Omega-3s lower rheumatoid arthritis risk, says new study

          

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                 Ann Rheum Dis doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203338

Long-term intake of dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study of women

 Daniela Di Giuseppe1, Alice Wallin1, Matteo Bottai2, Johan Askling3, Alicja Wolk1

+ Author Affiliations

 1Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

 2Division of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

3Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Correspondence to Professor Alicja Wolk, Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden; Alicja.Wolk@ki.se

Published Online First 12 August 2013

 Abstract

 Objectives

To analyse the association between dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in middle-aged and older women from the Swedish Mammography Cohort, a population-based prospective study.

 Methods

Data on diet were collected in 1987 and 1997 via a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The risk of RA associated with dietary long-chain n-3 PUFAs and fish intake was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for age, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, use of aspirin and energy intake.

Results

 Among 32 232 women born 1914–1948, 205 RA cases were identified during a mean follow-up of 7.5 years (1 January 2003 to 31 December 2010; 2 41 120 person-years). An intake of dietary long-chain n-3 PUFAs (FFQ1997) of more than 0.21 g/day (lowest quintile) was associated with a 35% decreased risk of developing RA (multivariable adjusted relative risk (RR) 0.65; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.90) compared with a lower intake. Long-term intake consistently higher than 0.21 g/day (according to both FFQ1987 and FFQ1997) was associated with a 52% (95% CI 29% to 67%) decreased risk. Consistent long-term consumption (FFQ1987 and FFQ1997) of fish ≥1 serving per week compared with <1 was associated with a 29% decrease in risk (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.04).

 Conclusions

 This prospective study of women supports the hypothesis that dietary intake of long-chain n-3 PUFAs may play a role in aetiology of RA.

Source

Why kids’ hydration status is improved with fruit, vegetable intake

        

 Posted on August 22, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                 Contribution of fruit and vegetable intake to hydration status in schoolchildren 1,2,3 First published August 21, 2013, doi: 10.3945/​ajcn.112.051490 Am J Clin Nutr October 2013 ajcn.051490 Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt, Simone A Johner, and Thomas Remer

 + Author Affiliations

1From Institut für Ernährungs-und Lebensmittelwissenschaften Nutritional Epidemiology, University of Bonn, DONALD Study at the Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Dortmund, Germany.

 + Author Notes

↵2 Supported by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany (DONALD Study), and a research fellowship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD; to GM-B).

↵3 Address correspondence and requests for reprints to T. Remer, IEL-Nutritional Epidemiology, University of Bonn, DONALD Study at the Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Heinstück 11, 44225 Dortmund, Germany. E-mail: remer@fke-do.de.

Abstract

 Background:

 The specific effects of fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake on water balance and consequently on 24-h hydration status (HS) are unknown.

Objectives:

In a large observational cohort of German children, we examined whether a higher F&V intake per se is associated with improved HS and attempted to quantify the influence of greater consumption of F&Vs on HS.

 Design:

A total of 1286 complete 3-d weighed dietary records and 24-h urine samples for 442 children (4- to 10-y-olds) collected in 2000–2010 in the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study were analyzed. Free water reserve [FWR; urine volume (mL/24 h) minus obligatory urine volume (mL/24 h)] served as an HS biomarker. Median FWR and water balance variables were analyzed in different categories of solid-F&V intakes. Repeated-measures regression models (PROC MIXED; SAS Institute), adjusted for all other dietary water sources, were used to quantify the separate effects of solid-F&V and F&V-juice consumption on FWR.

Results:

 Negative FWR values, which indicated risk of hypohydration, were observed in 22% of children. FWR was significantly higher in solid-F&V consumers with high intakes than in those with low intakes (P < 0.0001). PROC MIXED models predicted an increase of 46 mL in FWR (average in boys and girls) when increasing solid-F&V intake by 100 g. Similar results were observed for F&V juice (β = 43, P < 0.0001). Drinking water and milk were the other significant dietary predictors of FWR. Solid F&Vs and F&V juices contributed 12% and 10%, respectively, to total water intake.

Conclusions:

These data confirm that regular intake of F&Vs may relevantly improve HS in children. Dietary interventions to increase F&V intake may be a promising strategy to achieve positive water balance in this population.

Source

Yoga for depression could be an option

       

   Posted on August 18, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                 Depress Anxiety. 2013 Aug 6. doi: 10.1002/da.22166.

 [Epub ahead of print]

YOGA FOR DEPRESSION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Cramer H, Lauche R, Langhorst J, Dobos G. Source: Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

 Abstract

BACKGROUND:

 Mind-body medical interventions are commonly used to cope with depression and yoga is one of the most commonly used mind-body interventions. The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta-analyze the effectiveness of yoga for depression.

 METHODS:

Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and IndMED were searched through January 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga for patients with depressive disorders and individuals with elevated levels of depression were included. Main outcomes were severity of depression and remission rates, secondary outcomes were anxiety, quality of life, and safety.

RESULTS:

Twelve RCTs with 619 participants were included. Three RCTs had low risk of bias. Regarding severity of depression, there was moderate evidence for short-term effects of yoga compared to usual care (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.99, -0.39; P < .001), and limited evidence compared to relaxation (SMD = -0.62; 95%CI -1.03, -0.22; P = .003), and aerobic exercise (SMD = -0.59; 95% CI -0.99, -0.18; P = .004). Limited evidence was found for short-term effects of yoga on anxiety compared to relaxation (SMD = -0.79; 95% CI -1.3, -0.26; P = .004). Subgroup analyses revealed evidence for effects in patients with depressive disorders and in individuals with elevated levels of depression. Due to the paucity and heterogeneity of the RCTs, no meta-analyses on long-term effects were possible. No RCT reported safety data.

CONCLUSIONS:

 Despite methodological drawbacks of the included studies, yoga could be considered an ancillary treatment option for patients with depressive disorders and individuals with elevated levels of depression.

Source - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/yoga-for-depression-could-be-an-option/depression/#sthash.ADBtXopY.dpuf

Pain sensitivity is normalized after a repeated bout of eccentric exercise

      

    Posted on August 18, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013 Aug 7.

[Epub ahead of print]

Pain sensitivity is normalized after a repeated bout of eccentric exercise. Hosseinzadeh M, Andersen OK, Arendt-Nielsen L, Madeleine P.

 Source:

Physical Activity and Human Performance Group, Department of Health Science and Technology (HST), Faculty of Medicine, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Aalborg University (AAU), Fredrik Bajers vej 7D-3, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark.

Abstract

 PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated bouts of eccentric exercise on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) threshold, a measure of sensitivity in the spinal nociceptive system.

METHODS:

Sixteen healthy students (age 25.7 ± 0.6 years, BMI 24.8 ± 1 kg m-2) participated in this randomized, controlled, crossover study. Two identical bouts of high-intensity eccentric exercises were performed on the tibialis anterior muscle 7 days apart. Control sessions involving no exercise were performed 4 weeks apart the exercise sessions. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and the NWR threshold were recorded before, immediately after, and 1 day after both bouts of exercise.

RESULTS:

Pressure pain thresholds decreased significantly at two of the muscle belly sites on the day after initial bout compared with baseline. NWR threshold decreased by 25 ± 4 % immediately after initial bout and by 30 ± 5 % the next day (p < 0.05) as an indication of generalized pain hypersensitivity. On the contrary, no changes were found in both pain thresholds after second bout of eccentric exercise indicating that both localized and generalized pain sensitivity were normalized.

 CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, this study for the first time documented that an initial bout of unaccustomed high-intensity eccentric exercise, which results in muscle soreness can induce central sensitization. A repeated bout of exercise, however, facilitates inherent protective spinal mechanisms against the development of muscle soreness.

 Source - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/pain-sensitivity-is-normalized-after-a-repeated-bout-of-eccentric-exercise/benefits-exercise/#sthash.qUpiKXRH.dpuf

A 6-month resistance training intervention can positively affect the self-concept and strength of overweight and obese adolescent boys

        

  Posted on August 17, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                 Br J Sports Med. 2013 Aug 14. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092209. [Epub ahead of print] Can resistance training change the strength, body composition and self-concept of overweight and obese adolescent males? A randomised controlled trial. Schranz N, Tomkinson G, Parletta N, Petkov J, Olds T.

 Source:

Health and Use of Time (HUT) Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

 Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM:

Resistance training is an exercise modality at which overweight and obese adolescents can excel and which can therefore positively affect their psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a 6-month resistance training intervention on the self-concept strength and body composition of overweight and obese adolescent males.

METHODS:

56 overweight and obese males aged 13-17 years were randomly allocated to an Intervention (n=30) or Control (n=26) group. Primary (psychological) and secondary (strength and body composition) outcomes were assessed at baseline as well as at 3 (halfway through the intervention), 6 (immediately postintervention) and 12 months follow-up. Random effects mixed modelling was used to determine the effects of the intervention.

 RESULTS:

Statistically significant differences between the Intervention and Control groups were observed at 3-month and 6-month assessments for exercise self-efficacy, resistance training confidence and self-esteem. Large increases in strength for the Intervention group, relative to Controls, were also observed with no substantial changes in body composition shown for either group. Values for all variables returned to baseline following completion of the programme.

 CONCLUSIONS:

 A 6-month resistance training intervention can positively affect the self-concept and strength of overweight and obese adolescent boys.

 - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/a-6-month-resistance-training-intervention-can-positively-affect-the-self-concept-and-strength-of-overweight-and-obese-adolescent-boys/resistance-strength-training/#sthash.7lPqrXx9.dpuf

Helping older adults set realistic exercise-related goals may yield an increase in their activity

                    

   Posted on August 17, 2013 by Stone Hearth News


                 J Aging Phys Act. 2013 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print] Older Women’s Personal Goals and Exercise Activity: An Eight-Year Follow-Up. Saajanaho M, Viljanen A, Read S, Rantakokko M, Tsai LT, Kaprio J, Jylhä M, Rantanen T. Source: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.

 Abstract

 This study investigated the associations of personal goals with exercise activity as well as the relationships between exercise-related and other personal goals among older women.

Both cross-sectional and longitudinal design was used with a sample of 308 women aged 66 to 79 years at baseline.

 Women who reported exercise-related personal goals were four times more likely to report high exercise activity at baseline compared to those who did not report exercise-related goals.

Longitudinal results were parallel.

Goals related to cultural activities as well as to busying oneself around home coincided with exercise-related goals, while goals related to own and other people’s health and independent living lowered the odds of having exercise-related goals.

Helping older adults to set realistic exercise-related goals that are compatible with their other life goals may yield an increase in their exercise activity, but this should be evaluated in a controlled trial.

 Source - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/helping-older-adults-set-realistic-exercise-related-goals-may-yield-an-increase-in-their-activity/exercise/#sthash.Bk9NBku9.dpuf

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: TEAM ROUSEY VS. TEAM TATE CAST REVEALED

 

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER^®: TEAM ROUSEY VS. TEAM TATE CAST REVEALED

 

Inaugural Season on FOX Sports 1 kicks off with a special two-hour premiere, Wednesday, September 4 at 10 p.m. ET

 

Thirty-two bantamweight fighters compete for 16 exclusive spots and a chance to work with UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and rival Miesha Tate, as coaches

 

Las Vegas, Nev. – On Wednesday, Sept. 4, history will be made as the Ultimate Fighting Championship^®’s long-running reality series, The Ultimate Fighter^®, makes its debut on America's new sports network, FOX Sports 1. UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and No.1 title contender Miesha Tate serve as coaches in the first ever season to feature women as coaches and cast members. The Ultimate Fighter^®: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate kicks off with a two-hour premiere beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

 

In this 18^th edition of the series, 16 men and 16 women bantamweight (135 lbs.) fighters will face off in the most challenging sports tournament on television. The premiere episode will determine the eight men and eight women who will successfully move into The Ultimate Fighter house and compete for a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a six-figure contract with the UFC^®.

 

Catch a series preview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl0MSMgIW4g&feature=youtu.be

 

The successful fighters will then be divided into two teams, coached by Rousey and Tate respectively. The series will follow the teams as they live and train together in preparation for their fights. The coaches will then face off in the Octagon^® for the women’s bantamweight title on Saturday, Dec. 28, at UFC^® 168: WEIDMAN vs. SILVA at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  

 

“This season of The Ultimate Fighter was monumental, as we had women as coaches and competitors – fighting and living together with the men – for the first time ever,” UFC president Dana White said. “Obviously the fierce rivalry between Ronda and Miesha is going to get everyone’s attention, but it doesn’t take away from their dedication and success as coaches and the level of talent this season. One of the things that always makes The Ultimate Fighter great is the fights, and this season continues to deliver. Since we added the women’s division earlier this year, they’ve been putting on awesome fights, and the streak continues on the show, giving the men some serious competition and setting up some Fight-of-the-Night worthy battles.” 

 

"FOX Sports 1 is now the exclusive home of the UFC. To have a show that packs this kind of power and gives our viewers a raw, emotional look into becoming an MMA professional is reality television at it's best. We can't wait for the September 4th premiere," said FOX Sports 1 Co-president Eric Shanks. 

 

The Ultimate Fighter^®: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate will anchor FOX Sports 1’s UFC Wednesday block and run for 13 weeks. Each episode’s winners will advance in the single-elimination tournament, which will culminate in a three-hour finale, live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 30. Tickets set to go on sale to the public on October 11.

 

The list of finalists was trimmed from more than 200 applicants, with the final fighters hailing from the United States, Canada, England, Ireland and Sweden. The competitors are, in alphabetical order (Name, Professional MMA record, Age, Fighting Out Of):

 

Shayna Baszler (15-8), 33, Sioux Fall, S.D.

Revelina Berto, (3-1), 24, Winter Haven, Fla.

Jessamyn Duke (2-0, 1NC), 27, Richmond, Ky.

Tonya Evinger (11-6), 32, Lake St. Louis, Mo.

Laura Howarth (4-0), 26, Hove, East Essex, ENG

Tara LaRosa (21-3), 35, Albuquerque, N.M.

Valerie Letourneau (4-3), 30, La Prairie, CAN

Bethany Marshall (4-1), 25, Newport News, Va.

Sarah Moras (3-1), 25, Kelowna, CAN

Margaret “Peggy” Morgan (2-0), 33, Nashua, N.H.

Gina Mazany (3-0), 25, Seattle, Wash.

Roxanne Modafferi (15-10), 30, Yokohama, JPN

Julianna Pena (4-2), 24, Spokane, Wash.

Raquel Pennington (3-3), 24, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Jessica Rakoczy (1-3), 36, Las Vegas, Nev.

Colleen Schneider (4-3), 31, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Christopher Beal (7-0), 28, Somis, Calif.

Cody Bollinger (14-3), 22, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Louis Fisette (6-1), 23, Winnipeg, CAN

Rafael Freitas (6-0-1), 29, Albuquerque, N.M.

David Grant (8-1), 27, Bishop Auckland, ENG

Tim Gorman (9-2), 30, West Des Moines, Iowa

Anthony Gutierrez (4-0), 22, Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Emil Hartsner (4-0), 23, Luberod, SWE

Joshua Hill (9-0), 26, Binbrook, CAN

Chris Holdsworth (4-0), 25, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Patrick Holohan (9-0-1), 25, Dublin, IRL

Sirwan Kakai (9-1), 23, Coconut Creek, Fla.

Daniel Martinez (18-4), 28, San Diego, Calif.

Matthew Munsey (4-1), 26, Hollywood, Fla.

Lee Sandmeier (9-0), 30, Knoxville, Iowa

Michael Wootten (6-0), 24, Liverpool, ENG

 

Many of today’s most recognizable names in the UFC have emerged from The Ultimate Fighter series, which also produced champions such as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans and Matt Serra and season winners Michael Bisping, Ryan Bader and Nate Diaz.

 

For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter under our new name @TUFonFS1 or on Facebook.com/TUF.