Low Vitamin C and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Young Adults

 

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

                  

Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2015 Sep;20(3):198-203. doi: 10.3746/pnf.2015.20.3.198. Epub 2015 Apr 13.
Low Nourishment of Vitamin C Induces Glutathione Depletion and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Young Adults.
Waly MI1, Al-Attabi Z1, Guizani N1.

Author information

1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Sultanate of Oman.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the status of vitamin C among healthy young adults in relation to serum antioxidant parameters [glutathione (GSH), thiols, and total antioxidant capacity, (TAC)], and oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrites plus nitrates (NN)].
A prospective study included 200 young adults, and their dietary intake was assessed by using food diaries.

Fasting plasma vitamin C, serum levels of GSH, thiols, TAC, MDA, and NN were measured using biochemical assays.

It was observed that 38% of the enrolled subjects, n=76, had an adequate dietary intake of vitamin C (ADI group).

Meanwhile, 62%, n=124, had a low dietary intake of vitamin C (LDI group) as compared to the recommended dietary allowances.

The fasting plasma level of vitamin C was significantly higher in the ADI group as compared to the LDI group.

Oxidative stress in the sera of the LDI group was evidenced by depletion of GSH, low thiols levels, impairment of TAC, an elevation of MDA, and increased NN.

In the ADI group, positive correlations were found between plasma vitamin C and serum antioxidant parameters (GSH, thiols, and TAC).

Meanwhile, the plasma vitamin C was negatively correlated with serum MDA and NN levels.
This study reveals a significant increase of oxidative stress status and reduced antioxidant capacity in sera from healthy young adults with low intake of the dietary antioxidant, vitamin C.

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Exercise eases knee osteoarthritis, temporarily

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

     

(Reuters Health) – A therapeutic program of weight-bearing exercise reduces pain and improves joint function, at least for two to six months, for people with osteoarthritis, according to a review of previous trials.

“We had a systematic review for Cochrane from 2008 and 2009, but there were much less articles,” said Dr. Martin Van der Esch, who coauthored the review. Since then, many more studies have been published, and confirm the benefits of exercise for arthritis pain, he told Reuters Health by phone.
Osteoarthritis, the breakdown of joint cartilage over time, causes pain, swelling and reduced motion, usually of the hands, knees, hips or spine. Joint injury, excess weight and older age increase the risk for osteoarthritis, which affects more than 50 million adults in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For the new Cochrane review, Van der Esch, of the Reade Centre for Rehabilitation and Rheumatology in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and colleagues analyzed 55 randomized controlled trials comparing a land-based exercise program with no exercise among subjects with osteoarthritis. The trials varied in type, duration and intensity of exercise programs.

In general, the exercise programs significantly reduced pain and moderately improved physical function of the knee immediately after treatment. Some studies also found that general quality of life improved.

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Why exercise will (probably) never be replaced by a pill

 

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

Everyone knows that exercise improves health, and ongoing research continues to uncover increasingly detailed information on its benefits for metabolism, circulation, and improved functioning of organs such as the heart, brain, and liver. With this knowledge in hand, scientists may be better equipped to develop “exercise pills” that could mimic at least some of the beneficial effects of physical exercise on the body. But a review of current development efforts, publishing October 2 in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, ponders whether such pills will achieve their potential therapeutic impact, at least in the near future.

“We have recognized the need for exercise pills for some time, and this is an achievable goal based on our improved understanding of the molecular targets of physical exercise,” says coauthor Ismail Laher, of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Several laboratories are developing exercise pills, which at this early stage are being tested in animals to primarily target skeletal muscle performance and improve strength and energy use–essentially producing stronger and faster muscles. But of course the benefits of exercise are far greater than its effects on only muscles.

“Clearly people derive many other rewarding experiences from exercise–such as increased cognitive function, bone strength, and improved cardiovascular function,” says Laher. “It is unrealistic to expect that exercise pills will fully be able to substitute for physical exercise–at least not in the immediate future.”

While exercise pills may provide some benefits for people in the general population, they might be especially helpful for those who are unable to exercise for a variety of reasons, as the review by Laher and his coauthor Shunchang Li notes. “For example, a pill for people with spinal cord injury could be very appealing given the difficulties that these individuals face in exercising due to paralysis–in such patients, a large number of detrimental changes occur in cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function,” explains Laher.

Much more research is needed to fully understand the side effects of candidate exercise pills, in addition to determining their optimal dosages, and the potential for misuse in humans and animals (e.g., races). (The first doping case regarding one candidate pill was reported in a cycling competition in 2013.)

“We are at the early stages of this exciting new field,” says Laher. “Further development of exercise pills that act in combination may be more effective than single compounds. We just don’t know anything about their long-term use in humans yet.”

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Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Li and Laher: “Exercise Pills: At the Starting Line?” http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2015.08.014

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, published by Cell Press, is a monthly review journal that contains succinct articles on the most exciting recent developments in pharmacology and toxicology research. Topics covered in the journal range from molecular to behavioral pharmacology, and from current techniques to theoretical pharmacology. For more information, please visit

http://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacological-sciences.
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Omega-3 fatty acids, exercise and Alzheimer’s: new study

 

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

Neuroimage. 2015 Sep 30. pii: S1053-8119(15)00872-1. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.09.050. [Epub ahead of print]

Combined omega-3 fatty acids, aerobic exercise and cognitive stimulation prevents decline in gray matter volume of the frontal, parietal and cingulate cortex in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Köbe T1, Witte AV2, Schnelle A3, Lesemann A3, Fabian S3, Tesky VA4, Pantel J4, Flöel A5.

Author information

1Department of Neurology, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: theresa.koebe@charite.de.
2Department of Neurology, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Stephanstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; SFB 1052 Obesity Mechanism subproject A1, University of Leipzig, Germany.
3Department of Neurology, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
4Institute of General Practice, Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
5Department of Neurology, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: agnes.floeel@charite.de.

Abstract

Previous studies in older adults suggested beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation, aerobic exercise, or cognitive stimulation on brain structure and function. However, combined effects of these interventions in patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are unknown. Using a randomized interventional design, we evaluated the effect of combined omega-3 FA supplementation, aerobic exercise and cognitive stimulation (target intervention) versus omega-3 FA supplementation and non-aerobic exercise (control intervention) on cognitive function and gray matter volume in patients with MCI. Moreover, we analyzed potential vascular, metabolic or inflammatory mechanisms underlying these effects. Twenty-two MCI patients (8 females; 60-80 years) successfully completed six months of omega-3 FA intake, aerobic cycling training and cognitive stimulation (n = 13) or omega-3 FA intake and non-aerobic stretching and toning (n = 9). Before and after the interventions, cognitive performance, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain at 3 Tesla (n = 20), intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery and serum markers of glucose control, lipid and B-vitamin metabolism, and inflammation were assessed. Intervention-related changes in gray matter volume of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related brain regions, i.e., frontal, parietal, temporal and cingulate cortex were examined using voxel-based morphometry of high resolution T1- weighted images. After the intervention period, significant differences emerged in brain structure between groups: Gray matter volume decreased in the frontal, parietal and cingulate cortex of patients in the control intervention, while gray matter volume in these areas was preserved or even increased after the target intervention. Decreases in homocysteine levels in the target intervention group were associated with increases in gray matter volume in the middle frontal cortex (p = 0.010). No significant differences in cognitive performance or other vascular, metabolic and inflammatory parameters were observed between groups. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that omega-3 FA intake combined with aerobic exercise and cognitive stimulation prevents atrophy in AD-related brain regions in MCI patients, compared to omega-3 FA intake plus the control condition of stretching and toning. These promising findings should now be validated in a larger interventional trial.

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Exercise significantly benefits individuals living with dementia in nursing homes

 

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

 

J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2015 Sep 29. pii: S1525-8610(15)00555-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2015.08.016. [Epub ahead of print]

Effects of Physical Exercise on Health and Well-Being of Individuals Living With a Dementia in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review.
Brett L1, Traynor V2, Stapley P2.
Author information

1Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Wollongong, Australia. Electronic address: lkb267@uowmail.edu.au.
2Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Wollongong, Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Physical exercise interventions have benefits for older individuals and improve the health and well-being of individuals living with a dementia, specifically those living in nursing homes.

PURPOSE:

Report evidence from randomized controlled trials and cluster randomized control trials that evaluated the effects of physical exercise interventions on individuals living with a dementia in nursing homes.

DATA SOURCES:

Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Academic Search Complete, Proquest Central, British Medical Journal Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, Informit, Informa, and Nursing Consult were searched for relevant clinical trials and snowballing of recommended studies.

STUDY SELECTION:

One reviewer screened articles on inclusion criteria and identified relevant studies.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Data extraction was performed by 1 reviewer and checked by second and third reviewers. Two authors assessed the methodological quality and risk of bias of the relevant studies.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Twelve study populations consisting of individuals living with a dementia in nursing homes were included (n = 901). Different types of physical exercises were undertaken: multimodal (n = 6), walking (n = 5), music and movement (n = 2), and hand exercises (n = 1). The parameters of the interventions varied across the studies. Most of the studies reported significant positive effects of physical exercise on cognition, agitation, mood, mobility, and functional ability for individuals living with dementia in nursing homes.

LIMITATIONS:

The main limitations were the heterogeneity of design, small samples, and short interventions.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is emerging evidence that physical exercise significantly benefits individuals living with a dementia in nursing homes. Higher quality research is required adopting more rigorous methods, including longer interventions and larger samples to determine optimum parameters of the physical exercise interventions evaluated.

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Vitamin D3 supplementation helps women build muscle, avoid falls even after menopause

 

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Stone Hearth News

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CLEVELAND, Ohio (September 30, 2015)–The benefits of vitamin D supplementation for postmenopausal women have been widely debated. But a new study from Sao Paulo, Brazil, now documents that vitamin D supplementation can significantly increase muscle strength and reduce the loss of body muscle mass in women as late as 12+ years after menopause. The study results will be presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), which begins September 30 in Las Vegas.

Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in postmenopausal women worldwide, creating muscle weakness and a greater tendency for falling. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted over a nine-month period. Muscle mass was estimated by total-body DXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), as well as by handgrip strength and through a chair-rising test.

At the end of the trial, the women receiving the supplements demonstrated a significant increase (+25.3%) in muscle strength, while those receiving the placebo actually lost an average of 6.8% of muscle mass. Women not receiving Vitamin D supplements were also nearly two times as likely to fall.

“We concluded that the supplementation of Vitamin D alone provided significant protection against the occurrence of sarcopenia, which is a degenerative loss of skeletal muscle, says Dr. L.M. Cangussu, one of the lead authors of the study from the Botucatu Medical School at Sao Paulo State University.

“While this study is unlikely to decide the debate over Vitamin D, it provides further evidence to support the use of vitamin D supplements by postmenopausal women in an effort to reduce frailty and an increased risk of falling,” says NAMS Executive Director Wulf H. Utian, MD, PhD, DSc(Med).

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Drs. Cangussu and Utian are available for interviews in advance of the presentation at the annual meeting.

Founded in 1989, The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is North America’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging. Its multidisciplinary membership of 2,000 leaders in the field–including clinical and basic science experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education–makes NAMS uniquely qualified to serve as the definitive resource for health professionals and the public for accurate, unbiased information about menopause and healthy aging. To learn more about NAMS, visit http://www.menopause.org.


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Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna takes on Ayi Bruce as headline bout this Saturday, September 26 in Beach Haven Memorial Park in Beach Haven, NJ

Plus six-time MMA Heavyweight champion "Brutal" Brendan Barrett, Ian Green, Arturo Trujillo, Dustin Fleischer, Meng Fanlong, O'Shanique Foster & Angel Concepcion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beach Haven, New Jersey (September 22, 2015)--THIS Saturday, September 26, at Beach Haven Memorial Park (In between the Sea Shell & Engleside Resorts) at Engleside Avenue at the Beach in Beach Haven. New Jersey, A terrfic card of boxing will take place beginning at 5:30 PM In the main event, junior middleweight Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna will take part in a 6-round bout against veteran Ayi Bruce. LaManna will be looking for his 2nd straight win as he won a 8-round unanimous decision over Joshua Robertson on August 7 in Atlantic City. LaManna of Millville, New Jersey has a record of 17-1 with 7 knockouts. Bruce of Accra, Ghana has a record of 23-10 with 15 knockouts is a former Ghanian super lightweight champion. Bruce has also fought the likes of Albert Mensah (18-3-1), Emmanuel Taylor (7-0), Raymond Serrano (12-0), Gabriel Rosado (16-5), Dennis Laurente (40-4-5), Vitaly Demyanenko (19-0), Ishe Smith (22-5), Hugo Centeno Jr. (14-0), Glen Tapia (16-0) and in his last bout Erickson Lubin (10-0). He holds wins over former contender Shamone Alvarez (21-2) as well as Hector Munoz (19-4-1).  Fighting in the 4-round co-feature will be "Brutal" Brendan Barrett taking on Satario Holdbrooks (0-1) of Kannapolis, NC in a Heavyweight bout. Barrett, of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, is a 6-time MMA Heavyweight champion, will be making his 2nd professional boxing appearance. He is 0-0-1 as he fought a disputed draw with James Rankin on May 8, 2009 in Philadelphia. In a 6-round bout: Ian Green (6-0, 4 KO's) of Paterson, NJ will take on K Lon Spencer (4-2, 3 KO's) of Beaumont, TX in a Middleweight bout. In 4-round Bouts: Dustin Fleischer (3-0, 3 KO's) of Monmouth, NJ battles Ira Frank (1-0, 1 KO) in a fight between undefeated Welterweights. Meng Fanlong (2-0, 1 KO) of Chifeng, China will take on Michael Mitchell (3-5-2, 1 KO) of Paterson, NJ in a Light Heavyweight tussle. O'Shanique Foster (7-0, 4 KO's) of Orange, Texas will fight Darius Jackson (0-1) of Anderson, SC in a Lightweight bout. Angel Concepcion (6-0) of Newark, NJ faces pro debuting Sidney Outlaw of Pennsylvania in a Light Heavyweight bout. Arturo Trujillo (6-0, 3 KO's) of Paterson, NJ boxes Alex Asbury (0-2) of Charlotte, NC in a Middleweight bout. The fights begin at 5:30 PM with the doors opening at 4:30 PM with tickets ranging from $125 (rows 1 & 2), $100 (rows 3 and 4). $75 (rows 5-7) and $50 for General Admission and be purchased by clicking  www.hitmpromotions.com. The entire will be announced shortly.