High-Protein Bar as a Meal Replacement in Elite Sports Nutrition: A Pilot Study.

This study was focused on the creation of high-protein bars formulated using whey protein isolate (24%) and soy protein isolate (6%) as the sources of proteins; oat flakes and inulin, both abundant in dietary fibres, and creatine monohydrate and other minor ingredients (vitamin and mineral mixture, potassium sorbate) to achieve the requirements for a meal replacement formula for physically active people. The nutritional profile of the high-protein bar was examined (energy 1215 kJ/288 kcal; protein 34.1 ± 0.20 g, fat 6.01 ± 0.13 g of which was saturated 3.12 ± 0.08 g, fibre 3.10 ± 0.17 g carbohydrate 23.0 ± 0.16 g of which sugars 1.50 ± 0.19 g and starch 21.5 ± 0.11 g in 100 g), and sensory properties with instrumental parameters (texture and colour) were determined and compared with bars commercially available on the market. The created high-protein bar was sensorily acceptable in comparison to other commercially available bars. The dietary intervention study was conducted on elite athletes (professional handball players) to evaluate effects of created versus control bar consumption on their metabolic parameters. The baseline characteristics (mean age, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, muscle mass, lean mass and fat percentage) of the athletes (8) were determined at the start of the study. The cross-over intervention study was organized in two successive phases (5 days each) with a seven-day long washout period between phases. Bars were consumed after the afternoon training unit. Blood samples were collected at the start and the end of the intervention study to analyse the metabolic profiles of the athletes. Serum levels of high-density cholesterol (HDL), low-density cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol (HOL), glucose, triacylglycerides (TAG), total and direct bilirubin, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. The results showed that bar consumption significantly decreased serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increased total and direct bilirubin levels, suggesting lower exercise-induced muscle damage and increased antioxidative response, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the consumption of the created high-protein bar was able to improve physiological adaptation after training.

Impact of 14-day bed rest on serum adipokines and low-grade inflammation in younger and older adults.

Ageing and inactivity both contribute to systemic inflammation, but the effects of inactivity on inflammation in healthy elderly individuals have not been elucidated. We hypothesised that 14-day bed rest could affect the pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in young subjects differently than in older adults. A short-term 14-day horizontal bed rest study (BR14) has been used as a model of inactivity in two groups of healthy male volunteers: 7 aged 18-30 years (young) and 16 aged 55-65 years (older adults). The effects of inactivity on inflammation were compared. Key low-grade inflammation mediators, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), visfatin, resistin, and anti-inflammatory adiponectin were measured in fasting serum samples, collected at baseline (BDC) and post BR14. Young responded to BR14 by increasing serum visfatin and resistin while older adults responded to BR14 by increasing IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, serum adiponectin increased in all participants. Data from correlation analysis demonstrated positive association between Δ serum visfatin and Δ IL-6 in both groups, while Δ serum adiponectin was negatively associated with Δ TNF-α in young and positively associated with Δ resistin in the older adults. As little as 14 days of complete physical inactivity (BR14) negatively affected markers of low-grade inflammation in both groups, but the inflammation after BR14 was more pronounced in older adults. The effect of BR14 on IL-6 and resistin differed between young and older adults. Inflammatory responses to BR14 in older adults differed from those reported in the literature for obese or subjects in pathological states, suggesting potentially different mechanisms between inactivity- and obesity-induced inflammations.

Low-grade inflammation in overweight and obese adults is affected by weight loss program.

PURPOSE: Low-grade systemic inflammation due to obesity is considered to be the key link between obesity and obesity-related disorders. The hypothesis was tested that significant alterations in inflammatory markers and adipokines would occur over a multidisciplinary intervention and that these changes might also be important for improvement of cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Thirty-tree overweight adults completed a 6-month multidisciplinary intervention program to evaluate the effects of a personalized dietary program based on the individual's resting metabolic rate (RMR) on anthropometric parameters, aerobic and anaerobic capabilities, metabolic profile, inflammation, and body image satisfaction. Body composition, physical activity, anaerobic capabilities, RMR, metabolic profile, and low-grade inflammation were measured. Diet composition and body image dissatisfaction were also assessed. RESULTS: After 6 months of multidisciplinary intervention the participants showed significantly decreased body weight, waist circumference (WC), and the inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein, and visfatin. They also showed increased anti-inflammatory adiponectin and consequently decreased serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and total cholesterol. The important findings of the study were that reduction of sugars and saturated fatty acids in the diet, coupled with an increase in exercise, significantly correlated with reduction of WC and body mass index. In addition, positive correlations between ∆ BMI, ∆ WC, ∆ trunk fat, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss in combination with increased physical activity, a negative energy balance, and diet adjustment was associated with lower inflammation and consequently with lower cardiovascular risk factors.