Darinka Korovljev

24 weeks of Pilates-aerobic and educative training to improve body fat mass in elderly Serbian women

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in anthropometric measurements using an aerobic and Pilates exercise program which lasted 24 weeks. Method This was a clinical intervention study of 303 women over the age of 60 living in Novi Sad, Serbia. Changes in body mass index and skinfold thickness were estimated through height, weight, and anthropometric measurements. The program comprised Pilates exercises for upper- and lower-body strength, agility, and aerobic capacity. Results Fat mass (FM) improved significantly (pre-test, 32.89%, 8.65; post-test, 28.25%, 6.58; P<0.01). Bone diameters and muscle perimeters showed no significant changes pre- and post-test (P>0.05), but there was a higher correlation between FM (%) and waist–hip ratio (rho, 0.80; P<0.01). Conclusion A mixed program of aerobics and Pilates, controls and improves baseline muscle mass and decreases FM values, without causing deterioration during practice and follow-up exercises.

Mediciones Antropométricas en Mujeres Serbias Adultas y Mayores Previo a un Programa Físico y Educativo de Pilates y Aeróbica

Las personas adultas y mayores deben mejorar su bienestar fisico para evitar enfermedades derivadas del envejecimiento. La edad esta intimamente relacionada directamente con el aumento de la masa grasa y peso e inversamente con la talla de las personas. Este estudio muestra las caracteristicas antropometricas previas a un programa educativo de Pilates y Aerobica. Doscientas cinco mujeres de la ciudad de Novi Sad (Serbia) con edades comprendidas entre los 40 y 76 anos han participado voluntariamente. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la edad se relaciona con el peso, masa grasa, IMC y talla (p<0,01). Ademas, las mujeres con un IMC mayor de 25 kg/m2, poseen valores mayores en las mediciones antropometricas, masa grasa y talla (p<0,01). Por ultimo, a medida que aumenta la edad (en intervalos de 10 anos), la talla disminuye y la masa grasa aumenta (p<0,05).

Hydrogen inhalation positively affects cardiometabolic risk factors in men and women aged 65 years or older: a preliminary report

Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been recently introduced as an experimental medical gas in clinical medicine [1]. Beneficial effects of H2 are attributed to its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties, with H2 administered via oral, parenteral or inhalational route found beneficial in cardiometabolic disorders [2]. However, no information is currently available concerning its efficacy and safety to affect cardiometabolic risk factors in elderly. This population faces the highest risk for cardiometabolic morbidity [3], and any intervention that would help improve cardiometabolic profiles is highly required. In this pilot study, we evaluated the impact of short-term H2 inhalation on the American Heart Association (AHA) cardiovascular risk scores, health-related physical fitness, and cardiometabolic biomarkers in men and women aged 65 years or older. Sixteen (n = 16) community-dwelling aged adults (14 women and 2 men; age 68.1 ± 5.3 years; BMI 27.6 ± 5.3 kg/m2) volunteered to participate in this openlabel interventional trial (extension of trial NCT02830854, clinicaltrials.gov) conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the local IRB. All participants inhaled 4% gaseous H2 (MIZ Company Ltd, Kanagawa, Japan) for 20 min once per day for 4 weeks, supervised by research staff. Assessment of cardiometabolic outcomes and adverse events was performed at baseline and at 4-week follow-up. Participants were strongly encouraged not to change their diet and physical activity routine during the study period. Cumulative AHA risk scores significantly dropped at follow-up from 4.4 ± 1.7 to 3.7 ± 2.1 points (P = 0.05). Cardiorespiratory fitness and handgrip strength increased at post-administration for 22.4% (95% confidence intervals 7.6 to 37.2%; P = 0.01) and 4.6% (95% confidence intervals − 0.3 to 9.5%; P = 0.05), respectively. H2 inhalation tended to reduce total serum cholesterol from 6.3 ± 0.9 to 5.4 ± 2.1 mmol/L (P = 0.13), and fasting glycemia from 5.7 ± 0.7 to 4.6 ± 1.9 mmol/L (P = 0.12). Blood pressure at rest remained unaffected by the intervention (121 ± 78 mmHg at baseline vs. 125 ± 80 mmHg at followup; P = 0.88). No participants reported any adverse events of H2 inhalation. Although these are preliminary data and this is not a full research study, short-term inhalation of gaseous H2 appeared to favorably affect various cardiometabolic risk factors in older men and women. This perhaps happened due to beneficial effects of H2 on lipid utilization and proinflammatory factors [2], and mitochondrial bioenergetics [4] toward activating metabolic pathways in energy-demanding tissues, including the skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue. Hydrogen pointedly reduced AHA risk score, a cumulative proxy for cardiometabolic health that accounts for history of relevant diseases, patient-reported outcomes, and cardiovascular risk factors. Driving lower AHA scores at post-administration, along with augmented health-related physical fitness attributes, seems to nominate inhalational H2 as a possible candidate agent in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiometabolic morbidity in elderly. However, several limitations must be considered when study findings are interpreted. The lack of control group (e.g., patients with and without AHA risk score and cardiometabolic risk factors) is a major deficiency of this pilot trial that calls into question does changes observed after H2 intervention are due to the treatment itself or other factors. In addition, before–after design employed here is not a satisfactory study model and cannot ‘design-out’ potential bias, unlike randomized controlled trials. The enrolled population * Sergej M. Ostojic sergej.ostojic@chess.edu.rs

Anthropometric indicators of mass and distribution of adipose tissue in the assessment of cardiovascular and diabetes risk in women.

INTRODUCTION From the clinical and epidemiological point of view it is very important to define easily measurable and simple anthropometric parameters of mass and distribution of adipose tissue that will also be good predictors of future complications of obesity. The aim of our study was to correlate anthropometric indicators of mass and distribution of adipose tissue with the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study group consisted of 155 women aged 45.4 +/- 13.04y. The anthropometric measurements were performed in order to assess adipose tissue mass and its specific distribution. The 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular diseases was assessed by using two score-systems: Framingham and Prospective Cardiovascular Munster Study while the 10-year risk of development of diabetes was assessed by QDScore system. RESULTS According to our results, the waist-to-stature ratio was the best predictor of cardiovascular and diabetes risk (r = 0.617-0.780; AUC = 0.872). The estimated cut-off value for the waist-to-stature ratio in cardiovascular and diabetes risk prediction was 0.486. Apart from the waist-to-stature ratio, the body mass index, body fat mass, waist circumference and indicators of upper extremity adiposity also correlated strongly with the assessed risk. The anthropometric indicators of lower body adiposity had no significant diagnostic values. CONCLUSION The waist-to-stature ratio is the best anthropometric indicator of cardiovascular and diabetes risk.