Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior Are Linked to Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide. Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor to the cardiovascular diseases. It has been reported that disruptions of the circadian clockwork are associated with and may predispose to metabolic syndrome. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 8028 individuals attended a nationwide health examination survey in Finland. Data were collected with a face-to-face interview at home and during an individual health status examination. The waist circumference, height, weight and blood pressure were measured and samples were taken for laboratory tests. Participants were assessed using the ATP-III criteria for metabolic syndrome and with the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for their seasonal changes in mood and behavior. Seasonal changes in weight in particular were a risk factor of metabolic syndrome, after controlling for a number of known risk and potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Metabolic syndrome is associated with high global scores on the seasonal changes in mood and behavior, and with those in weight in particular. Assessment of these changes may serve as a useful indicator of metabolic syndrome, because of easy assessment. Abnormalities in the circadian clockwork which links seasonal fluctuations to metabolic cycles may predispose to seasonal changes in weight and to metabolic syndrome

Training after myocardial infarction : Lack of long-term effects on physical capacity and psychological variables

This study evaluated long-term effects of 12 weeks of supervised training, of at least 45 minutes duration with two sessions per week, on physical performance and psychological well-being after myocardial infarction (MI). Sixty-nine patients were randomized to either an exercise or a nonexercise group. Maximum exercise capacity 6 weeks post-MI was inversely related to the acute peak aspartate aminotransferase values in serum, as an index of infarct size. One year post-MI, the increase in level of fitness (10%) in the training group did not significantly exceed (p = .10) that of the controls (2%). No intergroup differences were registered in self-rated psychological well-being and physical scores or in the return to work rate. In the training group, but not in the controls, the change in perceived dyspnoea at leisure- time activities was positively related to the objectively measured peak exercise capacity. We conclude that after MI only marginal improvements in physical performance are achieved 6 months after training is finished, with no long-term psychological benefits apparent versus a usual care program. The adaptive implications of supervised conventional exercise programs post-MI are therefore questioned

Children with cerebral palsy do not achieve healthy physical activity levels

AimThis study compared daily activity energy expenditure (AEE) in children with cerebral palsy with a control group and investigated whether the children achieved healthy levels of physical activity. MethodsWe enrolled eight children with bilateral cerebral palsy, from eight to 10years of age, and a group of controls matched for age and gender. For three days, physical activity was simultaneously measured by accelerometers and self-reports using a diary. The daily AEE results were compared between groups and methods. The number of children that achieved healthy physical activity levels in each group was explored. ResultsChildren with cerebral palsy had significantly lower daily AEE, as measured by accelerometers, than the controls, and they did not achieve the healthy moderate to heavy physical activity level defined in the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. Self-reports using the diaries resulted in an overestimation of physical activity compared with the ankle accelerometer measurements in both groups. ConclusionOur investigation of physical activity in children with cerebral palsy and controls using accelerometers and a diary found low levels of daily AEE and physical activity, and these results were most prominent in the group with cerebral palsy. The diaries overestimated physical activity in both groups.Funding Agencies|Norrbacka Eugenia Foundation; Royal Court Wedding Foundation</p

Safety and tolerability of 6-month supplementation with a vitamin D, calcium and leucine-enriched whey protein medical nutrition drink in sarcopenic older adults

Aims: Safety and tolerability of prolonged supplementation with a vitamin D, calcium and leucine-enriched whey protein medical nutrition drink (WP-MND) was evaluated in sarcopenic older adults. Methods: A 13-week double-blinded, randomized, isocaloric placebo-controlled trial (PROVIDE study; n = 380) was extended with a voluntary 13-week open-label extension (OLE). OLE participants were randomized to receive daily 1 or 2 servings of WP-MND (21\ua0g protein, 3\ua0g leucine, 10\ua0\ub5g vitD and 500\ua0mg calcium per serving). Gastro-intestinal tolerability, kidney function and serum levels of calcidiol, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium were evaluated at week 0, 13 and 26. Results and discussion: In response to the high daily protein intake (median1.5; IQR: 1.3, 1.7\ua0g/kg BW/day), the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased in the test group during the RCT (p = 0.013). The same trend was observed for those participants with moderate chronic kidney disease. During OLE no eGFR change was observed in any of the groups. Serum calcidiol and calcium reached a plateau after 13-week WP-MND supplementation. As expected, PTH significantly changed in the opposite direction, decreasing during RCT in the test group (T vs C: p 2.55\ua0mmol/L (T: n = 3; C: n = 3), without associated adverse events. Conclusion: A 6\ua0months intervention with up to 2 servings of WP-MND did neither result in kidney function deterioration nor symptoms of vitamin D or calcium toxicity. The product was overall well tolerated

Safety and tolerability of 6-month supplementation with a vitamin D, calcium and leucine-enriched whey protein medical nutrition drink in sarcopenic older adults

Aims Safety and tolerability of prolonged supplementation with a vitamin D, calcium and leucine-enriched whey protein medical nutrition drink (WP-MND) was evaluated in sarcopenic older adults. Methods A 13-week double-blinded, randomized, isocaloric placebo-controlled trial (PROVIDE study;n = 380) was extended with a voluntary 13-week open-label extension (OLE). OLE participants were randomized to receive daily 1 or 2 servings of WP-MND (21 g protein, 3 g leucine, 10 mu g vitD and 500 mg calcium per serving). Gastro-intestinal tolerability, kidney function and serum levels of calcidiol, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium were evaluated at week 0, 13 and 26. Results and discussion In response to the high daily protein intake (median1.5; IQR: 1.3, 1.7 g/kg BW/day), the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased in the test group during the RCT (p = 0.013). The same trend was observed for those participants with moderate chronic kidney disease. During OLE no eGFR change was observed in any of the groups. Serum calcidiol and calcium reached a plateau after 13-week WP-MND supplementation. As expected, PTH significantly changed in the opposite direction, decreasing during RCT in the test group (T vs C:p &lt; 0.001) and during OLE in former control groups. During RCT, 20/366 participants with normal baseline calcidiol reached levels &gt;= 100 nmol/L (T:n = 18; C:n = 2) and 6 developed albumin-corrected calcium levels &gt; 2.55 mmol/L (T:n = 3; C:n = 3), without associated adverse events. Conclusion A 6 months intervention with up to 2 servings of WP-MND did neither result in kidney function deterioration nor symptoms of vitamin D or calcium toxicity. The product was overall well tolerated