Intermittent fasting & performance: The iFast clinical trial protocol.

There is increasing evidence from animal and human studies suggesting that fasting can play a role in disease prevention, weight control and longevity. However, few studies have compared exercise performances in individuals adhering to an intermittent fasting (IF) in comparison to individuals who are not. Given the rising popularity of IF we aim to investigate whether this type eating pattern will improve cardiovascular performance over a period of 12 weeks through VO2 max measurements in participants from a Lebanese community. Additionally, we will study the variation of different health parameters, physical performance and biomarkers potentially affected by IF. Participants will be recruited from a large university community and randomized into 4 arms. Baseline information will be collected from all participants, which includes biological, physical, nutritional, medical and psychological data. Two arms will follow a time-restricted fasting diet with and without physical exercise, one arm will exercise without fasting, and one will act as a control group. Throughout the study, measurements will be repeated, and data analysis will follow to evaluate results.

Exploring the Use of Mobile and Wearable Technology among University Student Athletes in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The markets of commercial wearables and health and fitness apps are constantly growing globally, especially among young adults and athletes, to track physical activity, energy expenditure and health. Despite their wide availability, evidence on use comes predominantly from the United States or Global North, with none targeting college student-athletes in low- and middle-income countries. This study was aimed to explore the use of these technologies among student-athletes at the American University of Beirut (AUB). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 482 participants (average age 20 years) enrolled in 24 teams during Fall 2018; 230 students successfully completed the web-based survey, and 200 provided valid data. Fifty-three (26.5%) have owned a fitness tracker, mostly for self-monitoring. The most popular were Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Garmin. Similarly, 82 students (40%) used apps, primarily MyFitnessPal, Apple Health, and Samsung Health. Nevertheless, many participants discontinued use due to loss of interest or technical issues (breaking, usability, obsolescence, or lack of engagement). Wearable devices were considered superior to mobile phones alone as physical activity monitors. However, forming regular habits made self-monitoring via technology irrelevant. Further research is needed to better understand what motivates continuous use among student-athletes, who could use trackers to improve athletic performance and overall health.

Dietary Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Are Not Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome in Lebanese Healthy Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

High dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) were suggested to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aims to estimate dietary GI and GL in a sample of healthy Lebanese adults and examine their association with MetS and its individual abnormalities. The study uses data from a community-based survey of 501 Lebanese urban adults. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical, anthropometric, and blood pressure measurements were obtained. Subjects with previous diagnosis of chronic disease, metabolic abnormalities, or with incomplete data or implausible energy intakes were excluded, yielding a sample of 283. Participants were grouped into quartiles of GI and GL. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Average dietary GI and GL were estimated at 59.9 ± 8 and 209.7 ± 100.3. Participants belonging to the highest GI quartile were at increased risk of having MetS (odds ratio (OR) = 2.251, 95% CI:1.120-4.525) but this association lost significance with further adjustments. Those belonging to the second quartile of GI had significantly lower odds of having hyperglycemia (OR: 0.380, 95% CI:0.174-0.833). No associations were detected between GL and MetS. The study contributes to the body of evidence discussing the relationship between GI, GL, and MetS, in a nutrition transition context.