Assessment of Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Practices, and Sources of Nutrition Information in NCAA Division III Collegiate Athletes.

Nutrition knowledge is a critical component of meeting sport nutrition guidelines. The present study aimed to evaluate the sport nutrition knowledge of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III (DIII) athletes using a validated questionnaire, and to assess the dietary practices and sources of nutrition information in this population. A total of 331 student-athletes

Acute ingestion of a novel whey-derived peptide improves vascular endothelial responses in healthy individuals: a randomized, placebo controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whey protein is a potential source of bioactive peptides. Based on findings from <it>in vitro </it>experiments indicating a novel whey derived peptide (NOP-47) increased endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, we tested its effects on vascular function in humans.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study design was used. Healthy men (n = 10) and women (n = 10) (25 ± 5 y, BMI = 24.3 ± 2.3 kg/m²) participated in two vascular testing days each preceded by 2 wk of supplementation with a single dose of 5 g/day of a novel whey-derived peptide (NOP-47) or placebo. There was a 2 wk washout period between trials. After 2 wk of supplementation, vascular function in the forearm and circulating oxidative stress and inflammatory related biomarkers were measured serially for 2 h after ingestion of 5 g of NOP-47 or placebo. Macrovascular and microvascular function were assessed using brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) and venous occlusion strain gauge plethysmography.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline peak FMD was not different for Placebo (7.7%) and NOP-47 (7.8%). Placebo had no effect on FMD at 30, 60, and 90 min post-ingestion (7.5%, 7.2%, and 7.6%, respectively) whereas NOP-47 significantly improved FMD responses at these respective postprandial time points compared to baseline (8.9%, 9.9%, and 9.0%; <it>P </it>< 0.0001 for time × trial interaction). Baseline reactive hyperemia forearm blood flow was not different for placebo (27.2 ± 7.2%/min) and NOP-47 (27.3 ± 7.6%/min). Hyperemia blood flow measured 120 min post-ingestion (27.2 ± 7.8%/min) was unaffected by placebo whereas NOP-47 significantly increased hyperemia compared to baseline (29.9 ± 7.8%/min; <it>P </it>= 0.008 for time × trial interaction). Plasma myeloperoxidase was increased transiently by both NOP-47 and placebo, but there were no changes in markers inflammation. Plasma total nitrites/nitrates significantly decreased over the 2 hr post-ingestion period and were lower at 120 min after placebo (-25%) compared to NOP-47 (-18%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings indicate that supplementation with a novel whey-derived peptide in healthy individuals improves vascular function.</p

Characterizing the tropospheric ozone response to methane emission controls and the benefits to climate and air quality

Reducing methane (CH4) emissions is an attractive option for jointly addressing climate and ozone (O3) air quality goals. With multidecadal full-chemistry transient simulations in the MOZART-2 tropospheric chemistry model, we show that tropospheric O3 responds approximately linearly to changes in CH4 emissions over a range of anthropogenic emissions from 0–430 Tg CH4 a−1 (0.11–0.16 Tg tropospheric O3 or ∼11–15 ppt global mean surface O3 decrease per Tg a−1 CH4 reduced). We find that neither the air quality nor climate benefits depend strongly on the location of the CH4 emission reductions, implying that the lowest cost emission controls can be targeted. With a series of future (2005–2030) transient simulations, we demonstrate that cost-effective CH4 controls would offset the positive climate forcing from CH4 and O3 that would otherwise occur (from increases in NOx and CH4 emissions in the baseline scenario) and improve O3 air quality. We estimate that anthropogenic CH4 contributes 0.7 Wm−2 to climate forcing and ∼4 ppb to surface O3 in 2030 under the baseline scenario. Although the response of surface O3 to CH4 is relatively uniform spatially compared to that from other O3 precursors, it is strongest in regions where surface air mixes frequently with the free troposphere and where the local O3 formation regime is NOx-saturated. In the model, CH4 oxidation within the boundary layer (below ∼2.5 km) contributes more to surface O3 than CH4 oxidation in the free troposphere. In NOx-saturated regions, the surface O3 sensitivity to CH4 can be twice that of the global mean, with >70% of this sensitivity resulting from boundary layer oxidation of CH4. Accurately representing the NOx distribution is thus crucial for quantifying the O3 sensitivity to CH4

Limited Effect of Dietary Saturated Fat on Plasma Saturated Fat in the Context of a Low Carbohydrate Diet

We recently showed that a hypocaloric carbohydrate restricted diet (CRD) had two striking effects: (1) a reduction in plasma saturated fatty acids (SFA) despite higher intake than a low fat diet, and (2) a decrease in inflammation despite a significant increase in arachidonic acid (ARA). Here we extend these findings in 8 weight stable men who were fed two 6-week CRD (12%en carbohydrate) varying in quality of fat. One CRD emphasized SFA (CRD-SFA, 86 g/d SFA) and the other, unsaturated fat (CRD-UFA, 47 g SFA/d). All foods were provided to subjects. Both CRD decreased serum triacylglycerol (TAG) and insulin, and increased LDL-C particle size. The CRD-UFA significantly decreased plasma TAG SFA (27.48 ± 2.89 mol%) compared to baseline (31.06 ± 4.26 mol%). Plasma TAG SFA, however, remained unchanged in the CRD-SFA (33.14 ± 3.49 mol%) despite a doubling in SFA intake. Both CRD significantly reduced plasma palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) indicating decreased de novo lipogenesis. CRD-SFA significantly increased plasma phospholipid ARA content, while CRD-UFA significantly increased EPA and DHA. Urine 8-iso PGF2α, a free radical-catalyzed product of ARA, was significantly lower than baseline following CRD-UFA (−32%). There was a significant inverse correlation between changes in urine 8-iso PGF2α and PL ARA on both CRD (r = −0.82 CRD-SFA; r = −0.62 CRD-UFA). These findings are consistent with the concept that dietary saturated fat is efficiently metabolized in the presence of low carbohydrate, and that a CRD results in better preservation of plasma ARA

The Effects of Dietary Macronutrient Composition on Whole Body Insulin Sensitivity through Modification of Cellular Lipid Composition

Individuals with metabolic syndrome (n = 15) were fed two hypocaloric diets, ~500 kcal below energy requirements, of individually prepared foods for 21 days. The diets consisted of a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) (% carbohydrate:fat:protein = 7:74:20) and a low-fat diet (LFD) (55:28:20) reflective of the current US dietary recommendations. The LCD diet resulted in a net weekly intake of 2.69 g of arachidonic acid (ARA) in comparison to the 1.27 g/wk consumed during the LFD. The LCD significantly increased plasma ARA and decreased dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) in all three circulating lipid fractions as well as buccal cells in comparison to the LFD. Correlational analysis of plasma lipids with HOMA2 scores showed plasma ARA to be positively associated with insulin sensitivity in all three lipoprotein fractions during both diet phases. Total buccal cell ARA did not correlate to measures of insulin sensitivity in either diet phase, but DGLA was negatively correlated to insulin sensitivity during the LCD. The highly significant and consistent increase in circulating ARA after feeding a low-carbohydrate diet could be a result of multiple factors including better preservation of the existing ARA pool, increased dietary intake, greater endogenous synthesis and greater release into the circulation from adipose triglyceride stores. Given the importance of ARA in cellular membranes as it relates to insulin sensitivity, these results indicate that a low-carbohydrate diet promotes a favorable circulating and membrane fatty acid composition

Metabolic characteristics of keto-adapted ultra-endurance runners Metabolic characteristics of keto-adapted ultra-endurance runners

ABSTRACT Background: Many successful ultra-endurance athletes have switched from a high-carbohydrat

Baseline subject characteristics¹.

<p><i>¹Values are mean ± SD (range).</i></p><p><i>²Determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.</i></p><p><i>³HOMA  =  homeostatic model assessment  =  [fasting glucose (mmol/L) x insulin (mU/L)]/22.5.</i></p><p><i>*5 subjects were using anti-hypertensive medications.</i></p><p>Baseline subject characteristics^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113605#nt101" target="_blank">1</a>}.</p

Cumulative change from baseline in (A) body mass and fat mass from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, (B) fasting lipoproteins, (C) insulin resistance determined from homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), and (D) blood pressure in 16 subjects who switched to a very low carbohydrate diet and then incrementally increased carbohydrate every 3 wk over six sequential phases (C1→C2→C3→C4→C5→C6).

<p>BL  =  baseline, FL  =  free-living low-carbohydrate diet). Significant differences from Baseline vs C1 were determined by dependent t-test and indicated by an asterisk. Differences from C1 to C6 were determined by repeated measures ANOVA and Fisher's LSD post hoc. Different letters at a time point indicate statistical significance.</p