Inflammatory Profile of Older Adults in Response to Physical Activity and Diet Supplementation: A Systematic Review.

Chronic, low-grade inflammation in the elderly, usually known as inflammaging, accelerates the development of age-related diseases, including cancer, obesity, sarcopenia, and cardio-metabolic diseases. Two of the most studied interventions against inflammation are diet supplementation and the regular practice of exercise. The search for this systematic review was performed in Scopus, EBSCO, and PubMed databases within the last 10 years. Only randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of supplementation and exercise against inflammatory markers in older adults were included. After applying eligibility criteria and risk-of-bias assessment, 11 studies were included in the systematic review. In total, 638 participants were analyzed and the main supplements evaluated were amino acid or protein supplementation from different sources. In the counterpart, the exercise applied in the evaluations included strengthening exercises or aerobic training. The interventions had a range of duration between 4 and 24 weeks, and the effects on inflammation markers in most of the studies showed a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and non- or slightly significant change in anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, these results suggest that exercise and supplement interventions can contribute to diminishing the inflammation process in the elderly. We can also conclude that further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the possible synergistic effects of exercise and food supplementation against inflammation in the elderly due to the limited studies that currently exist. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, ID CRD42023387184.

Association between Body Mass Index with Sugar-Sweetened and Dairy Beverages Consumption in Children from the Mexico-USA Border.

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has been associated with the onset of cardiometabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to describe consumption patterns of sugar-sweetened and dairy beverages and to evaluate their correlation with the body mass index in children residing at the Mexico−USA border. A total of 722 (370 girls, 352 boys) elementary school children aged 9 to 12 years from Tijuana, Mexico, participated in the study. Anthropometric measures were recorded, and a beverage intake questionnaire was completed by the children's parents. Significant age by sex interactions were found on body mass index Z-scores (p < 0.01). Boys showed higher sugar intake (p < 0.05) and total relative energy consumption from sugar (p < 0.05) than girls. The energy consumption from sugar-sweetened and dairy beverages was similar between sexes (p > 0.05). Sugar intake from beverages was higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization in boys (66%) and girls (44%). A high frequency of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and similar intake of dairy beverages were found in children from the Mexico−USA border. The high consumption of sugar exceeds international recommendations and should be carefully monitored.

Impact of Spirulina maxima Intake and Exercise (SIE) on Metabolic and Fitness Parameters in Sedentary Older Adults with Excessive Body Mass: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Life expectancy has increased unprecedentedly in recent decades, benefiting the longevity of the world's population. The most frequent pathological conditions presented in this age group include excessive body fat, frailty, and hypercholesterolemia. These pathological characteristics condition general health and autonomy in adults to carry out their usual activities. In this sense, the search for a healthy lifestyle is necessary, consisting in a healthy diet that includes supplementation with nutraceuticals and the daily practice of physical activity. This study protocol aims to evaluate the independent and synergistic effect of 12 weeks of Spirulina maxima intake (5 g/day), with or without an exercise program on metabolic and fitness parameters of 52 sedentary older adults with excessive body mass in a double-blind, randomized, crossover, controlled trial design. The main findings from this trial will provide novel evidence for future interventions designed for the elderly population and the result will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and international meetings. ClinicalTrials.gov identification number: NCT04658875 (Effect of Spirulina maxima and Exercise on General Fitness and Blood Lipids in Older Adults).