Relationship between aging and excess body fat with markers of inflammation, skeletal muscle mass and strength in Mexican community-dwelling people.

INTRODUCTION: Aging is accompanied by changes in body composition, such as an increase in fat mass (FM), a decrease in skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and muscle strength, combined with a chronic inflammatory process (CI). OBJECTIVE: Determine the relationship between age and excess body fat with markers of chronic inflammation, skeletal muscle mass and strength. METHODS: A cross-sectional alitical study was carried out in a convenience sample of adults 45 to 59 years old (n = 100) and older adults 60 to 74 years old (n = 133). All participants had their body composition measured with an impedance meter. They were subsequently divided into two groups: (i) with excess fat (WEF), (ii) without excess fat (NEF), in order to relate excess fat and age with inflammation, muscle mass and strength. RESULTS: NEF adults and older adults had similar values of SMMI (9.1 ± 1.5 vs. 8.8 ± 1.3, p > 0.05) and strength (28 ± 8 vs. 27 ± 8.6, p > 0.05). Likewise, WEF adults showed significantly lower values than NEF adults in the SMMI (7.9 ± 0.8 vs. 9.1 ± 1.5, p < 0.05) and strength (28 ± 8 vs. 22 ± 5, p < 0.001). Also, WEF older adults presented significantly lower values in the SMMI (15.9 ± 1.8 vs. 22.8 ± 5.1, p < 0.05) and strength (17.9 ± 4.8 vs. 27 ± 8.6, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that excess fat mass is a risk factor that has a significantly greater influence than aging per se on the index of skeletal muscle mass and strength.

The Supplementation of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum (Chayote) Promotes Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Protection in Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome.

The aim was to determine the effect of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum (chayote) on gene expression related to antioxidant protection mechanisms and the inflammatory process in older adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). A quasi-experimental study was carried out in a convenience sample of 46 older adults diagnosed with MetS: (i) placebo group (PG; n = 20); (ii) experimental group (EG; n = 26). The clinical, biochemical, anthropometric parameters and SOD, GPx, and CAT enzyme activity, alongside total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α), and mRNA expression of SOD, GPx, CAT, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, Nrf2, NFkB p50, and NFkB p65, were measured at baseline and 6 months post-intervention. A statistically significant decrease was observed in TOS (baseline, 28.9 ± 3.6 vs. post, 23.7 ± 3.4, p < 0.01) and OSI (baseline, 24.1 ± 3.8 vs. post, 17.7 ± 4), as well as an increase in IL-6 (baseline, 10.7 ± 1.1 vs. post, 12.3 ± 2, p = 0.03), SOD activity (baseline, 167.1 ± 11.9 vs. post, 180.6 ± 7.6, p < 0.05), CAT activity (baseline, 1.0 ± 0.2 vs. post, 1.3 ± 0.2, p < 0.01), and TAS (baseline, 1.1 ± 0.1 vs. post, 1.4 ± 0.1, p < 0.01) in the EG compared to the PG. Regarding the expression of Nrf2, SOD, and IL-6, the EG showed a significant increase vs. basal levels (47%, 44%, and 43%, respectively). Our findings suggest that Sechium edule supplementation promotes the antioxidant response and decreases oxidative stress via Nrf2.

The consumption of Sechium edule (chayote) has antioxidant effect and prevents telomere attrition in older adults with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the consumption of Sechium edule (1.5 g/day) for six months on oxidative stress (OxS) and inflammation markers and its association with telomere length (TL) in older adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: The study was conducted in a sample of 48 older adults: placebo (EP) and experimental (EG) groups. Lipoperoxides, protein carbonylation, 8-OHdG, total oxidant status (TOS), SOD, GPx, H2O2 inhibition, total antioxidant status (TAS), inflammatory cytokines (IL6, IL10, TNF-α), and TL were measured before and six months post-treatment. RESULTS: We found a significant decrease in the levels of lipoperoxides, protein carbonylation, 8-OHdG, TOS in the EG in comparison PG. Likewise, a significante increase of TAS, IL-6, and IL-10 levels was found at six months post-treatment in EG in comparison with PG. TL showed a statistically significant decrease in PG compared to post-treatment EG. CONCLUSIONS: Our findigns showed that the supplementation of Sechium edule has antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, and diminushion of shortening of telomeric DNA in older adults with MetS. This would be the first study that shows that the intervention with Sechium edule has a possible geroprotective effect by preventing telomeres from shortening as usually happens in these patients. Therefore, suggesting a protection of telomeric DNA and genomic DNA.

Aging, Physical Exercise, Telomeres, and Sarcopenia: A Narrative Review.

Human aging is a gradual and adaptive process characterized by a decrease in the homeostatic response, leading to biochemical and molecular changes that are driven by hallmarks of aging, such as oxidative stress (OxS), chronic inflammation, and telomere shortening. One of the diseases associated with the hallmarks of aging, which has a great impact on functionality and quality of life, is sarcopenia. However, the relationship between telomere length, sarcopenia, and age-related mortality has not been extensively studied. Moderate physical exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on sarcopenia, decreasing OxS and inflammation, and inducing protective effects on telomeric DNA. This results in decreased DNA strand breaks, reduced OxS and IA, and activation of repair pathways. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with an apparent increase in telomere length. This review aims to present the current state of the art of knowledge on the effect of physical exercise on telomeric maintenance and activation of repair mechanisms in sarcopenia.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of the Consumption of Powdered Concentrate of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum in Mexican Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has a high prevalence in older adults and is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and complications of old age. It has also been related to oxidative stress (OxS) and chronic inflammation (CI) and their consequent alterations. Therefore, it is important to propose therapeutic alternatives such as the consumption of Sechium edule (Chayote), since hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and lipogenesis inhibitor properties are attributed to it. We carried out a study in 81 older adults (OA) with MetS to determine the effect of consumption of chayote powder concentrate (500 mg, three times a day) for six months, with a baseline measurement, at three and six months in an experimental group (EG) (n = 41) and a placebo group (PG) (n = 40), all with a diagnosis of MetS according to the criteria of National Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Program III (NCEP/ATP III). Anthropometric, biochemical, OxS markers, and inflammation measurements were performed on all participants, basal, three, and six months after. A statistically significant decrease was found in the concentration of lipoperoxides (TBARS), 8-isoprostanes, 8-OHdG, oxidative stress score (OSS), HbA1c, blood pressure, and in the number of MetS diagnostic criteria, as well as an increase in total antioxidant status (TAS), antioxidant gap (GAP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and HDL-cholesterol in EG. The results suggest that the consumption of Sechium edule powder has a hypotensive, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effect in OA with MetS and reduced the percentage of patients with MetS.

Telomere Length and Oxidative Stress and Its Relation with Metabolic Syndrome Components in the Aging.

A great amount of scientific evidence supports that Oxidative Stress (OxS) can contribute to telomeric attrition and also plays an important role in the development of certain age-related diseases, among them the metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is characterised by clinical and biochemical alterations such as obesity, dyslipidaemia, arterial hypertension, hyperglycaemia, and insulin resistance, all of which are considered as risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases, which are associated in turn with an increase of OxS. In this sense, we review scientific evidence that supports the association between OxS with telomere length (TL) dynamics and the relationship with MetS components in aging. It was analysed whether each MetS component affects the telomere length separately or if they all affect it together. Likewise, this review provides a summary of the structure and function of telomeres and telomerase, the mechanisms of telomeric DNA repair, how telomere length may influence the fate of cells or be linked to inflammation and the development of age-related diseases, and finally, how the lifestyles can affect telomere length.

Hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect of Tai chi exercise training in older adults with metabolic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Tai chi (TC) exercise training in healthy older adults has been demonstrated. However, there are no studies on this effect in older adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of TC exercise on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in older adults with MetS. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was carried out with a sample of 110 older sedentary volunteers with clinical diagnoses of MetS: (i) a control group, n = 50, of individuals who do not participate in physical exercise, of which 37 fulfilled the entire study protocol, and (ii) an experimental group, n = 60, of subjects enrolled in a TC exercise training program (eight-form easy), 5 days a week for 6 months, in sessions of 50 min, under the supervision of a qualified instructor, of which 48 fulfilled the entire study protocol. We measured in both groups (pre- and post-intervention) the following cardiovascular parameters: resting heart rate (RHR), diastolic and systolic blood pressure (DBP and SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), RHR-SBP product, RHR-MAP product; glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c); oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant status, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, and oxidative stress score); and inflammation markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10). RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in HbA1c concentration was observed in the TC group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). This group also showed a statistically significant increase in TAS and a decrease in the oxidative stress score (p < 0.05). We did not observe changes in the cardiovascular parameters (RHR, DBP, SBP, MAP, RHR-SBP product, and RHR-MAP product) in the TC experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the practice of TC exercise has an antioxidative and hypoglycemic effect in the elderly with MetS.