[Effects of endurance training and detraining on serum BDNF and memory performance in middle aged males with metabolic syndrome]

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic training and detraining periods on metabolic risk factors, BDNF and memory function. Forty-two middle-aged, sedentary males volunteers were randomly divided into four groups; MetS Exercise [ME], MetS Control [MC], Healthy Exercise [HE] and Healthy Controls [HC]. Both the ME and HE groups participated in an exercise training [AT] program [6 weeks], followed by 6 weeks of detraining [DT]. Midterm and Digit Span memory tests and blood sampling were conducted before and after training and also following detraining. Data were analyzed using Pearson coefficient, multivariate ANOVA and ANCOVA and repeated measure. Most of the metabolic risk factors significantly improved after AT in the ME group; waist circumference and FBS however returned to baseline values following DT [P<0.05]. Waist circumference and triglycerides in the HE group decreased significantly, but returned to baseline values after DT [P<0.05]. Aerobic exercise training could ameliorate overall MetS Z scores in both the ME and HE, groups, effects that disappeared in the ME group, even following DT [P<0.05]. Serum BDNF was significantly elevated in HE, but surprisingly decreased in ME, effects that both disappeared after DT [P<0.05]. Only in HE, both the short-term and mid-term memory improved significantly after AT [P<0.05]. These findings indicate that physical fitness training programs ameliorate metabolic risk factors and improve learning and memory ability

[ relationship between obesity, overweight and demographic factors with physical activity in 18-69 year-old adults in Rasht city]

Considering the importance of obesity and lifestyle behaviors, especially physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of obesity, overweight and some demographic factors with physical activity in adults of Rasht city. Two hundred men [mean +/- SD: 40.27 +/- 13.6 years] and 200 women [mean +/- SD: 40.41 +/- 12.3 years] 0 participated in this study. Anthropometric data including weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, and body mass index [BMI] were obtained using standard methods. Physical activity level was measured by International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ]. Of subjects, 13.5, 43 and 43.5% had low, medium and high, social / economic conditions, respectively. The lowest percentage of subjects were labourers [1.5%] and the highest [37.5%] were self-employed. Prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity were 52%, 23.5% and 47.75%, respectively [men 54%, 14.5% and 25.5%; women 50%, 32.5% and 56%]. The prevalence of obesity increased with age [P<0.05]. The obese subjects had lowest levels of physical activity. Physical activity levels including walking, moderate and high activity were 59.5, 22.5 and 11.5% and 66.5, 14, 7% among men and women, respectively. The others did not perform any physical activity. Physical activity had an inverse relationship with overweight, obesity and central obesity [P<0.05]. Low level of physical activity is one of the causes of obesity and overweigt, indicating that level of physical activity in men and women is highly recommended for these individuals

[Effect of caffeine on blood pressure during exercise and at rest in overweight men]

Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance that is widely consumed in a variety of forms. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of caffeine on blood pressure in overweight men during exercise and at rest. In double-blind randomly designed study, six men [BMI 29.55 +/- 1.22 kg/m2, age 22.50 +/- 0.83 yr, height 174 +/- 9.12cm, weight 89.31 +/- 8.85kg, body fat percent 26.38 +/- 3.62] with sedentary lifestyles, performed 30 minutes running on treadmill at similar exercise intensities [60% VO2max], 1 hour after taking caffeine [5 mg/kg body weight] or placebo. Heart rate was recorded during exercise, and blood pressure [BP] was measured before and 1 hour after taking caffeine and immediately after exercise, and data analysis was conducted using student' t-test. Results indicated that systolic and diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure significantly elevated following caffeine intake at rest, but no significant differences were observed after exercise no significant differences were observed between caffeine and placebo in heart rate during exercise. The findings indicate that caffeine at this dosage level alters cardiovascular dynamics by augmenting arterial blood pressure in moderately obese men at rest. However, it seems that taking caffeine before exercise does not cause abnormal elevations in blood pressure in moderately obese men

effect of ovariectomy and estrogen replacement on body weight and visceral adipose tissue in rats

Estrogen deficiency is associated with unfavorable changes in body composition and abdominal fat deposition. The consequences of these changes lead to metabolic abnormalities and differential fat distribution Seventy female Wistar rats [weight: 170.73 +/- 15.82gr mean +/- SD] were divided into 7 groups: Intact [one group],sham [two groups], ovariectomized [two groups], ovariectomized, receiving estradiol valerate[one group] and ovariectomized, receiving sesame oil [one group]. The intact rats were anesthetized and visceral fat was then taken from the abdominal cavity and weighed immediately. Two weeks after operation, one group of ovariectomized rats and one group of sham rats were sacrified and visceral fat was measured. The estradiol receiving ovariectomized group and vehicle group were given equal volumes of 17 beta-estradiol[30 micro g/kg, sc, 5 d/wk] and sesame oil for 8 weeks, respectively. After 8 weeks, all animals were sacrificied and intra- abdominal fat depots were dissected and weighed. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and post-hoc and using paired t test. The differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. After two weeks of surgery, the ovariectomized rats showed insignificant increase in body weight and visceral fat weight, whereas, after eight weeks, body weight increased significantly in ovariectomized rats [P < 0.05]. Estradiol replacement decreased body weight and visceral fat weight, however this decrease was only significant in body weight [P < 0.05]. The results indicate that estrogen deficiency following ovariectomy leads to increase in both body weight and visceral fat, showing that replacement of this hormone could decrease body weight without affecting visceral fat