decreases in total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides, and increases in IGF-1 and IGFBP-1. The MPEx group experienced decreases in TC, whereas the HPNx group had increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, TC to high-density lipoprotein, IGF-1, and IGFBP-1. In conclusion, moderate protein intake elicits similar benefits in body composition and insulin sensitivity as a high-protein diet. These findings may have practical implications for individuals interested in diets containing elevated dietary protein

A review of bat hibernacula across the western United States: Implications for white-nose syndrome surveillance and management

Efforts to conserve bats in the western United States have long been impeded by a lack of information on their winter whereabouts, particularly bats in the genus Myotis. The recent arrival of white-nose syndrome in western North America has increased the urgency to characterize winter roost habitats in this region. We compiled 4,549 winter bat survey records from 2,888 unique structures across 11 western states. Myotis bats were reported from 18.5% of structures with 95% of aggregations composed of ≤10 individuals. Only 11 structures contained ≥100 Myotis individuals and 6 contained ≥500 individuals. Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) were reported from 38% of structures, with 72% of aggregations composed of ≤10 individuals. Aggregations of ≥100 Townsend’s big-eared bats were observed at 41 different caves or mines across 9 states. We used zero-inflated negative binomial regression to explore biogeographic patterns of winter roost counts. Myotis counts were greater in caves than mines, in more recent years, and in more easterly longitudes, northerly latitudes, higher elevations, and in areas with higher surface temperatures and lower precipitation. Townsend’s big-eared bat counts were greater in caves, during more recent years, and in more westerly longitudes. Karst topography was associated with higher Townsend’s big-eared bat counts but did not appear to influence Myotis counts. We found stable or slightly-increasing trends over time in counts for both Myotis and Townsend’s big-eared bats from 82 hibernacula surveyed ≥5 winters since 1990. Highly-dispersed winter roosting of Myotis in the western USA complicates efforts to monitor population trends and impacts of disease. However, our results reveal opportunities to monitor winter population status of Townsend’s big-eared bats across this region