Pre-exercise meal on oxidation of energy substrates during maximal exercise test in non-trained individuals.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the influence of a high carbohydrate meal versus high-fat meal on the oxidation of substrates during an exercise incremental test. Materials and methods: Ten untrained male subjects underwent two days of the protocol. Randomly, they received a high carbohydrate meal or a high-fat meal, receiving the other one in the next protocol. On both days, they performed an incremental treadmill test, with heart rate and maximal oxygen consumption to estimate the oxidation of substrates. Results: The high-fat meal showed an increase in the absolute amount of oxidized fat along with the incremental test (P < 0.05; effect size = 0.9528), and a reduction in the respiratory exchange ratio at low intensities (P < 0.05; effect size = 0.7765). Conclusion: The meals presented no difference when compared to maximum oxidation point of substrates, the oxidation rate of substrates over time, and heart rate. A pre-test high-fat meal in untrained individuals was shown to be a modulating factor of total oxidized fats throughout the exercise, although it did not exert a significant effect on the rate of this oxidation over time.

Effects of a Brazilian cardioprotective diet and nuts on cardiometabolic parameters after myocardial infarction: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Nut consumption has been related to improvements on cardiometabolic parameters and reduction in the severity of atherosclerosis mainly in primary cardiovascular prevention. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effects of the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet (DIeta CArdioprotetora Brasileira, DICA Br) based on consumption of inexpensive locally accessible foods supplemented or not with mixed nuts on cardiometabolic features in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: DICA-NUTS study is a national, multicenter, randomized 16-week follow-up clinical trial. Patients over 40 years old with diagnosis of previous MI in the last 2 to 6 months will be recruited (n = 388). A standardized questionnaire will be applied to data collection and blood samples will be obtained. Patients will be allocated in two groups: Group 1: DICA Br supplemented with 30 g/day of mixed nuts (10 g of peanuts, 10 g of cashew, 10 g of Brazil nuts); and Group 2: only DICA Br. The primary outcome will consist of LDL cholesterol means (in mg/dL) after 16 weeks of intervention. Secondary outcomes will consist of other markers of lipid profile, glycemic profile, and anthropometric data. DISCUSSION: It is expected that DICA Br supplemented with mixed nuts have superior beneficial effects on cardiometabolic parameters in patients after a MI, when compared to DICA Br. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03728127 . First register: November 1, 2018; Last update: June 16, 2021. World Health Organization Universal Trial Number (WHO-UTN): U1111-1259-8105.

Effects of extra virgin olive oil and pecans on plasma fatty acids in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a healthy diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or pecans on plasma fatty acids (PFAs) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Patients 40 to 80 y of age were randomized to one of three dietary interventions (allocation ratio 1: 1: 1): healthy diet based on guidelines (control group [CG]), healthy diet supplemented with 30 g/d of pecans (PNG), or a healthy diet supplemented with 30 mL/d of extra virgin olive oil (OOG). PFAs were identified at baseline and at the end of follow-up (12 wk), and correlations between dietary fatty acids intake, PFAs, and clinical biomarkers of the lipid profile were also assessed before and after the interventions. RESULTS: Among 149 participants included in the analysis (43 CG; 51 PNG; and 55 OOG), correlations were observed between food intake, PFAs, and lipid profile before and after interventions independent of statins used, but all were considered weak. At the end of the study, the OOG showed increased concentrations of oleic fatty acid independently of the type of statin in use (1.49%; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-2.89; P = 0.029); however, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding the final mean values of oleic fatty acid or in the other PFAs. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable CAD, there were no significant differences in PFAs after 12 wk according to dietary interventions evaluated.

Effects of aerobic and resistance exercise training associated with carnosine precursor supplementation on maximal strength and V̇O2max in rats with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Combined exercise training (CET) has been associated with positive responses in the clinical status of patients with heart failure (HF). Other nonpharmacological tools, such as amino acid supplementation, may further enhance its adaptation. The aim was to test whether CET associated with supplementing carnosine precursors could present better responses in the functional capacity and biochemical variables of rats with HF. METHODS: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were subjected to myocardial infarction and allocated to three groups: sedentary (SED, n = 7), CET supplemented with placebo (CETP, n = 7), and CET with HF supplemented with ß-alanine and L-histidine (CETS, n = 7). The trained animals were submitted to a strength protocol three times per week. Aerobic training was conducted twice per week. The supplemented group received ß-alanine and L-histidine orally (250 mg/kg per day). RESULTS: Maximum oxygen uptake, running distance, time to exhaustion and maximum strength were higher in the CET-P group than that in the SED group and even higher in the CET-S group than that in the CET-P group (P < 0.01). CET-S showed lower oxidative stress and inflammation markers and higher heat shock protein 72 kDa content and mRNA expression for calcium transporters in the skeletal muscle compared to SED. CONCLUSION: CET together with ß-alanine and L-histidine supplementation in rats with HF can elicit adaptations in both maximum oxygen uptake, running distance, time to exhaustion, maximum strength, oxidative stress, inflammation and mRNA expression. Carnosine may influence beneficial adjustments in the cell stress response in the skeletal muscle and upregulate the mRNA expression of calcium transporters.

Mindfulness Practice for Glycemic Control: Could it be a New Strategy for an Old Problem? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires a complex and organized care that includes patient's lifestyle change. Additionally, emotional well-being is an important part of self-management, and it may impair the individual's adherence. Therefore, equipping the patients with the necessary coping and self-care techniques may be an important step in managing diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of interventions using established mindfulness-based protocols on glycemic control of individuals with T2DM. METHODS: Data sources: Two electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE) were searched from inception to December 2019. We limited our search to published studies in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized clinical trials that assessed the effects of mindfulness in individuals with T2DM were selected. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data from the included trials. Data were pooled using inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: Four randomized trials were included. There were no differences in blood glucose change (mean difference between groups (MD) -0.73mg/dl; 95% CI, -10.49; 9.02; I2 =0%; very low quality of evidence) or glycated hemoglobin (MD 0.05%; 95%CI -0.22 to 0.32; I2 =29%; very low quality of evidence). CONCLUSION: Although the quality of current evidence is very low, our findings suggest that established protocols involving mindfulness have no effect on blood glucose or glycated hemoglobin in individuals with T2DM. Indeed, large-scale trials are needed to evaluate the contribution of mindfulness to glycemic control in clinical practice. PROSPERO Registration ID: RD42020161940.

ß-Alanine and l-histidine supplementation associated with combined training increased functional capacity and maximum strength in heart failure rats.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of the study? Does ß-alanine with l-histidine supplementation associated with endurance and strength training improve echocardiographic parameters, functional capacity, and maximum strength in rats with chronic heart failure? What is the main finding and its importance? ß-Alanine with l-histidine supplementation associated with endurance and strength training increased functional capacity and maximum strength through increasing exercise capacity peripherally but did not affect echocardiographic parameters in rats with chronic heart failure. Combined training (CT) has been associated with positive responses in the clinical status of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Other non-pharmacological tools, such as amino acid supplementation, may further enhance its adaptation. However, the effects of ß-alanine and l-histidine supplementation in CHF remain unclear. In the present study, the aim was to test whether supplementing carnosine precursors with CT could give improved responses in the functional capacity and echocardiographic variables of rats with CHF. Twenty-four Wistar rats, were submitted to myocardial infarction and allocated to three groups: animals with CHF kept in sedentary conditions (SED, n = 8), animals with CHF submitted to CT in strength and aerobic exercise supplemented with placebo (CT-P, n = 8) and animals with CHF submitted to CT in strength and aerobic exercise supplemented with ß-alanine and l-histidine (CT-S, n = 8). The trained animals were submitted to a strength protocol three times per week with intensity of 65-75% of one repetition maximum test. Aerobic training was conducted two times per week (50 min, 15 m min-1 ). The supplemented group received ß-alanine and l-histidine orally (each 250 mg kg-1  day-1 ). No changes in echocardiographic and morphological parameters were found among the groups (P > 0.05). Functional capacity, Δ V̇O2max and maximum strength were higher in CT-P than in SED and even higher in CT-S than in CT-P (P < 0.01). The CT was able to improve functional capacity, but the supplementation was shown to enhance these parameters even further in the CHF rats. We conclude that the increase in functional capacity and strength gained through CT and supplementation were associated with the improvement in peripheral parameters with no changes in cardiac variables.