Effects of functional training and 2 interdisciplinary interventions on maximal oxygen uptake and weight loss of women with obesity: a randomized clinical trial.

Our aim was to analyze and compare functional training, interdisciplinary therapy, and interdisciplinary education on cardiorespiratory fitness (CF) and anthropometric characteristics of women with obesity. Forty-four women (age = 39.7 ± 5.9 years, body mass index (BMI) = 35.5 ± 2.8 kg/m2) completed 30 weeks of intervention randomly assigned to 3 groups: functional training (FT) (n = 14), interdisciplinary therapy (IT) (n = 19), and interdisciplinary education (IE) (n = 11). The FT group participated in the training program (3/week), the IT group received the same training intervention plus nutrition (1/week) and psychology advice (1/week) and physical therapy (1/week). The IE group participated in interdisciplinary lectures on topics related to health promotion (1/month). CF (ergospirometry), anthropometry, and body composition (electrical bioimpedance) were measured pre-intervention (Pre) and post-intervention (Post). CF increased (p ≤ 0.05) significantly (Pre vs. Post) in the FT (7.5%) and IT (10.8%) groups, but not in the IE group (1.8%). Body mass (BM), BMI, relative fat mass, and waist circumference significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased (Pre vs. Post) in IT (-4.4%, -4.4%, -2.3%, and -5.1%, respectively). The IE group showed a significant decrease in BM (-3.7%), BMI (-3.7%), and waist circumference (-3.5%), whereas the FT group promoted significant decrease in waist circumference (-3.4%). In conclusion, functional training increased CF but only interdisciplinary interventions improved the anthropometric profile of women with obesity. Novelty Interdisciplinary therapy provided more comprehensive adaptations in women with obesity, including morphological variables and CF. Functional training increased CF but reduced only abdominal obesity. Interdisciplinary education provided benefits on morphological variables, but it does not increase CF.

Phenolic Isomers from Plantago catharinea Leaves: Isolation, ldentification, Quantification and in vitro Antioxidant Activity.

In this study we isolated two polyphenolic acids of m/z 639, called catharinol A and catharinol B, from Plantago catharinea L. (Plantaginaceae) leaves. Although presenting very similar structures, catharinol A showed higher antioxidant activity when compared with gallic acid and quercetin standards. These compounds are position isomers and present in their chemical structure the rare sugar D-allose. Molecules with similar constitution are known to have imnportant biological activities such as antitumor and immunosuppressive. These compounds were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography HPLC) and characterized by mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI-IT-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This work is the first study on the chemical composition ofP. catharinea and encourages the production of Plantago species as a good source of bioactive molecules.