Excessive Exercise Habits in Marathoners as Novel Indicators of Masked Hypertension.

Background. Excessive exercise such as marathon running increases the risk of cardiovascular events that may be related to myocardial infarction and sudden death. We aimed to investigate that the exercise characteristics can be used as a novel indicator of masked hypertension. Methods. A total of 571 middle-aged recreational male marathoners were assigned to a high blood pressure group (HBPG; n = 214) or a normal blood pressure group (NBPG; n = 357). A graded exercise test was used to examine the hemodynamic response and cardiac events, and the personal exercise characteristics were recorded. Results. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the HBPG than in the NBPG (p < 0.05, all). The marathon history, exercise intensity, and time were longer and higher, whereas the marathon completion duration was shorter in the HBPG than in NBPG (p < 0.05, all). HBPG showed a higher frequency of alcohol consumption than NBPG (p < 0.05). Conclusion. More excessive exercise characteristics than the normative individuals. If the individuals exhibit high blood pressure during rest as well as exercise, the exercise characteristics could be used as a novel indicator for masked hypertension.

Physical stability, antioxidative properties, and photoprotective effects of a functionalized formulation containing black garlic extract.

When garlic is fermented, certain aspects of its bioactivity are changed. Black garlic is a type of fermented garlic used as a food ingredient in Asian cuisine. Black garlic's popularity has spread around the world as it has become a sought-after ingredient used in high-end cuisine. The formulations containing 10% black garlic extract or 10% normal garlic extract showed stable pH, color, precipitation, and organoleptic features, although these characteristics changed slightly. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities of the black garlic formulation were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to those of the base formulation and normal garlic formulation. Mice treated with the black garlic formulation (119.63 µM/g) had significant (p<0.05) decreases in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels by lipid peroxidation compared to ultraviolet B (UVB)-control mice (142.37 µM/g). Moreover, significant (p<0.05) prevention of glutathione reduced form (GSH) depletion was observed in the black garlic formulation treated mice (vehicle: 3.46 mM/g vs. black garlic: 5.60mM/g). The formulation containing 10% black garlic extract retained physical stability and had high anti-radical efficiencies. Furthermore, it is possible to suggest that this formulation may be effective in protecting skin from UVB photodamage.

Anti-obesity effects of chitosan and psyllium husk with L-ascorbic acid in guinea pigs.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether L-Ascorbic acid would facilitate the anti-obesity effects of chitosan and psyllium husk in vivo. The study was carried out with male Hartley guinea pigs for 5 weeks. The results show that chitosan itself did not influence body weight gain and food efficiency ratio (FER). However, the addition of L-Ascorbic acid to chitosan decreased these parameters; the body weight gain and FER in the chitosan-2 group (high-fat diet group with 5 % chitosan containing 0.5 % L-Ascorbic acid) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that in F-controls (high-fat diet group), and was similar to that in controls (normal diet group). L-Ascorbic acid enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) the increases of total fecal weight and fecal fat excretion by chitosan. The addition of L-Ascorbic acid to psyllium husk did not differ from psyllium husk alone in terms of changes in weight gain, plasma lipid levels, and fat pad weight. We found that the addition of L-Ascorbic acid to chitosan influenced the reduction in body weight gain and FER, and the increase in total fecal weight and fecal fat excretion in guinea pigs fed a high-fat diet.

Effects of yeast hydrolysate on neuropeptide Y (NPY) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) immunoreactivity in rats.

To investigate the appetite regulation mechanism of low and high molecular weight yeast hydrolysate, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) expressions were analyzed in the brains on rats using immunohistochemical method; normal diet (control), 0.1 g/kg (BY-1) or 1.0 g/kg (BY-2) of yeast hydrolysate below 10 kDa, 0.1 g/kg (AY-1) or 1.0 g/kg (AY-2) of yeast hydrolysate of 10-30 kDa. Body weight gain was lower in the BY-2 (133.0 g) than in the control (150.1 g) (p < 0.05). Triacylglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in the BY-2 as compared to control, BY-1 and AY-2 (p < 0.05). NPY staining intensities at paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were lower in the BY groups (BY-1: 96.1, BY-2: 88.6) as compared to the control (105.6) and AY groups (AY-1: 110.5, AY-2: 114.1) (p < 0.05). NPY expression at lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) was lower in the BY-2 (92.3) than in the control (98.9) (p < 0.05). The BY groups (BY-1: 143.9, BY-2: 154.6) had higher TPH staining intensities at dorsal raphe (DR) than the AY-2 (115.9) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results indicate that administering yeast hydrolysate of below 10 kDa to normal diet-fed rats reduced body weight gain and serum lipids by altering NPY and TPH expressions.

Psyllium husk combined with hydroxycitrate reduces body weight gain and body fat in diet-induced obese rats.

The fortified physiological activities of psyllium with hydroxycitrate (HCA) will promote the use of this mixture in making nutraceutical foods. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed high-fat diets containing fiber-free (control), cellulose (F-control), psyllium husk (WF-1), and psyllium husk + HCA (WF-2) for 4 weeks. Weight gains in WF-2 were significantly lower than those of the control (P < .05). Relative weights of perirenal and epididymal fat in WF-2 were significantly lower than in the other groups (P < .05). The levels of feces bile acid and fat in WF-2 were significantly higher than in the other groups (P < .05). The levels of plasma triacylglycerol and HTR (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol/total cholesterol) in fiber-containing groups (F-control, WF-1 and WF-2) were significantly lower than in the control (P < .05). Especially, triacylglycerol was significantly lower in WF-2 than in WF-1 and F-control (P < .05). Dietary supplementation with psyllium increased the total short-chain fatty acid concentration (23.36 µmol/L in WF-1 and 26.97 µmol/L in WF-2), compared with F-control (18.97 µmol/L) and control (10.92 µmol/L) diets. The mixture of psyllium and HCA reduced both body weight gain and body fat in high fat-fed rats, suggesting efficacy as an antiobesity supplement.