Differences In Lean Body Mass Research Articles

Review of the Potential Role of Ascorbate in the Prevention and Treatment of Gynecological Cancers.

Ascorbate (vitamin C) is an essential vitamin for the human body and participates in various physiological processes as an important coenzyme and antioxidant. Furthermore, the role of ascorbate in the prevention and treatment of cancer including gynecological cancer has gained much more interest recently. The bioavailability and certain biological functions of ascorbate are distinct in males versus females due to differences in lean body mass, sex hormones, and lifestyle factors. Despite epidemiological evidence that ascorbate-rich foods and ascorbate plasma concentrations are inversely related to cancer risk, ascorbate has not demonstrated a significant protective effect in patients with gynecological cancers. Adequate ascorbate intake may have the potential to reduce the risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and high-risk HPV persistence status. High-dose ascorbate exerts antitumor activity and synergizes with chemotherapeutic agents in preclinical cancer models of gynecological cancer. In this review, we provide evidence for the biological activity of ascorbate in females and discuss the potential role of ascorbate in the prevention and treatment of ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers.

Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Body Composition of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

The study hypothesized that zinc supplementation would increase or preserve lean body mass in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the body composition of DMD patients before and after zinc supplementation. The study is a clinical trial comprising 21 boys diagnosed with DMD. Dietary intake parameters were evaluated before zinc supplementation. Serum zinc levels, anthropometry, and body composition were measured in three moments, four months apart. The patients received 5, 10, or 15 mg of zinc bis-glycine supplementation according to age as an oral solution daily for four months. The sample was distributed into two groups according to serum zinc status: zinc deficiency (G1) or adequate zinc (G2). There was a significant difference in lean body mass between the groups: zinc deficiency (G1) or adequate zinc (G2), at three times (p=0.041, 0.016, and 0.009, respectively). After oral zinc supplementation, serum zinc levels were not different between groups. We did not observe differences when associating the parameters between times and groups. Zinc supplementation was able to maintain lean body mass and fat mass in patients with DMD with previous deficiencies. Therefore, it is necessary to have a prior screening of serum zinc levels to observe changes after supplementation.

A O03 Host phenotypic adversity independently predicts progression to resection in neoadjuvantly-treated pancreatic cancer

Abstract Background Neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) offers a modest survival benefit to the otherwise dismal outcomes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), however methods for assessing treatment response and disease trajectory during NAT are limited. Cachexia and sarcopenia are hallmark features of PDAC and defining host phenotypic adversity is crucial in understanding the tumour-host relationship and its influence on clinical outcomes. We sought to determine the relationship between body composition, systemic inflammation, and outcomes in NAT PDAC to lay foundations for improving assessment of treatment response. Methods This is a retrospective, observational study with an intention-to-treat design, analysing resected (n = 109) and non-resected (n = 117) NAT PDAC (total n = 226) from the tertiary West of Scotland Pancreatic Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Patients were included if they had resectable or borderline resectable disease and received NAT. Patients were excluded if they had locally advanced or metastatic disease. Body composition was determined by single-slice L3 cross-sectional measurements. Results Patients with an adverse phenotype defined by change in body composition were less likely to progress to resection (40.9% vs 68.8%, p < 0.001). Logistic regression confirms the independence of this effect (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.99-7.22, p < 0.001). There was a trend towards systemic inflammation in the non-resected group (CRP rise 51.4% vs 29.9%, p = 0.008). Patients treated with Folfirinox who required dose reduction received higher doses of irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil (bolus) and 5-fluorouracil (infusion) per unit muscle mass (7.3 vs 6.9mg/cm2⋅m-2, p = 0.010; 16.2 vs 14.7mg/cm2⋅m-2, p = 0.002; 96.5 vs 91.1mg/cm2⋅m-2, p = 0.026). Conclusions Host phenotypic adversity during NAT presents a potentially valuable addition to a limited arsenal of tools to aid decision making in resectable and borderline resectable PDAC. Early assessment of body composition trend during chemotherapy may present an opportunity to switch the host phenotype from adverse to favourable in some patients, or highlight the futility of continuing aggressive treatment in others. Chemotherapeutic prescribing by body surface area overlooks crucial differences in lean body mass and may be exposing patients to avoidable and burdensome toxicities.

Eight weeks of heavy strength training increases hemoglobin mass and V̇o2peak in well-trained to elite female and male rowers.

O2-transport and endurance exercise performance are greatly influenced by hemoglobin mass (Hbmass), which largely depends on lean body mass (LBM). This study investigated the effects of 8 wk with three weekly sessions of conventional (3-SET: 3 × 10 reps) or high-volume strength training (10-SET: 5-10 × 10 reps) on LBM, Hbmass, muscle strength, and exercise performance in female and male rowers. Hematological parameters were obtained through CO rebreathing and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans before and after the training period. Concomitantly, V̇o2peak was determined during 2-km ergometer rowing and muscle strength by isometric midthigh pull. There were no differences in training responses between groups for any of the parameters. Pooled data revealed overall increments for Hbmass (10-SET: 882 ± 199 g to 897 ± 213 g; 3-SET: 936 ± 245 g to 962 ± 247 g, P = 0.02) and V̇o2peak (10-SET: 4.3 ± 1.0 to 4.4 ± 0.9 L·min-1; 3-SET: 4.5 ± 0.9 to 4.6 ± 0.9 L·min-1, P = 0.03), whereas LBM remained unchanged (10-SET: 58.7 ± 10.5 to 58.7 ± 10.1 kg; 3-SET: 64.1 ± 10.8 to 64.5 ± 10.6 kg, P = 0.42). Maximal isometric midthigh pull strength increased (10-SET: 224 ± 47 kg to 237 ± 55 kg; 3-SET: 256 ± 77 kg to 281 ± 83 kg, P = 0.001). Strong associations were observed between LBM and Hbmass and V̇o2peak (r2 = 0.88-0.90), entailing sex differences in Hbmass and V̇o2peak. Normalizing V̇o2peak to LBM reduced the sex difference to ∼10%, aligning with the sex difference in Hbmass·LBM-1. Strength training successfully increased Hbmass and V̇o2peak in elite female and male rowers, without an additional effect from increased training volume. Moreover, sex differences in V̇o2peak were mainly explained by differences in LBM, but likely also by differences in Hbmass·LBM-1.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study in female and male rowers demonstrates that hemoglobin mass (Hbmass), V̇o2peak, and muscle strength increases with 8 wk of heavy strength training and that this response is not different between conventional (3 × 10 repetitions) and high-volume strength training (10 × 10 repetitions). Moreover, female rowers exhibited less hemoglobin per kilogram of lean body mass compared with their male counterparts, which likely contributes to sex differences in V̇o2peak and rowing performance.

Sex Differences In Relative Force And Power Development During A Countermovement Jump

Research has shown that the measurement of countermovement jumps may relate to sport performance and injury. Certain measurements of force production and power output can additionally inform the athlete and coaches of deficiencies in strength and velocity. These measurements can help inform players and coaches of specific training modalities that may lead to improvements in these measurements. Among elite level athletes, biological males often produce more force and power during a counter movement jump, than biological females due to differences in lean body mass and overall body fat percentage. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare normalization methods of force and power production during a counter movement jump in college basketball players. METHODS: 15 Division 1 basketball players participated in the study (7 females, 20.8 ± 2.2 yrs, 1.79 ± 0.09 m., 84.7 ± 12.9 kg; 8 males, 21.5 ± 1.2 yrs, 1.94 ± 0.09 m., 91.5 ± 11.3 kg). Participants performed a warmup consisting of 5 minutes of stationary cycling and dynamic stretching. Participants then performed three countermovement jumps on two force plates (Bertec Inc.) while data was collected and analyzed using Noraxon MR:16 software. Body composition was assessed using air displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod, Cosmed). RESULTS: Biological males (11.5 ± 4.4 %) had reduced body fat percentage compared to biological females (25.6 ± 4.4%, p < 0.001). Biological males jumped 11.8 cm higher (46.2 ± 4.1 cm) than biological females (34.3 ± 71 cm, p = 0.001). When normalized to body mass, concentric power (33%, p < 0.001) and concentric force (11%, p = 0.03) were higher in biological males compared to biological females. When normalized to lean body mass, there were no significant differences in concentric power or concentric force between males and females. When concentric peak force was normalized to only lean body mass, biological females showed a nonsignificant increase of 6% (p = 0.19) compared to biological males. CONCLUSION: Jumping power and force differences were reduced between biological males and females when normalized to lean body mass, likely due to the increase in body fat percentage in biological females. These data suggest that care should be taken when considering methods of normalization for gender comparisons of jumping power and force.

Supplemental Creatine, Not Dietary Creatine, Appears to Improve Exercise Performance in Individuals Following Omnivorous or Meat-Free diets: A Narrative Review

AbstractEating a high-quality diet and engaging in regular physical activity are fundamental components of lifestyle medicine that can reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. Increased interest in plant-based eating may lead to questions about whether meat-free diets lack certain nutrients, such as creatine, which support vigorous exercise. Creatine supplementation has been consistently shown to improve exercise performance, especially during high-intensity efforts, in individuals following omnivorous and meat-free (vegetarian and vegan) eating patterns. Only foods of animal origin contain dietary creatine, however, leading some to speculate that people eating omnivorous diets may gain a performance advantage relative to their meat-free counterparts. Research revealing dis-crepancies in creatine storage between those eating omnivorous and meat-free diets has not found lower lean body mass, type I or II muscle fiber area, 1-repetition maximum, power output, VO2max, or time to exhaustion. Creatine supplementation augments exercise performance for individuals of all dietary patterns studied but improvements resulting from supplementation have not been consistently greater in subjects who follow meat-free versus omnivorous diets, indicating that their lower baseline creatine stores are unlikely ergolytic. Additional research finds no performance disadvantage for individuals who follow unsupplemented meat-free diets compared to those following unsupplemented omnivorous diets despite their differing creatine stores. These findingsindicate that the discrepant creatine contents of omnivorous and meat-free diets are not associated with differences in lean body mass and exercise performance.

A novel oral nutritional supplement improves gait speed and mitochondrial functioning compared to standard care in older adults with (or at risk of) undernutrition: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Undernutrition in older adults is mainly addressed by oral nutritional supplements, which do not affect physical functioning. In this study, we tested a novel oral nutritional supplement that included whey and casein protein, ursolic acid, free branch-chained amino acids and vitamin D against a standard supplement. We included older adults (>65y) with (or at risk of) undernutrition (n=82) and randomized them to 12 weeks of novel or standard supplement.Both groups showed significant increases in body mass. No within or between-group differences in lean body mass were observed. Fat mass increased significantly more in the standard than the novel supplement group (time*treatment effect P=0.045). The novel supplement group showed a larger improvement in walking performance on distances of 4m (treatment x time interaction P=0.048) and 400m (treatment x time interaction P=0.038) than the standard treatment group. Gene sets related to mitochondrial functioning and oxidative phosphorylation were upregulated in the novel supplement group and downregulated in the standard supplement group.We conclude that a 12-week intervention with the novel supplement improved walking performance both during short and long distance as compared to a standard supplement, which can largely be explained by increased mitochondrial functioning in the group receiving the novel supplement.

Abstract B02: Efficacy of EPA-enriched supplement compared with standard formula on body weight changes in malnourished head and neck cancer patients undergoing surgery: A randomized study

Abstract Background: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) containing nutritional supplement can reverse weight loss and increase lean body mass in a perioperative period of head and neck cancer patients. There is no randomized study to clinically compare an EPA-enriched supplement over a conventional supplement in head and neck cancer patients. Thus the aim of this study was to compare an EPA-enriched supplement with a conventional supplement in malnourished head and neck cancer patients following surgery. The primary outcome of this study was defined as perioperative weight changes, with postoperative complications a secondary outcome. Methods: The patients were stratified into 4 groups based on the extent of their surgery: primary tumor resection or neck dissection, primary tumor resection and neck dissection, primary tumor resection and flap reconstruction, and primary tumor resection and neck dissection and flap reconstruction. Pretreatment randomization was conducted in each stratified group for the selection of nutritional supplement, whether EPA-enriched or standard formula. The supplements were prescribed 7 days preoperative through 14 days postoperative. Body weight and composition including serum parameters were measured from 7 days preoperative until 4 months postoperative. The hospitalized courses were recorded. Results: Thirty-one patients in each group consumed EPA-enriched and standard formula supplements. There were no significant body weight or composition changes perioperatively. From 7 days before surgery to 4 months after surgery, mean body weight reduced by 2.95 (SD 4.70) kg and 2.82 (SD 4.78) kg in the EPA-enriched and standard formula groups, respectively. The mean overall patient weight loss was 2.89 kg or 5% throughout the period of study. No significant differences in lean body mass and body composition changes from the beginning to the end of the study were observed between the groups. No significant differences in the hospitalized days and postoperative complications were observed. Conclusions: Body weight changes in malnourished head and neck cancer patients following surgery were not influenced by EPA additives to perioperative nutritional supplements. Citation Format: Kitti Jantharapattana, Orachat Orapipatpong. Efficacy of EPA-enriched supplement compared with standard formula on body weight changes in malnourished head and neck cancer patients undergoing surgery: A randomized study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr B02.

Nutrient intake, body composition, and blood phenylalanine control in children with phenylketonuria compared to healthy controls

BackgroundPhenylketonuria (PKU) treatment consists of life-long protein restriction and Phe-free medical foods for adequate nutritional intake and growth. A relationship between body composition and blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations in subjects with PKU has been proposed but this has not been consistently reported. MethodsDietary intake, lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass (FM) were measured in 30 pediatric subjects with PKU compared to 30 age, and sex matched controls. The relationship between body composition and blood Phe was analyzed within the PKU cohort from clinically collected dried blood spot Phe concentrations. ResultsMale subjects with PKU had less LBM% and more FM% than controls (p = .024). There was no difference in LBM% and FM% among female subjects. Age (p = .02) and FM% (p = .02) were positively correlated to dried blood spot Phe. Synthetic protein intake (g/kg body weight) was negatively correlated with dried blood spot Phe (p = .04). Natural protein intake was not related to blood spot Phe. ConclusionsChildren with PKU face additional dietary challenges maintaining healthy growth and body composition while keeping Phe levels low. We observed higher FM% and lower LBM% in male subjects with PKU. Correlations do not prove cause and effect but suggest a relationship between increased blood Phe, lower synthetic protein intake and increased FM%. Future studies may explore if lower blood Phe concentrations is associated with a lower FM% and higher LBM%; particularly among adult patients now managed on pegvaliase (Palynziq®) who consume normal amounts of natural protein or among younger patients who consume glycomacropeptide (GMP).

Once-Weekly Dulaglutide with Insulin Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: Efficacy and Safety Results from a Phase 4, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study.

IntroductionAlthough global studies have investigated the combination of dulaglutide with insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), differences in lean body mass and dulaglutide dosing can complicate the extrapolation of global study results to Japanese patients. This phase 4, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, and subsequent open-label study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of once-weekly dulaglutide 0.75 mg in combination with insulin therapy in patients with T2DM.MethodsPatients enrolled in this multicenter study were Japanese with T2DM who had inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c 7.5–10.5%) with insulin therapy (basal insulin, premixed insulin, or basal/mealtime insulin) in combination with or without one or two oral antidiabetic agents (OADs). Patients were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to dulaglutide or placebo. The first 16 weeks was the double-blind period with stable insulin dosing, and patients taking placebo were switched to dulaglutide for an additional 36-week open-label period in which all patients took dulaglutide (52 weeks total).ResultsPatients (N = 159) were randomized to dulaglutide (n = 120) or placebo (n = 39). The least-squares (LS) mean changes from baseline in HbA1c at week 16 were dulaglutide − 1.45% and placebo 0.06%. The LS mean and 95% confidence interval for the difference were − 1.50% (− 1.73%, − 1.28%) and dulaglutide was superior to placebo. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in changes from baseline in body weight and insulin dose. The most frequently observed treatment-emergent adverse events in dulaglutide were nasopharyngitis, constipation, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and decreased appetite. The incidence rates of hypoglycemic events by week 16 were dulaglutide 42.5% and placebo 30.8% (P = 0.258).ConclusionOnce-weekly dulaglutide 0.75 mg was superior to once-weekly placebo in glycemic control improvement and well tolerated in patients with T2DM in combination with insulin therapy with or without OADs.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02750410.FundingEli Lilly and Company.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13300-019-00726-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Age- and sex-dependent role of osteocytic pannexin1 on bone and muscle mass and strength

Pannexins (Panxs), glycoproteins that oligomerize to form hemichannels on the cell membrane, are topologically similar to connexins, but do not form cell-to-cell gap junction channels. There are 3 members of the family, 1–3, with Panx1 being the most abundant. All Panxs are expressed in bone, but their role in bone cell biology is not completely understood. We now report that osteocytic Panx1 deletion (Panx1Δot) alters bone mass and strength in female mice. Bone mineral density after reaching skeletal maturity is higher in female Panx1Δot mice than in control Panx1fl/fl mice. Further, osteocytic Panx1 deletion partially prevented aging effects on cortical bone structure and mechanical properties. Young 4-month-old female Panx1Δot mice exhibited increased lean body mass, even though pannexin levels in skeletal muscle were not affected; whereas no difference in lean body mass was detected in male mice. Furthermore, female Panx1-deficient mice exhibited increased muscle mass without changes in strength, whereas Panx1Δot males showed unchanged muscle mass and decreased in vivo maximum plantarflexion torque, indicating reduced muscle strength. Our results suggest that osteocytic Panx1 deletion increases bone mass in young and old female mice and muscle mass in young female mice, but has deleterious effects on muscle strength only in males.

SUN-115 Role of Olfactory Marker Protein in High-Fat, Diet-Induced Obese Models

Obesity causes chronic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and stroke, which increase the mortality rate. Among the various studies on obesity, the role of the olfactory system to regulate energy homeostasis has been recently studied. Olfactory marker protein (OMP) is a cytoplasmic protein expressed primarily in mature chemosensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium and involved in the olfactory receptor (OR)-mediated signal transduction cascade with olfactory canonical signaling components. Recently, the expression of OR-associated components including OMP has been observed in non-olfactory tissues where there are involved in monitoring extracellular ligands. In this study, we evaluated the role of OMP on development of obesity. We confirmed that non-olfactory OMP is expressed specifically in white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue, and Liver of mice, as well as in 3T3-L1 cell line. To determine whether OMP mediates diet-induced obesity, we examined the influence of high-fat diet (HFD) on the wild type C57/BL6 mice and OMP knock-out (KO) mice. The amount of food intake was similar in both wild-type and mutants. Although there was no difference in normal chow diet fed mice, the KO mice gained less weight than wild-type mice in HFD condition. While there was no difference in lean body mass, fat mass was significantly reduced in OMP KO mice. In white adipose tissue (WAT), fat size of OMP KO mice was smaller than wild-type mice on both normal chow and HFD condition. The principal adipogenic transcription factor, PPARγ expression was significantly decreased in OMP KO mice, whereas UCP-1 and PGC-1α expression was increased than wild-type mice. Likewise, in brown adipose tissue (BAT), reduction of fat size was observed in OMP KO mice on HFD. Thermogenesis factor, UCP-1 and PGC-1α expression was up-regulated as well. In liver, it was confirmed that the formation of fatty liver due to the high fat diet was significantly reduced in the OMP KO mice. Taken together, our results suggest that loss of olfactory function increases beige localization of white fat, promotes thermogenesis through the expression of UCP-1 and PGC-1α in brown adipose tissue, and decreases the expression of lipogenesis related markers in liver tissue, resulting in decreased body fat and reduced diet-induced obesity.

Progressive resistance training prevents loss of muscle mass and strength in bile duct-ligated rats.

Loss of muscle mass and strength is common in cirrhosis and increases the risk of hyperammonaemia and hepatic encephalopathy. Resistance training optimizes muscle mass and strength in several chronic diseases. However, the beneficial effects of resistance training in cirrhosis remain to be investigated. Bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats develop chronic liver disease, hyperammonaemia, reduced muscle mass and strength. Our aim was to test the effects of resistance training on muscle mass, function and ammonia metabolism in BDL-rats. A group of BDL-rats underwent a progressive resistance training programme and a group of non-exercise BDL-rats served as controls. Resistance training comprised of ladder climbing with a progressive increase in carrying weights attached to the tail. Training was performed 5days a week during 4weeks. Muscle strength and body composition were assessed using grip strength and EchoMRI. Weight and circumference of the gastrocnemius muscle (normalized to bodyweight), plasma ammonia and glutamine synthetase protein expression and activity were assessed. BDL+exercise rats had significantly larger gastrocnemius circumference compared to non-exercise BDL-rats: ratio 0.082 vs 0.075 (P<0.05). Gastrocnemius muscle weight was higher in exercisers than controls: 0.006 vs 0.005 (P<0.05). A tendency towards a lower plasma ammonia in the exercise group compared to controls was observed (P=0.10). There were no differences in lean body mass, GS protein expression and activity between the groups. Resistance training in rats with chronic liver disease beneficially effects muscle mass and strength. The effects were followed by non-significant reduction in blood ammonia; however, a tendency was observed.

Relationships between muscle size, strength, and physical activity in adults with muscular dystrophy.

BackgroundMuscular dystrophy (MD) is characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness, yet few comparisons to non‐MD controls (CTRL) of muscle strength and size in this adult population exist. Physical activity (PA) is promoted to maintain health and muscle strength within MD; however, PA reporting in adults with MD is limited to recall data, and its impact on muscle strength is seldom explored.MethodsThis study included 76 participants: 16 non‐MD (CTRL, mean age 35.4), 15 Duchenne MD (DMD, mean age 24.2), 18 Becker's MD (BMD, mean age 42.4), 13 limb‐girdle MD (LGMD, mean age 43.1), and 14 facioscapulohumeral MD (mean age 47.7). Body fat (%) and lean body mass (LBM) were measured using bioelectrical‐impedance. Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) anatomical cross‐sectional area (ACSA) was determined using B‐mode ultrasound. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was assessed during plantar flexion (PFMVC) and knee extension (KEMVC). PA was measured for seven continuous days using triaxial accelerometry and was expressed as daily average minutes being physically active (TPAmins) or average daily percentage of waking hours being sedentary (sedentary behaviour). Additionally, 10 m walk time was assessed.ResultsMuscular dystrophy groups had 34–46% higher body fat (%) than CTRL. DMD showed differences in LBM with 21–28% less LBM than all other groups. PFMVC and KEMVC were 36–75% and 24–92% lower, respectively, in MD groups than CTRL. GM ACSA was 47% and 39% larger in BMD and LGMD, respectively, compared with CTRL. PFMVC was associated with GM ACSA in DMD (P = 0.026, R = 0.429) and CTRL (P = 0.015, R = 0.553). MD groups were 14–38% more sedentary than CTRL groups, while DMD were more sedentary than BMD (14%), LGMD (8%), and facioscapulohumeral MD (14%). Sedentary behaviour was associated with LBM in DMD participants (P = 0.021, R = −0.446). TPAmins was associated with KEMVC (P = 0.020, R = 0.540) in BMD participants, while TPAmins was also the best predictor of 10 m walk time (P < 0.001, R 2 = 0.540) in ambulant MD, revealed by multiple linear regression.ConclusionsQuantified muscle weakness and impaired 10 m walking time is reported in adults with MD. Muscle weakness and 10 m walk time were associated with lower levels of TPA in adults with MD. Higher levels of sedentary behaviour were associated with reduced LBM in DMD. These findings suggest a need for investigations into patterns of PA behaviour, and relevant interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and encourage PA in adults with MD regardless of impairment severity.

Metabolite profiles evaluated, according to sex, do not predict resting energy expenditure and lean body mass in healthy non-obese subjects

PurposeDifferences in resting energy expenditure (REE) between men and women mainly result from sex-related differences in lean body mass (LBM). So far, a little is known about whether REE and LBM are reflected by a distinct human metabolite profile. Therefore, we aimed to identify plasma and urine metabolite patterns that are associated with REE and LBM of healthy subjects.MethodsWe investigated 301 healthy male and female subjects (18–80 years) under standardized conditions in the cross-sectional KarMeN (Karlsruhe Metabolomics and Nutrition) study. REE was determined by indirect calorimetry and LBM by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting blood and 24 h urine samples were analyzed by targeted and non-targeted metabolomics methods using GC × GC–MS, GC–MS, LC–MS, and NMR. Data were evaluated by predictive modeling of combined data using different machine learning algorithms, namely SVM, glmnet, and PLS.ResultsWhen evaluating data of men and women combined, we were able to predict REE and LBM with high accuracy (> 90%). This, however, was a clear effect of sex, which is supported by the high degree of overlap in identified important metabolites for LBM, REE, and sex, respectively. The applied machine learning algorithms did not reveal a metabolite pattern predictive of REE or LBM, when analyzing data for men and women, separately.ConclusionsWe could not identify a sex independent predictive metabolite pattern for REE or LBM. REE and LBM have no impact on plasma and urine metabolite profiles in the KarMeN Study participants. Studies applying metabolomics in healthy humans need to consider sex specific data evaluation.

Cats increase lean body mass with carnitine or carnosine but not with the combination

This study evaluated whether dietary carnitine or carnosine would change lean body mass, circulating cytokines or metabolites in cats. All study protocols were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS. Forty four pets were assigned into four groups: Group 1 (n=11) was fed the control diet, group 2 (n=11) was fed the control diet + L‐carnitine (0.03%), group 3 (n=12) was fed the control diet + L‐carnosine (0.1%), and Group 4 (n=10) was fed the Control diet + L‐carnitine + L‐carnosine. The ages of the cats ranged from 7.2 to 13.9 yr. The duration of the study was 6 months. Initial body composition, cytokines and metabolomics profiles were compared to final and changes were compared across treatments. Metabolomics were measured by Metabolon (Morrisville, NC), cytokines were measured by ELISA. Change in lean body mass (LBM) was assessed by Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and reported in cats as the difference in LBM between initial and final times. Changes in analytes were then compared amongst the 4 groups. Serum levels of cytokines assessed included Flt‐3L, IFN‐γ, IL12p40, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐13, IL‐18, and MCP‐1. Modest reductions were observed in the levels of selected cytokines on day 169 when compared to the baseline but these changes were not significant between groups. Lean body mass results showed that cats fed either carnitine alone (+106 g) or carnosine alone (+96 g) had increased lean when compared to control cats or cats supplemented with both carnitine and carnosine (p&lt;0.01). There was no statistical difference between treatments in either body weight or body fat change. Carnitine and deoxycarnitine were increased in the group that had carnitine alone (p&lt;0.05) while many acyl carnitines were increased in both groups supplemented with carnitine. Carnosine was not changed but beta‐alanine was increased in cats fed carnosine. The metabolism of aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan and dietary polyphenolic compounds) occurs, in part, through the involvement of enzymes encoded within the microbiome. Several microbiota‐derived‐metabolites were higher in Groups 2, 3, and 4 when compared to Group 1 at various time points. These data indicate that supplementation of carnitine or carnosine is beneficial in increasing LBM in felines but that when combined they do not influence LBM.Support or Funding InformationThis study was funded by Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy Is Associated With Reduced Total and Visceral Adiposity: The OsteoLaus Cohort.

After menopause, fat mass (FM) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) increase and nonbone lean body mass (LBM) decreases. Whether menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) reverses these changes remains controversial. To assess the effect of MHT on FM, VAT, and LBM before and after its withdrawal and evaluate potential confounders. Cross-sectional study. General community. Women of the OsteoLaus cohort (50 to 80 years old) who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) with body composition assessment. After we excluded women with estrogen-modifying medications, the 1053 participants were categorized into current users (CUs), past users (PUs), and never users (NUs) of MHT. None. VAT measured by DXA was the primary outcome. We assessed subtotal and android FM, LBM, muscle strength (hand grip), and confounding factors (caloric intake, physical activity, biomarkers). The groups significantly differed in age, NU < CU < PU. Age-adjusted VAT was lower in CUs than NUs (P = 0.03). CUs exhibited lower age-adjusted body mass index (BMI) (-0.9 kg/m2) and a trend for lower FM (-1.3 kg). The 10-year gain of VAT (P < 0.01) and subtotal and android FM (P < 0.05) was prevented in CUs. No difference in LBM or hand grip was detected. No residual effect was detected for PUs, including for early MHT discontinuers. The confounding factors did not significantly differ between groups except for higher caloric intake in PUs compared with NUs. MHT is associated with significantly decreased VAT, BMI, and android FM. No benefit is detected for LBM. The benefits are not preserved in PUs, suggesting caution when MHT is discontinued.

Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Body Composition in HIV Patients: A Meta-analysis of Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trials.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of testosterone supplementation (TS) on body composition in patients with HIV and the side effects of TS. A comprehensive literature search strategy was used to retrieve relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of TS on body composition. Atotal of 14 eligible studies were included, enrolling 388 and 349 randomized patients in TS and control groups, respectively. The quality of studies included was assessed, and data on total body weight (BW), lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM), serum total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) levels, and adverse events were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager software 5.3. Meta-analysis results showed that TS was associated with a small but significant modification in total BW, serum TT, and FT levels in HIV-infected patients and in patients given various drug administrations. TS also significantly increased LBM in male patients, but no significant difference in LBM was observed between female counterparts treated with TS or not. Conversely, TS relative to placebo did not lead to a significant reduction in FM. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of adverse effects. Our findings suggested that TS may be recommended to improve body composition in patients with HIV-related weight loss. However, owing to the high heterogeneity across included trials, further evaluations using large-scale, multi-center, blinded RCTs are needed.

Associations between ACE-Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, and Lean Body Mass in Community Dwelling Older Women.

Studies suggest that ACE-inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may preserve skeletal muscle with aging. We evaluated longitudinal differences in lean body mass (LBM) among women diagnosed with hypertension and classified as ACE-I/ARB users and nonusers among Women's Health Initiative participants that received dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans to estimate body composition (n=10,635) at baseline and at years 3 and 6 of follow-up. Of those, 2642 were treated for hypertension at baseline. Multivariate linear regression models, adjusted for relevant demographics, behaviors, and medications, assessed ACE-I/ARB use/nonuse and LBM associations at baseline, as well as change in LBM over 3 and 6 years. Although BMI did not differ by ACE-I/ARB use, LBM (%) was significantly higher in ACE-I/ARB users versus nonusers at baseline (52.2% versus 51.3%, resp., p=0.001). There was no association between ACE-I/ARB usage and change in LBM over time. Reasons for higher LBM with ACE-I/ARB use cross sectionally, but not longitundinally, are unclear and may reflect a threshold effect of these medications on LBM that is attenuated over time. Nevertheless, ACE-I/ARB use does not appear to negatively impact LBM in the long term.

Does Prolonged Enteral Feeding With Supplemental Omega-3 Fatty Acids Impact on Recovery Post-esophagectomy: Results of a Randomized Double-Blind Trial.

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) hypothesized that prolonged enteral nutrition (EN) with supplemental eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid with immune and anabolic properties, may impact on clinical and nutritional outcomes. Esophagectomy is associated with significant weight loss and catabolism, and negatively impacts quality of life (QL). Strategies to counter sustained catabolism have therapeutic rationale. This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT was powered on a 5% difference in lean body mass (LBM) at 1 month. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either EN-EPA (2.2 g EPA/day) (n = 97) or isocaloric isonitrogenous standard EN (EN-S) (n = 94), preoperatively (5 days orally), and postoperatively via a jejunostomy until 1 month postdischarge. Assessments perioperatively, and at 1, 3, and 6 months included weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition, muscle strength, cytokines, complications, and QL. The median (range) nutrition support was for 51 (36 to 78) days, and overall compliance was 96%. For the entire cohort, a significant (P < 0.005) decrease in weight (-7.4 ± 6.6 kg), BMI (-2.6 ± 2.2 kg/m), LBM (-2.5 ± 8.7 kg), and fat mass (-3.4 ± 5.8 kg) was evident from preoperatively to 6 months. The mean (±SD) loss of LBM (kg) at 1 month was -3.7 ± 8.7 in the EN-S group, compared with -5.6 ± 12.1 in the EN-EPA group (P = 0.355). Per-protocol analysis revealed no difference between the EN-EPA and EN-S in any clinical, nutritional, functional, QL or immune parameter at any time point. The thesis that EPA impacts on anabolism, immune function, and clinical outcomes post-esophagectomy was not supported. Compliance with home EN was excellent, but weight, muscle, and fat loss was significant in 30% of patients, highlighting the complexity of postoperative weight loss.