Body Muscle Strength Research Articles

The relationship between blood pressure and functional fitness of older adults in Korea.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure (BP), is a critical health issue that can cause cardiovascular disease. It is observed more frequently in older adults. Thus, this study aimed to identify the functional fitness and body composition factors that significantly influence both systolic and diastolic BPs in older adults. Data from 155,266 older adults (51,751 men [33.3%] and 103,505 women [66.7%]) who underwent functional fitness tests between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed. The following seven functional fitness tests were conducted: (a) aerobic endurance (2-min step), (b) upper body muscle strength (hand grip strength), (c) lower body muscle endurance (chair sit-and-stand), (d) flexibility (sit-and-reach), (e) agility (Timed Up and Go), and (f) body composition (body mass index [BMI] and body fat percentage). Systolic and diastolic BPs were used as outcome variables. In examining the proposed relationships, the regression analysis revealed that BMI, body fat percentage, sit-and-reach, 2-min step, hand grip, chair sit-and-stand, and Timed Up and Go were significantly associated with reduced systolic and diastolic body pressures.

Short-term resistance training combined with cheese supplementation can optimize body parameters and intestinal microbiota in healthy adults

Background/ObjectiveResistance training (RT) and protein supplementation have beneficial effects on the human body. However, it is unknown if RT's health-promoting benefits are enhanced by food-borne protein, such as cheese supplements. This study investigated at how the body composition, lipid profile, muscle strength and intestinal microbiota changed following four weeks of RT combined with cheese supplementation. MethodsThirty-five male and untrained adults were divided into 4 groups [control group (CON), low-dose group (LG), medium-dose group (MG), and high-dose group (HG)] and underwent a 4-week RT (3 times/week) in combination with cheese supplementation. Participants received 108 g (LG), 216 g (MG), or 324 g (HG) of cheese on the day of RT, and each serving (108 g) of cheese contained 6.7 g of food-borne protein. The RT program was a whole-body program with movements such as chest presses, leg presses, seated rowing, knee extensions and triceps pushdown. The exercise consisted of 3 sets of 8–12 repetitions at 70%RM, with a 120-s break in between. Body parameters (body composition, lipid profile and muscle strength) were assessed at baseline and after the 4 weeks of the intervention. The feces sample was taken every weekend. A two-way (group × time) mixed-design ANOVA was used to examine the body parameters. Independent one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the differences between groups in baseline characteristics and different values of each parameter. ResultsHDL-C level was higher in MG than in LG. In comparison to LG, MG had lower levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body weight, body mass index, body fat mass and body fat percentage. However, there was no difference in muscle strength between in the four groups. The abundance of Actinobacteria was higher in LG and Erysipelotrichaceae was lower in MG and HG. ConclusionThe findings suggest that cheese could be a readily available food-borne protein supplement to enhance the beneficial effects of RT on health. It may improve body composition and lipid profile by altering the proportion of intestinal microbiota. During the 4-week RT intervention, 13.4 g of foodborne protein in the form of cheese 3 times per week was the ideal dosage.

Prevalence of falls and comparison of health-related physical fitness factors between different faller categories among institutionalized older adults in Kandy District of Sri Lanka.

Falls can be identified as one of the main issues in elderly population which can lead to serious consequences. Elderly population can be subdivided as community dwelling older adults and institutionalized older adults. The components of health-related physical fitness factors play an important role in the perspective of healthy ageing. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of falls and to compare health-related physical fitness factors between different fall categories among institutionalized older adults. This descriptive cross-sectional study comprised of one hundred and seventy-two elders above 60 years of age, living in registered elder's homes in Kandy District. The prevalence of falls was determined by the number of falls reported by the subjects. They were further categorized as non-fallers, fallers, and frequent fallers depending on the number of falls. Body Mass Index (BMI) for body composition, 2-minute walk test for cardiovascular endurance, 30 second sit to stand test for muscle strength and endurance, hand grip strength for upper body strength, chair sit and reach test for lower body flexibility and back scratch test for upper body flexibility were the measures used to assess health-related physical fitness factors. The prevalence of falls is presented as percentage and the health-related factors were compared between the three faller categories using one-way ANOVA and pairwise comparison was performed using Scheffe test. The prevalence of falls was 47.1%. There was a significant difference in BMI, cardiovascular endurance, and lower body flexibility between the three categories of fallers. Higher BMI, lower cardiovascular endurance and lower flexibility in the lower body were associated with increased prevalence of falls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in body fat percentage, hand grip strength, lower body muscle strength and endurance and upper body flexibility (p>0.05). The findings suggest that, BMI, cardiovascular endurance, and lower body flexibility must be addressed and managed, while designing intervention programs for falls prevention among institutionalized older adults.

Relationship between a body shape index and muscle strength index in Chinese university students: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundThe problem of overweight obesity and decrease in muscle strength among university students has become an indisputable fact. In this study, a comprehensive index reflecting obesity degree a body shape index (ABSI) and a comprehensive index reflecting muscle strength muscle strength index (MSI) were studied to analyze the cross-sectional correlations existing between them.MethodsThis study began recruiting participants and conducting the test survey in April 2022 and closed in July 2022. Basic condition, height, weight, waist circumference, grip strength, pull-up (boys), bent-leg sit-up (girls), and standing long jump were tested on 12,046 (boys: 6011, 49.90%) university students aged 19–22 years in China, and ABSI and MSI were calculated separately. ABSI was categorized into 5 groups according to age and sex, namely ABSI < 5th percentile (A), 5th ≤ ABSI < 25th percentile (B), 25th ≤ ABSI < 75th percentile (C), 75th ≤ ABSI < 95th percentile (D) and ABSI ≥ 95th percentile (E). The comparison of MSI between different ABSI groups was performed using effect size, and the association between them was performed by curve estimation analysis.ResultsThe association between ABSI and MSI of Chinese university students showed an inverted “U” curve. The effect of increased ABSI on MSI was greater in university girls compared to boys. The ABSI of boys was (0.080 ± 0.010) and MSI was (-0.005 ± 2.080); the ABSI of girls was (0.079 ± 0.008) and MSI was (-0.017 ± 1.867). Overall, university students ABSI was at a relatively high point for MSI between 0.050 and 0.100. The university students ABSI at 0.150 had an MSI of -1.229 for boys and − 2.779 for girls.ConclusionThe ABSI of Chinese university students showed an inverted “U”-shaped curve relationship with MSI, and university students with low or high ABSI had lower MSI. The effect of increasing ABSI on the decrease of MSI was more obvious for girls than for boys.

Gender-Related Effectiveness of Personalized Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation.

Background: Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) may affect a substantial proportion of patients who have had COVID-19. The rehabilitation program might improve the physical capacity, functioning of the cardiopulmonary system, and mental conditions of these patients. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of personalized rehabilitation in patients with PCS according to gender. Methods: Adults who underwent a 6-week personalized PCS rehabilitation program were enrolled in a prospective post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation (PCR-SIRIO 8) study. The initial visit and the final visit included the hand-grip strength test, the bioimpedance analysis of body composition, and the following scales: modified Borg's scale, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Functioning in Chronic Illness Scale (FCIS), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and tests: 30 s chair stand test (30 CST), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB)e. Results: A total of 90 patients (54% female) underwent the rehabilitation program. Rehabilitation was associated with an increase in skeletal muscle mass (24.11 kg vs. 24.37 kg, p = 0.001) and phase angle (4.89° vs. 5.01°, p = 0.001) and with a reduction in abdominal fat tissue volume (3.03 L vs. 2.85 L, p = 0.01), waist circumference (0.96 m vs. 0.95 m, p = 0.001), and hydration level (83.54% vs. 82.72%, p = 0.001). A decrease in fat tissue volume and an increase in skeletal muscle mass were observed only in females, while an increase in grip strength was noticed selectively in males. Patients' fatigue (modified Borg's scale, MFIS), physical capacity (30 CST, 6MWT), balance (SPPB), dyspnea (mMRC), and functioning (FICS) were significantly improved after the rehabilitation regardless of gender. Conclusions: Personalized rehabilitation improved the body composition, muscle strength, and functioning of patients diagnosed with PCS. The beneficial effect of rehabilitation on body composition, hydration, and phase angle was observed regardless of gender.

The Effect of Bridging Exercise on Muscle Strength and Body Balance in Stroke Patients at National Brain Center Hospital Prof. DR. Mahar Mardjono East Jakarta

Aims: The study aimed to determine the effect of bridging exercise on muscle strength and body balance in stroke patients at national brain center hospital Prof. DR. Mahar Mardjono East Jakarta. Methods: This study used experimental design aimed to test the application of bridging exercise to body balance and muscle strength in stroke patients. This study was conducted in one group with pre and post-test design. This study was conducted at National Brain Center hospital Prof. DR. Mahar Mardjono East Jakarta. The bridging exercise was conducted at 2-weeks, with light tp moderate intensity, three times a week, with 30 to 45 minutes every session. Results: The result of the statistical test with the Paired Samples t-Test P value resulted in 0.001. These result mean that bridging exercise has a significant effect on muscle strength in stroke patients with a mean difference of -0.63 (CI: -0.91-0.34) and a significantly improved the balance of patients with a mean difference of 17 (CI 12.1-21.9) and a high magnitude of effect (1.69). Conclusion: These result mean that bridging exercise has a significant effect on muscle strength in stroke patients.

Implications of metabolism on multi-systems healthy aging across the lifespan.

Aging is increasingly thought to involve dysregulation of metabolism in multiple organ systems that culminate in decreased functional capacity and morbidity. Here, we seek to understand complex interactions among metabolism, aging, and systems-wide phenotypes across the lifespan. Among 2469 adults (mean age 74.7 years; 38% Black) in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study we identified metabolic cross-sectionally correlates across 20 multi-dimensional aging-related phenotypes spanning seven domains. We used LASSO-PCA and bioinformatic techniques to summarize metabolome-phenome relationships and derive metabolic scores, which were subsequently linked to healthy aging, mortality, and incident outcomes (cardiovascular disease, disability, dementia, and cancer) over 9 years. To clarify the relationship of metabolism in early adulthood to aging, we tested association of these metabolic scores with aging phenotypes/outcomes in 2320 participants (mean age 32.1, 44% Black) of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. We observed significant overlap in metabolic correlates across the seven aging domains, specifying pathways of mitochondrial/cellular energetics, host-commensal metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Across four metabolic scores (body composition, mental-physical performance, muscle strength, and physical activity), we found strong associations with healthy aging and incident outcomes, robust to adjustment for risk factors. Metabolic scores for participants four decades younger in CARDIA were related to incident cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive performance, as well as long-term cardiovascular disease and mortality over three decades. Conserved metabolic states are strongly related to domain-specific aging and outcomes over the life-course relevant to energetics, host-commensal interactions, and mechanisms of innate immunity.

Senotherapeutic drug treatment ameliorates chemotherapy-induced cachexia.

Cachexia is a debilitating skeletal muscle wasting condition for which we currently lack effective treatments. In the context of cancer, certain chemotherapeutics cause DNA damage and cellular senescence. Senescent cells exhibit chronic activation of the transcription factor NF-κB, a known mediator of the proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and skeletal muscle atrophy. Thus, targeting NF-κB represents a logical therapeutic strategy to alleviate unintended consequences of genotoxic drugs. Herein, we show that treatment with the IKK/NF-κB inhibitor SR12343 during a course of chemotherapy reduces markers of cellular senescence and the SASP in liver, skeletal muscle, and circulation and, correspondingly, attenuates features of skeletal muscle pathology. Lastly, we demonstrate that SR12343 mitigates chemotherapy-induced reductions in body weight, lean mass, fat mass, and muscle strength. These findings support senescent cells as a promising druggable target to counteract the SASP and skeletal muscle wasting in the context of chemotherapy.

Urinary incontinence in middle-aged and older women with hip and knee osteoarthritis: An outpatient study of frequency and risk factors.

To investigate the frequency and the factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI) in a sample of middle-aged and older women with lower limb osteoarthritis (OA). Women aged 50 years or older with clinical hip/knee OAdiagnoses were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Self-reported UI and type, sociodemographic characteristics, medical conditions, physical activity level, anthropometric and body composition measurements, muscle strength, and physical function were assessed. Uni and multivariable logistic regression were used to investigate the factors associated with UI. Among 100 middle-aged and older women (mean 67.27 ± 8.77SD years), 67% reported UI. In the UI group, 33% reported stress UI, 36% reported urgency UI, and 31% reported mixed UI. In the univariate analysis, age, level of physical activity, pulmonary disease, number of medications, body mass index (BMI), number of deliveries, and activity limitation were significantly associated with UI. In the multivariable analysis, older age (60-69 years OR: 4.91, 95%CI: 1.25-19.36; ≥70 years OR: 8.06, 95%CI: 1.96-33.22), compared to 50-59 years, morbid obesity (OR: 14.10, 95%CI: 1.36-146.48), compared to BMI < 30 kg/m2 , and activity limitation (OR: 5.31, 95%CI: 1.61-17.54), assessed as short physical performance battery ≤8, remained significantly associated with UI. UI was highly frequent among middle-aged and older women with hip/knee OA. Older age, activity limitation, and morbid obesity were independently associated with UI. Interventions targeting physical function and weight management must be considered to prevent and treat UI in this population.

Effects of Physical Activity on Body Composition, Muscle Strength, and Physical Function in Old Age: Bibliometric and Meta-Analyses.

Accumulating evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) is an efficient intervention to maintain functional capabilities and mitigate physiological changes in the older population. However, an attempt has yet to be made to comprehensively investigate the published landscape on the subject. This study had two aims. The first aim was to perform a bibliometric analysis for two keywords, "aging" and "PA", to analyze the research trend. Since "frailty" was the most noticeable co-occurring keyword with the two keywords, the second aim was to investigate the effects of PA, particularly, resistance training (RT), on frailty using a meta-analysis to provide a summary of the current evidence base. The bibliometric analysis revealed that the number of publications on this research topic has gradually increased, highlighting the importance of understanding the role of PA in aging. The meta-analysis found that RT had significant beneficial effects on physical frailty factors, including handgrip strength, lower limb strength, balance, gait speed, and stair-climbing ability. These findings demonstrate that RT is an effective intervention for improving physical function in frail populations; thus, it has important implications for the development of PA programs for older adults with frailty. Future research is warranted to explore the optimal dose, frequency, and duration of RT programs for older adults, as well as the potential benefits of combining RT with other forms of PA, such as aerobic or balance exercises.

Muscle strength deficits are associated with low bone mineral density in young pediatric cancer survivors: The iBoneFIT project

BackgroundPediatric cancer survivors are at increased risk of muscle weakness and low areal bone mineral density (aBMD). However, the prevalence of muscle strength deficits is not well documented, and the associations of muscle strength with aBMD are unknown in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of upper- and lower-body muscle strength deficits and to examine the associations of upper- and lower-body muscle strength with age-, sex, and race-specific aBMD Z-scores at the total body, total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 116 pediatric cancer survivors (12.1 ± 3.3 years old, mean ± SD; 42.2% female). Upper- and lower-body muscle strength were assessed by handgrip and standing long jump test, respectively. Dual‑energy X‑ray absorptiometry was used to measure aBMD (g/cm2). Associations between muscle strength and aBMD were evaluated in multivariable linear regression models. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the contribution of muscle strength (1-decile lower) to the odds of having low aBMD (Z-score ≤ 1.0). All analyses were adjusted for time from treatment completion, radiotherapy exposure, and body mass index. ResultsMore than one-half of survivors were within the 2 lowest deciles for upper- (56.9%) and lower- body muscle strength (60.0%) in comparison to age- and sex-specific reference values. Muscle strength deficits were associated with lower aBMD Z-scores at all sites (B = 0.133–0.258, p = 0.001–0.032). Each 1-decile lower in upper-body muscle strength was associated with 30%–95% higher odds of having low aBMD Z-scores at all sites. Each 1-decile lower in lower-body muscle strength was associated with 35%–70% higher odds of having low aBMD Z-scores at total body, total hip, and femoral neck. ConclusionMuscle strength deficits are prevalent in young pediatric cancer survivors, and such deficits are associated with lower aBMD Z-scores at all sites. These results suggest that interventions designed to improve muscle strength in this vulnerable population may have the added benefit of improving aBMD.

Muscle Strength and Male Sexual Function.

Sexual dysfunction, in particular erectile dysfunction, is a common complaint among aging men. Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking are shown to be independent risk factors for erectile dysfunction, while cardiorespiratory fitness is shown to be protective. Less is known about the role of muscle strength in male sexual function. Our objective was to study the association between male sexual function and typical cardiovascular risk factors, together with exercise and muscle strength. We included data from the fourth wave of the RHINE study. Data on anthropometrics, exercise habits, diseases, muscle strength, and sexual function were collected using questionnaires, including the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to measure the association between sexual function and body mass index (BMI), age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, exercise and muscle strength status. We included 2116 men aged 48-75 from four Nordic-Baltic countries. BMI, age, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension were found to be associated with higher odds of reporting decreased sexual function, while reporting intact muscle strength was associated with lower odds. In a large Nordic-Baltic male study population, we show that known cardiovascular risk factors are associated with decreased sexual function, while reporting intact muscle strength is associated with lower odds of reporting decreased sexual function.

Nutritional condition and nutrient intake predict moral condemnation of food wasting

People believe that food wasting behaviour is immoral. This judgment could be partially driven by increasing awareness of global environmental threats associated with the current scale of food waste. Recent research indicates that moral judgments of food wasting behaviour may also reflect higher levels of food insecurity—potentially serving an adaptive role in harsh environments. In our research, we tested this hypothesis at both the population and individual levels. The study was conducted among individuals from subsistence-economy populations: the Hadza hunter-gatherers (n = 72) and the Datoga pastoralists (n = 70), where levels of food insecurity are higher than in industrialised populations. To infer about food insecurity at the individual level, we analysed body composition, muscle strength, and nutrient intake. We found that individuals who had lower levels of muscle strength and those who consumed less calorie-dense foods judged food wasting behaviour as more immoral. These findings show that food wasting moral judgments reflect the short-term nutritional condition and current nutrient intake. We also found that individuals with greater muscle mass—likely shaped by activities associated with food provisioning—judged food-wasting behaviour as more immoral. The study supports the idea that food wasting moral judgments are shaped by food insecurity and points to some novel social factors that may also influence these judgments.

Clustering of Multilevel Factors Among Children and Adolescents: Associations With Health-Related Physical Fitness.

To identify the clustering characteristics of individual-, family-, and school-level factors, and examine their associations with health-related physical fitness. A total of 145,893 Chinese children and adolescents aged 9-18years participated in this cross-sectional study. The 2-step cluster analysis was conducted to identify clusters among individual-, family-, and school-level factors. Physical fitness indicator was calculated through sex- and age-specific z scores of forced vital capacity, standing long jump, sit-and-reach flexibility, body muscle strength, endurance running, and body mass index. Three, 3, and 5 clusters were automatically identified at individual, family, and school levels, respectively. Students with low physical fitness indicator were more likely to be in the "longest sedentary time and skipping breakfast" cluster (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.24), and "physical inactivity and insufficient protein consumption" cluster (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12) at individual level, the "single children and high parental education level" cluster (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.10-1.21), and "no physical activity support and preference" cluster (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.25-1.36) at family level, and the "physical education occupied" cluster (OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11), and "insufficient physical education frequency" cluster (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24) at school level. Girls were more vulnerable to individual- and school-level clusters, while boys were more susceptible to family clusters; the younger students were more sensitive to school clusters, and the older students were more susceptible to family clusters (P-interaction < .05). This study confirmed different clusters at multilevel factors and proved their associations with health-related physical fitness, thus providing new perspective for developing targeted interventions.

Application Of Resistance Training And Strength Exercises For Improving Explosive Force In Students Of Sports University Of Tirana

Resistance training is a potent stimulus to the neuromuscular system for muscle hypertrophy and strength gain which is known to have positive effects on health, weight control and performance The capacity for human exercise performance can be enhanced with prolonged exercise training, whether it is endurance or strength-based. The purpose of this study is to analyse the effectiveness of RT performed with strength exercises for improving body composition, muscle strength and explosive force of SUT students. 45 male students of SUT, aged 18-25 years old, had participated in this study. The training period lasted 12 weeks with 3 times per week sessions. The study was performed following a training protocol by control and experimental groups. The paired samples t-test was used to the comparisons within group, whilst the independent samples t-test was used to compare variables between groups at baseline. The main findings of this study is that HIRT procedures improvements in the maximum power output (peak power) and efficiency of the motion at experimental group are slightly greater than those reported at control group and the estimated mean change in maximum power output and efficiency over the training program was 4.08 W/kg and 4.2% efficiency (p &lt; 0.05) when compared the experimental group to control group. In conclusion, the present study suggest that, the high intensity resistance training program composed by functional training, fitness challenge and core &amp; abdominal exercises have the most benefit form improving body composition, peak maximum power, efficiency and explosive force.

Statistical index for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in physically active older women: A cross-sectional study

The detection and classification of sarcopenia involves the analysis of many variables (50 to 60), which increases the time and costs required to diagnose and manage this condition. The objective of the study was to develop a synthetic statistical index to diagnose and classify sarcopenia in physically active older women. With this in mind, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 100 physically active women (64.88 ±4.4 years) in whom body composition measurements, muscle strength, and gait tests were performed. One thousand random selections of both training and test sets (80% and 20%, respectively) were made, logistic regression was fitted, and the regularization procedure (Elastic net regression) was performed. Results showed that the skeletal appendicular mass index (kg/m2) and slow gait speed (m/sec) were the variables that contributed the most to the diagnosis of sarcopenia. In conclusion, appendicular lean mass, gait speed, and explosive strength sufficiently describe the state of muscle and functional deterioration (sarcopenia) in physically active older women.

The Effect of 8-Week Protein Supplementation with a Simple Exercise Program on Body Composition, Muscle Strength, and Amino Acid OMICS among Healthy Sedentary Indians: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Dietary protein plays a crucial role in the modulation of several physiological processes to sustain health and well-being. There is robust evidence of enhanced muscle protein synthesis, improved physical fitness, body composition, and performance contributed by protein supplementation combined with exercise among trained individuals or athletes. Evidence of the efficacy of such intervention on healthy adults having a sedentary lifestyle is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of 12 g of additional protein in the form of a protein supplement compared to a placebo combined with a simple exercise program on plasma amino acid level, body composition, and muscle strength among healthy Indian adults having a relatively sedentary lifestyle. This double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted on sedentary healthy adults 20-45 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 27.9 kg/m2. Eighty-two participants were randomized into either the protein (intervention) or placebo (control) group. The exercise regime was the same for both groups. Out of 82 randomized participants, 58 completed the intervention. Blood tests were conducted for the amino acid OMICS measurement followed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for body composition and isokinetic dynamometry for muscle strength. A significant improvement was observed in the lean mass (kg) and appendicular muscle mass (AMM) adjusted for weight in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The muscle strength and contractile quality were comparable in the 2 groups. Plasma BCAA showed a significant negative association with body fat % (r = -0.43, p < 0.05 for the intervention group and r = -0.33, p = 0.07 for the control group) and a positive association with lean body mass % (r = 0.56, p < 0.01 in the intervention group vs r = 0.29, p = 0.10 in the control group) in the intervention group compared to control. In conclusion, this study highlighted the value of incorporating a lifestyle intervention including protein supplementation with simple exercises to optimize body composition in sedentary healthy individuals. This trial is registered with CTRI/2018/12/016777.

The Effect of Concurrent Training on Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Serum Estradiol and Physical Fitness Indicators in Overweight Women With Type 2 Diabetes

Background and Purpose: Considering that diabetic patients have low physical fitness and are prone to cardiovascular diseases, there is a need to conduct studies for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. The present study investigates the effect of concurrent training (CT) on some cardiovascular risk factors, serum estradiol, and physical fitness indicators in overweight women with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. A total of 30 women with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into CT and control (CON) groups. Concurrent training was performed for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. The CT program included resistance training with elastic bands, running with an intensity of 70%-85% of the maximum heart rate, and skipping rope training with 40-45 jumps per minute. Forty-eight hours before and after the intervention, blood samples were collected from all participants in a fasting state to evaluate serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol levels, and estradiol. The VO2 max and upper body and lower body strength indicators were also assessed in all participants. The data was analyzed using the statistical method of ANOVA with repeated measures. Results: The results showed a significant increase in VO2 max, serum estradiol, upper and lower body muscle strength, and a significant decrease in serum triglyceride and glucose in the CT group compared to the CON group (P&lt;0.05). No significant difference was observed in low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio and total cholesterol (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: Eight weeks of concurrent training can improve physical fitness indicators and some cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women with type 2 diabetes.

Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) Attenuates High-Fat-Induced Skeletal Muscle Wasting by Increasing Protein Synthesis and Mitochondrial Biogenesis.

Gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon, LE) can mitigate obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-skeletal muscle atrophy effects of LE and the underlying molecular mechanism. C2C12 myotubes were pretreated with LE or shikonin, and active component of LE, for 24 h and then treated with 500 μM palmitic acid (PA) for an additional 24 h. Additionally, mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks to induced obesity, and then fed either the same diet or a version containing 0.25% LE for 10 weeks. LE attenuated PA-induced myotubes atrophy in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. The supplementation of LE to obese mice significantly increased skeletal muscle weight, lean body mass, muscle strength, and exercise performance compared with those in the HFD group. LE supplementation not only suppressed obesity-induced skeletal muscle lipid accumulation, but also downregulated TNF-α and atrophic genes. LE increased protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle via the mTOR pathway. We observed LE induced increase of mitochondrial biogenesis and upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation related genes in the skeletal muscles. Furthermore, LE increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha and the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Collectively, LE may be useful in ameliorating the detrimental effects of obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy through the increase of protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis of skeletal muscle.

An Investigation of the Effects of an 8-Week Zumba Exercise Program on Physical Fitness Components in Sedentary Women

This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week Zumba exercise program on weight, body fat percentage (BFP), body muscle mass (BMM), grip strength, back strength, flexibility, and MaxVo2 parameters in sedentary women. Twenty-four women (age: 21.54±1.84, height: 163.75±4.15) who did not engage in regular physical activity and had no history of illness or sports injuries volunteered to participate in the study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (12 participants) and a control group (12 participants). The experimental group underwent 60-minute Zumba exercises three days a week. Weight, height, BFP, BMM, grip strength (right and left), flexibility, and MaxVo2 were measured. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25 statistical software package. Wilcoxon Test was used for intra-group pre-test and post-test comparisons, and a significance level of p0.05 was accepted. In the experimental group, significant differences were observed in weight, BFP, BMM, flexibility, back strength, and MaxVo2 values between the pre-test and post-test, while there was no statistically significant difference in grip strength (right and left) with p0.05. In the control group, a significant difference was observed in BFP. However, no statistically significant differences were found in weight, BMM, flexibility, grip strength (right and left), back strength, and MaxVo2 with p0.05. In conclusion, based on the results of this study and considering the literature, it can be stated that Zumba exercises, which are widely practiced today, expose individuals to high-intensity physical activity. Consequently, an 8-week Zumba exercise program may positively affect weight, body fat percentage, body muscle mass, MaxVo2, flexibility, and strength parameters.Keywords: Exercise, Physical Fitness, Strength, Zumba