Quality protein intake is inversely related with abdominal fat

Dietary protein intake and specifically the quality of the protein in the diet has become an area of recent interest. This study determined the relationship between the amount of quality protein, carbohydrate, and dietary fat consumed and the amount of times the ~10 g essential amino acid (EAA) threshold was reached at a meal, with percent central abdominal fat (CAF). Quality protein was defined as the ratio of EAA to total dietary protein. Quality protein consumed in a 24-hour period and the amount of times reaching the EAA threshold per day was inversely related to percent CAF, but not for carbohydrate or dietary fat. In conclusion, moderate to strong correlations between variables indicate that quality and distribution of protein may play an important role in regulating CAF, which is a strong independent marker for disease and mortality

Association of whole-genome and NETRIN1 signaling pathway-derived polygenic risk scores for Major Depressive Disorder and white matter microstructure in UK Biobank

Background: Major depressive disorder is a clinically heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with a polygenic architecture. Genome-wide association studies have identified a number of risk-associated variants across the genome and have reported growing evidence of NETRIN1 pathway involvement. Stratifying disease risk by genetic variation within the NETRIN1 pathway may provide important routes for identification of disease mechanisms by focusing on a specific process, excluding heterogeneous risk-associated variation in other pathways. Here, we sought to investigate whether major depressive disorder polygenic risk scores derived from the NETRIN1 signaling pathway (NETRIN1-PRSs) and the whole genome, excluding NETRIN1 pathway genes (genomic-PRSs), were associated with white matter microstructure. Methods: We used two diffusion tensor imaging measures, fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), in the most up-to-date UK Biobank neuroimaging data release (FA: n = 6401; MD: n = 6390). Results: We found significantly lower FA in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (β = −.035, p =.029) and significantly higher MD in a global measure of thalamic radiations (β =.029, p =.021), as well as higher MD in the superior (β =.034, p =.039) and inferior (β =.029, p =.043) longitudinal fasciculus and in the anterior (β =.025, p =.046) and superior (β =.027, p =.043) thalamic radiation associated with NETRIN1-PRS. Genomic-PRS was also associated with lower FA and higher MD in several tracts. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that variation in the NETRIN1 signaling pathway may confer risk for major depressive disorder through effects on a number of white matter tracts

Effects Of Amino Acids And Their Metabolites On Aerobic And Anaerobic Sports

Groups of amino acids, as well as individual amino acids, have been studied for their roles in protein balance, hormone secretion, immune function, or capacity to be converted to various anabolic or anticatabolic metabolites. Specific amino acids with extensive analysis include the essential amino acids, branched chain amino acids, arginine, taurine, glutamine, b-alanine, and the leucine metabolite, b-hydroxyb- methylbutyrate. The purpose of this article is to analyze the possible roles and practical applications of these amino acids in the regulation of body composition and performance in anaerobic and aerobic sports. Copyright © 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Validity Of Near-Infrared Interactance (Futrex 6100/Xl) For Estimating Body Fat Percentage In Elite Rowers

This investigation aimed to compare hydrostatic weighing (HW) with near-infrared interactance (NIR) and skinfold measurements (SKF) in estimating body fat percentage (FAT%) in rowing athletes. FAT% was estimated in 20 elite male rowers (mean ± SD: age = 24·8 ± 2·2 years, height = 191·0 ± 6·8 cm, weight = 86·8 ± 11·3 kg, HW FAT% = 11·50 ± 3·16%) using HW with residual volume, 3-site SKF and NIR on the biceps brachii. Predicted FAT% values for NIR and SKF were validated against the criterion method of HW. Constant error was not significant for NIR (−0·06, P = 0·955) or SKF (−0·20, P = 0·813). Neither NIR (r = 0·045) nor SKF (r = 0·229) demonstrated significant validity coefficients when compared to HW. The standard error of the estimate values for NIR and SKF were both less than 3·5%, while total error was 4·34% and 3·60%, respectively. When compared to HW, SKF and NIR provide similar mean values when compared to HW, but the lack of apparent relationships between individual values and borderline unacceptable total error may limit their application in this population

The Effects Of Tournament Preparation On Anthropometric And Sport-Specific Performancemeasures In Youth Judo Athletes

The purpose of this study was to characterize the adaptations imposed by 4 weeks of precompetition judo training in youth athletes. It was hypothesized that anthropometric and sport-specific performance would improve during the preparation for a junior national championship event. Twenty youth athletes (mean ± SD; chronological age: 13.1 ± 3.2 years; training age: 5.3 ± 3.5 years; judo experience: 7.8 ± 2.5 hours per week) completed pretesting and posttesting procedures. Child (12 years old; n = 8) and adolescent (13 years old; n = 12) groups were evaluated to determine the anthropometric and sport-specific performance changes caused by 4 weeks of judo training conducted in preparation for the junior national championships. The child group showed an increase in flexibility (11.5%), and the adolescent group showed a decrease in skinfold thickness (212.2%); increased jumping power (26.7%), force (7.7%), and velocity (19.0%); and improved judo-specific ability (25.9%), as measured by the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) index. Additionally, the SJFT index for all the study participants was shown to be inversely correlated to handgrip strength (r = 20.681), rope pull performance (r = 20.545), and jump height (r = 20.503). These results support the use of preparatory judo training in the improvement of anthropometric and sport-specific measures in adolescent athletes. Furthermore, the outcomes from this study provide direction for coaches and trainers in their efforts to impact physical performance and judo skills in children and adolescents through precompetition training. © 2013 National Strength and Conditioning Association

Association of Whole-Genome and NETRIN1 Signaling Pathway-Derived Polygenic Risk Scores for Major Depressive Disorder and White Matter Microstructure in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder is a clinically heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with a polygenic architecture. Genome-wide association studies have identified a number of risk-associated variants across the genome and have reported growing evidence of NETRIN1 pathway involvement. Stratifying disease risk by genetic variation within the NETRIN1 pathway may provide important routes for identification of disease mechanisms by focusing on a specific process, excluding heterogeneous risk-associated variation in other pathways. Here, we sought to investigate whether major depressive disorder polygenic risk scores derived from the NETRIN1 signaling pathway (NETRIN1-PRSs) and the whole genome, excluding NETRIN1 pathway genes (genonnic-PRSs), were associated with white matter microstructure