Impact of Astaxanthin Supplementation on Postprandial Oxidative Stress

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid found in salmon and microalgae that has antioxidative properties. Previous research shows dietary supplementation may result in increased endogenous antioxidant status and reduced markers of oxidative stress (OS). Research suggests OS causes increased risk for cardiometabolic and other chronic diseases, making it important to find interventions that can decrease occurrence of OS. While astaxanthin has been shown to be antioxidative, most studies observing the impact of astaxanthin has on OS has involved rodent models, therefore human trials are needed. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess whether four weeks of astaxanthin supplementation (6mg/day) can decrease blood markers of oxidative stress following the consumption of a high fat meal in healthy, young men. METHODS: Participants (n=13) were healthy, young men (mean ±SD; Age: 23.7 ±2.7 yrs; Weight: 79.8 ±12.6 kg; Height: 171.7 ±5.9 cm) that completed a randomized, double blinded crossover counterbalanced study. All participants completed 4 weeks of 6 mg of astaxanthin supplementation in addition to 4 weeks of placebo supplementation with a one-week washout period between treatments. After each supplementation period, participants consumed a high fat milkshake (milkshake; 1g fat/kg body weight, 1g carbohydrate/kg body weight, 0.25g protein/kg body weight) to induce postprandial OS. Blood samples were taken immediately before, as well as two, and four hours post milkshake consumption. The following were analyzed from each blood sample: triglycerides (TAG), glutathione (GSH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). RESULTS: Participant compliance on average was 98%. Regarding AOPP, there was no treatment x timepoint interaction or a significant main effect for treatment, while there was a main effect for time (F = 17.14, p \u3c 0.01) with significantly higher levels of AOPP at two and four hours postprandial compared to pre ingestion (p \u3c 0.01). In regard to MDA, there was no treatment x timepoint interaction or a significant main effect for treatment but a main effect for time was noted (F= 24.66, p \u3c 0.01) with significantly higher (p \u3c 0.01) MDA levels 2 and 4 hours post ingestion when compared to pre ingestion levels. In terms of GSH, while there was no treatment x timepoint interaction or main effect for time, the main effect for treatment did approach significance (F = 3.67, p = 0.06). There was no treatment x timepoint interaction for TAG nor a main effect for treatment, while there was a significant increase in TAG levels over time noted by a main effect (F = 15.80, p \u3c 0.01) with 2 and 4 hours post ingestion being significantly higher than pre ingestion TAG levels (p \u3c 0.01). Furthermore, with H2O2, a treatment x timepoint interaction (F = 5.94, p \u3c 0.01) was noted. H2O2 levels were significantly lower (p \u3c 0.05) 2 and 4 hours post ingestion following astaxanthin supplementation when compared to the placebo treatment. CONCLUSION: The high fat meal induced significant OS, reflected by increased levels of MDA, AOPP, and H2O2.Despite postprandial hyperlipidemia, astaxanthin was able to significantly decrease H2O2, suggesting astaxanthin is a desirable exogenous antioxidant for mitigating OS

Pre-sleep feeding, sleep quality, and markers of recovery in division I NCAA female soccer players

Pre-sleep nutrition habits in elite female athletes have yet to be evaluated. A retrospective analysis was performed with 14 NCAA Division I female soccer players who wore a WHOOP, Inc. band – a wearable device that quantifies recovery by measuring sleep, activity, and heart rate metrics through actigraphy and photoplethysmography, respectively – 24 h a day for an entire competitive season to measure sleep and recovery. Pre-sleep food consumption data were collected via surveys every 3 days. Average pre-sleep nutritional intake (mean ± sd: kcals 330 ± 284; cho 46.2 ± 40.5 g; pro 7.6 ± 7.3 g; fat 12 ± 10.5 g) was recorded. Macronutrients and kcals were grouped into high and low categories based upon the 50th percentile of the mean to compare the impact of a high versus low pre-sleep intake on sleep and recovery variables. Sleep duration (p = 0.10, 0.69, 0.16, 0.17) and sleep disturbances (p = 0.42, 0.65, 0.81, 0.81) were not affected by high versus low kcal, PRO, fat, CHO intake, respectively. Recovery (p = 0.81, 0.06, 0.81, 0.92), RHR (p = 0.84, 0.64, 0.26, 0.66), or HRV (p = 0.84, 0.70, 0.76, 0.93) were also not affected by high versus low kcal, PRO, fat, or CHO consumption, respectively. Consuming a small meal before bed may have no impact on sleep or recovery

Impact of Time Restricted Feeding on Markers of Cardiometabolic Health

Time restricted feeding (TRF) is a form of intermittent fasting in which all calories are consumed within a certain amount of time (i.e. 6-8 hrs) only water is ingested for the remainder of the day. Previous research shows improvements in body composition and some markers of cardiometabolic health, but it is not clear if these results were due to the decreased eating window, or due to a decrease in caloric intake that typically occurs with fasting protocols. PURPOSE: to assess whether a caloric deficit is necessary to achieve improvements in cardiometabolic health as well as evaluate the impact TRF has on blood markers of oxidative stress. METHODS: Participants (n=22) were apparently healthy young men (22 ± 2.5 yrs; 178.4 ± 6.9 cm; 90.3 ± 24 kg) randomized into an iso-caloric group (had to consume the same number of calories as before the study) or an ad libitum group. Both groups participated in a TRF protocol of 8 hours feeding and 16 hours of fasting (water only) daily for 28 days. Before and upon completion of the study, the following measures were taken: blood pressure, body fat percentage, fat mass, fat free mass, insulin, cortisol, growth hormone, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, adiponectin, blood lipid panel, and blood glucose. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significantly (pCONCLUSION:A TRF protocol with an 8-hour eating window can improve markers of cardiometabolic health including body composition, blood pressure, lipids, and adiponectin without changing daily caloric intake

Time-restricted feeding for the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases in high-stress occupations: A mechanistic review

© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. Factors such as shift work, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and irregular sleep patterns put men and women employed in high-stress occupations (e.g., firefighters, police officers) at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a new approach to combatting many of these diseases; it places an emphasis on when meals are consumed, rather than calorie content. By only manipulating the eating window, and without changing the food composition of the diet, research in rodent models has shown promising results that have health implications in people, such as obesity prevention, improved insulin sensitivity, and decreased oxidative stress, inflammation, and cholesterol synthesis. Human trials remain limited and the current data are mixed with regard to TRF and improving health. Present findings suggest the timing of the feeding-fasting window, with feeding taking place in the waking hours and fasting in the evening hours, might offer the greatest benefit for improving cardiometabolic markers. Although additional human trials are needed, TRF might reset and synchronize metabolic clocks found throughout the body that are disturbed with obesity, shift work, and frequent eating. Therefore, TRF might offer an effective feeding-fasting paradigm with significant clinical implications for the management and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases observed in individuals in high-stress occupations in the United States and in the US population in general. This review outlines the current rodent and human evidence in these areas and the efficacy of TRF for improving human health

Time Restricted Feeding Improves Markers of Cardiometabolic health in Physically Active College-Age Men: A 4-Week Randomized Post Pilot Study.

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) has been shown to improve body composition, blood lipids, and reduce markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. However, most of these studies come from rodent models and small human samples, and it is not clear if the benefits are dependent upon a caloric deficit, or the time restriction nature of TRF. Based off of previous research, we hypothesized that humans following an ad libitum TRF protocol would reduce caloric intake and this caloric deficit would be associated with greater improvements in cardiometabolic health including blood pressure, body composition, blood lipids, and markers of inflammation and antioxidant status compared to an isocaloric TRF protocol. The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine the impact of TRF on markers of cardio-metabolic health and antioxidant status and (2) determine if the adaptations from TRF would differ under ad libitum compared to isocaloric conditions. Twenty-three healthy men were randomized to either an ad libitum or isocaloric 16:8 (fasting: feeding) TRF protocol. A total of 22 men completed the 28-day TRF protocol (mean ± SD; age: 22 ± 2.5 yrs.; height: 178.4 ± 6.9 cm; weight: 90.3 ± 24 kg; BMI: 28.5 ± 8.3 kg/m2). Fasting blood samples were analyzed for glucose, lipids, as well as adiponectin, human growth hormone, insulin, cortisol, C-reactive protein, superoxide dismutase, total nitrate/nitrite, and glutathione. Time-restricted feeding in both groups was associated with significant (P \u3c .05) reductions in body fat, blood pressure, and significant increases in adiponectin and HDL-c. No changes in caloric intake were detected. In summary, the results from this pilot study in metabolically healthy, active young men, suggest that TRF can improve markers of cardiometabolic health

Acute Coffee Ingestion With and Without Medium Chain Triglycerides Decreases Blood Oxidative Stress Markers and Increases Ketone Levels.

Background: Ingestion of ketone supplements, caffeine and medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) may all be effective strategies to increase blood levels of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (D-BHB). However, acute ingestion of a bolus of lipids may increase oxidative stress (OS). The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of adding varying amounts of MCTs to coffee on blood levels of D-BHB and markers of OS. Methods: Ten college-aged men ingested coffee with 0g, 28g, and 42g of MCT in a randomized order. Blood samples were collected pre, as well as two and four hours postprandial and analyzed for D-BHB, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), glucose, triglycerides (TAG), insulin, as well as OS markers: advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Results: All three treatments resulted in a significant increase in D-BHB, HDL-c, and TC, as well as a significant decrease in TAG, MDA, H2O2, and insulin. The 42g treatment was associated with significantly higher levels of AOPP and MDA. Conclusions: Acute ingestion of coffee results in favorable changes to markers of cardiometabolic health that were not impacted by the addition of 28g MCT. However, 42g MCT caused significantly greater OS

Acute Resistance Exercise Reduces Postprandial Lipemia and Oxidative Stress in Resistance-Trained Men

McAllister, MJ, Steadman, KS, Renteria, LI, Case, MJ, Butawan, MB, Bloomer, RJ, and McCurdy, KW. Acute resistance exercise reduces postprandial lipemia and oxidative stress in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2139-2146, 2022 - Acute ingestion of a high-fat meal (HFM) results in significant increases in postprandial triacylglycerols (TAG) and markers of oxidative stress (OS). Combined aerobic and resistance exercise can attenuate postprandial lipemia; however, it is not clear if acute resistance exercise alone can reduce postprandial OS. The purpose of this study was to determine if acute resistance exercise can attenuate postprandial OS and to compare the effects of moderate versus high-intensity resistance exercise in this regard. Nine (n = 9) moderately resistance-trained individuals completed 3 testing conditions in a randomized order as follows: (a) rest (no exercise), (b) moderate intensity (3 sets of 10 repetitions at 68% 1 repetition maximum [RM]), and (c) high-intensity resistance exercise (4 sets of 6 repetitions at 85% 1RM). Exercises included barbell back squat, bench press, straight leg deadlift, lat pull-down, upright row, and sit-ups. A HFM was ingested 12 hours after each condition. Blood samples were collected immediately before as well as 2 and 4 hours after ingestion and analyzed for TAG, cholesterol (CHOL), insulin, malondialdehyde (MDA), total nitrate/nitrite (NOx), glutathione (GSH), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). When comparing 4 hour area under curve (AUC) data between conditions, AOPP demonstrated a significantly lower AUC after the moderate-intensity condition compared with resting condition. In addition, resistance exercise resulted in significantly higher plasma NOx concentrations as well as lower TAG and CHOL concentrations after HFM ingestion. Resistance exercise also prevented a decline in GSH that was induced by the HFM. These results demonstrate that acute resistance exercise can attenuate postprandial OS

PRE-LOADED BETAINE IMPROVES THERMOREGULATION WHEN CYCLING IN THE HEAT

BACKGROUND: Heat-related illness compromises health and performance in endurance athletes during training and competition. Betaine (BET) is a nutrient that has been previously identified in animal models to act as an osmolyte and attenuates the effects of thermal stress. However, much of the prior research has only assessed the efficacy of preloading BET in passive heat models. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of preloaded BET in an active heat model. METHODS: Eight endurance-trained males (age 26.4 ± 6.8 years; VO2 Peak 55.5 ± 4.8 mL/kg/min) completed 60 min of cycling at 70% VO2 peak in a hot environment (33° C, 35% RH) after a 7-day supplement loading protocol (50 mg/kg, 2x daily) of placebo (PLA) or BET in a double blind, randomized, counterbalanced, crossover study. Core temperature and thermal sensation were measured at rest and every 10 minutes throughout the active heat protocol. Nude body weight was measured prior to- and immediately post-exercise to calculate sweat rate. No fluid ingestion was allowed during this time. Blood samples were collected at rest, 30 minutes, and immediately after exercise. Visual analog scales were administered before and immediately after exercise to quantify sensations of thirst. Bioelectrical impedance assessed fluid compartments before and after the respective supplementation weeks. RESULTS: Area under curve analysis identified BET as having a smaller overall increase in core body temperature compared to PLA (p = 0.012). Further analysis showed ending core temperature was significantly lower in BET (-0.023 ° C; p = 0.029) than PLA. BET also resulted in a significant increase in sweat rate (mean difference = 0.19 ± 0.20 L/hr; p = 0.02). Blood assessments revealed BET had lower hematocrit at the mid-exercise timepoint compared to PLA (BET: 48.3%; PLA: 50.8%; p = 0.02). Increases in total body water (TBW) and intracellular fluid (ICF) in the BET condition approached significance compared to PLA (TBW: +1.69 L, p = 0.055; ICF: +1.39L, p = 0.066). No significant differences were found between conditions in subjective measures of thermal sensation or thirst (p = 0.318; p = 0.862). CONCLUSION: BET supplementation may have the capacity to mitigate the rise in core body temperature and maintain plasma volume during exercise in an uncompensable heat stress environment, despite having no significant effect on subjective sensations of heat stress

Pre-sleep feeding, sleep quality, and markers of recovery in division I NCAA female soccer players

Pre-sleep nutrition habits in elite female athletes have yet to be evaluated. A retrospective analysis was performed with 14 NCAA Division I female soccer players who wore a WHOOP, Inc. band – a wearable device that quantifies recovery by measuring sleep, activity, and heart rate metrics through actigraphy and photoplethysmography, respectively – 24 h a day for an entire competitive season to measure sleep and recovery. Pre-sleep food consumption data were collected via surveys every 3 days. Average pre-sleep nutritional intake (mean ± sd: kcals 330 ± 284; cho 46.2 ± 40.5 g; pro 7.6 ± 7.3 g; fat 12 ± 10.5 g) was recorded. Macronutrients and kcals were grouped into high and low categories based upon the 50th percentile of the mean to compare the impact of a high versus low pre-sleep intake on sleep and recovery variables. Sleep duration (p = 0.10, 0.69, 0.16, 0.17) and sleep disturbances (p = 0.42, 0.65, 0.81, 0.81) were not affected by high versus low kcal, PRO, fat, CHO intake, respectively. Recovery (p = 0.81, 0.06, 0.81, 0.92), RHR (p = 0.84, 0.64, 0.26, 0.66), or HRV (p = 0.84, 0.70, 0.76, 0.93) were also not affected by high versus low kcal, PRO, fat, or CHO consumption, respectively. Consuming a small meal before bed may have no impact on sleep or recovery

Pre-sleep feeding, sleep quality, and markers of recovery in division I NCAA female soccer players

International audiencePre-sleep nutrition habits in elite female athletes have yet to be evaluated. A retrospective analysis was performed with 14 NCAA Division I female soccer players who wore a WHOOP, Inc. banda wearable device that quantifies recovery by measuring sleep, activity, and heart rate metrics through actigraphy and photoplethysmography, respectively-24 h a day for an entire competitive season to measure sleep and recovery. Pre-sleep food consumption data were collected via surveys every 3 days. Average pre-sleep nutritional intake (mean ± sd: kcals 330 ± 284; cho 46.2 ± 40.5 g; pro 7.6 ± 7.3 g; fat 12 ± 10.5 g) was recorded. Macronutrients and kcals were grouped into high and low categories based upon the 50 th percentile of the mean to compare the impact of a high versus low pre-sleep intake on sleep and recovery variables. Sleep duration (p = 0.10, 0.69, 0.16, 0.17) and sleep disturbances (p = 0