Irene Coll-Risco

Effects of interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise on body composition, glycaemic and lipid profile and aerobic capacity of obese rats

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise in the same training session on body composition, and glycaemic and lipid profile in obese rats. Sixteen lean Zucker rats and sixteen obese Zucker rats were randomly divided into exercise and sedentary subgroups (4 groups, n = 8). Exercise consisted of interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise in the same training session. The animals trained 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. Body composition, lipid and glycaemic profiles and inflammatory markers were assessed. Results showed that fat mass was reduced in both lean and obese rats following the exercise training (effect size (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 1.8 (0.5–3.0)). Plasma low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol and fasting glucose were lower in the exercise compared to the sedentary groups (d = 2.0 (0.7–3.2) and 1.8 (0.5–3.0), respectively). Plasma insulin was reduced in exercise compared to sedentary groups (d = 2.1 (0.8–3.4)). Some exercise × phenotype interactions showed that the highest decreases in insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, fasting and postprandial glucose were observed in the obese + exercise group (all, P < 0.01). The findings of this study suggest that interval aerobic training combined with strength exercise would improve body composition, and lipid and glycaemic profiles, especially in obese rats.

Association of physical fitness, body composition, cardiometabolic markers and adherence to the Mediterranean diet with bone mineral density in perimenopausal women. The FLAMENCO project

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyse the association of different components of physical fitness, body composition, cardiometabolic markers and the Mediterranean diet with bone mineral density (BMD) in perimenopausal women, and to test which of these components are independently associated with BMD. The sample comprised 197 perimenopausal women (52.6 ± 4.5 years). Physical fitness was assessed with the “Senior Fitness Test” battery and the handgrip strength and Bruce tests. Fat and lean mass and BMD were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We analysed the markers of metabolic syndrome, C-reactive protein, and components of the Mediterranean diet. Handgrip muscle strength (β = 0.212, P = 0.005), body weight (β = 0.244, P = 0.001), BMI (β = 0.180, P = 0.011) and lean mass (β = 0.379, P < 0.001) were positively associated with BMD. No associations were observed between cardiometabolic markers or the Mediterranean diet with BMD (all P > 0.05). When all relevant indicators of BMD were simultaneously considered, lean mass was the only 1 showing an independent association with BMD (β = 0.392, P < 0.001), explaining 14% of the BMD variability. In conclusion, muscle strength might be a marker of BMD in perimenopausal women. However, lean mass was the only factor independently associated with BMD. Future research to determine whether increasing lean mass through specific exercise-based interventions contributes to increasing BMD is warranted.

Effects of supervised aerobic and strength training in overweight and grade I obese pregnant women on maternal and foetal health markers: the GESTAFIT randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDuring pregnancy, a sedentary lifestyle may have negative consequences on maternal and foetal health status. The main objective of this project is to assess the effects of an exercise intervention in overweight and grade I obese pregnant on maternal and foetal health markers.Methods/designThe present study aims to recruit 60 overweight and grade I obese women interested in participating in an exercise intervention program from the 17th gestational week until delivery. Women will be randomized to either an exercise (three 60-min sessions/week of combined aerobic and strength training and pelvic floor exercises), or usual care (control) group (30 women per group). The primary outcome measures are maternal weight gain, and maternal and neonatal glycaemic profile. Secondary outcome measures are: i) perinatal obstetric records; i) body composition; iii) dietary patterns; iv) physical fitness; v) low-back pain; vi) objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour; vii) haematology and biochemical analyses; viii) oxidative stress; ix) pro- and anti-inflammatory markers; x) bone health biomarkers; xi) sleep quality; xii) mental health, quality of life and positive health.DiscussionThe findings of this project will help to identify strategies for primary prevention and health promotion based on this exercise-based intervention program among overweight and grade I obese pregnant women.Trial registrationNCT02582567; Date of registration: 20/10/2015

Association of objectively measured physical activity and physical fitness with menopause symptoms. The Flamenco Project

Abstract Objective: The primary aim was to analyze the association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with menopause symptomatology and its overall impact. A secondary/exploratory aim was to assess the association of different components of physical fitness with menopause symptomatology. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 191 perimenopausal women from Southern Spain (age range 45–60 years, mean age 52.6 ± 4.5 years). The Blatt–Kupperman Menopausal Index was used to evaluate menopause symptomatology. Objectively measured MVPA was registered with accelerometry. Physical fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Test battery plus handgrip strength and sit-and-reach tests. Results: After adjustment for multiple confounders, MVPA was only inversely associated with vertigo (r = −0.185, p < 0.05) and palpitations (r = −0.148, p < 0.05). Upper-body flexibility was inversely associated with the Blatt–Kupperman Menopausal Index global score (r = −0.147, p < 0.05). This test was also inversely associated with vertigo (r = −0.230, p < 0.01) and arthralgia (r = −0.168, p < 0.05). Lower-body muscle strength was associated with lower nervousness (r = −0.171, p < 0.05). Cardiorespiratory fitness was inversely associated with paresthesia (r = −0.158, p < 0.05), vertigo (r = −0.219, p < 0.01), fatigue (r = −0.159, p < 0.05) and arthralgia (r = −0.180, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The main findings of the present study indicate a weak association of objectively measured MVPA with menopause symptomatology. Exploratory analyses suggest that upper-body flexibility was associated with slightly lower overall menopause impact whereas neither MVPA nor any physical fitness components studied were associated with vasomotor symptoms.

Effects of a moderately high-protein diet and interval aerobic training combined with strength-endurance exercise on markers of bone metabolism, microarchitecture and turnover in obese Zucker rats

BACKGROUND Weight loss is a public health concern in obesity-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome, and the protein level of the diets seem to be crucial for the development and maintenance of bone. The nature of exercise and whether exercise in combination with moderately high-protein dietary interventions could protect against potential bone mass deficits remains unclear. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of a moderately high-protein diet and interval aerobic training combined with strength-endurance exercise (IASE) protocol on bone status, and to assess potential interaction effects (i.e. diet*IASE). METHODS Male Zucker fatty rats were randomized distributed into 4 groups (n=8): normoprotein+sedentary; normoprotein+exercise; moderately high-protein+sedentary, and moderately high-protein+exercise. Training groups conducted an IASE program, 5days/week for 2months. Markers of bone metabolism were measured in plasma. Parameters of bone mass and 3D outcomes for trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture were assessed by micro-computed tomography. RESULTS Femur length, plasma osteocalcin, sclerostin, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, insulin, leptin, PTH, uric acid and urinary phosphorus levels were lower in the moderately high-protein compared to the normoprotein groups (all, p<0.05), whereas plasma alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and urinary uric acid concentrations, and cortical total volume (TV) and bone volume (BV) were higher in the moderately high-protein (all, p<0.01). Final body weight and alkaline phosphatase levels were lower in the exercise compared to the sedentary (both, p<0.05), whereas femur length and weight, aminoterminal propeptides of type I procollagen and C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen concentrations, and cortical TV and BV were higher in the exercise compared to the sedentary groups (all, p<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of interventions may be effective to enhance trabecular bone microarchitecture and BMD, and has a partial impact on cortical bone in obese rats. Nevertheless, they do not induce any alteration on the bone turnover markers.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) into Spanish

Abstract Aim: The objective of this study was to translate and transculturally adapt into Spanish the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Methods: The translation procedure included a forward step (translation and synthesis) and a quantitative and qualitative control of the usefulness of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Afterwards, a prefinal version of the Spanish adapted questionnaire was pretested on 58 pregnant women from Granada (south of Spain). The content, semantic, technical, conceptual, and experiential equivalents of cultural adaptation were discussed by the research members at each step. Results: After the pre-test, two items of the original Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were replaced by new items that the team considered more culturally appropriate for Spanish pregnant women. Also, some rewording into the European metric system. The response time ranged from 5 to 15 minutes. These changes were well understood and worked properly in the final version. A final version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was agreed on after a discussion among the research members about the results obtained in the prefinal version. Conclusion: The final Spanish version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire has showed cross-cultural equivalence with the original English version.

Influence of a Concurrent Exercise Training Program During Pregnancy on Colostrum and Mature Human Milk Inflammatory Markers: Findings From the GESTAFIT Project

Background: Although exercise reduces systemic inflammation, information regarding its influence on human milk is scarce or inexistent. Research Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of an exercise intervention during pregnancy on colostrum and mature human milk inflammatory markers. Methods: The authors conducted a pseudorandomized controlled trial. The exercise group followed a concurrent aerobic and strength training, three 60-minutes sessions per week, from the 17th gestational week until delivery. For the specific aims of this study, only women able to produce enough milk were included for data analyses, resulting in 24 exercise and 23 control women. Colostrum and mature human milk proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (fractalkine, interleukin [IL]–1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon [IFN]–γ, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]–α) were measured using Luminex xMAP technology. Results: The mothers who followed the exercise program had 36% lower IL-8 and 27% lower TNF-α concentrations in their colostrum than those in the control group (p < .05 and p < .01, respectively). The colostrum from mothers who followed the exercise program also presented borderline significant 22% lower IL-6 (p < .100). The mature milk from mothers who followed the exercise program had 30% greater fractalkine (p = .05) and borderline significant 20% higher IL-10 (p = .100). The exercise intervention did not affect IFN-γ concentrations. Conclusions: This concurrent exercise program promoted a less proinflammatory profile in human milk, especially in colostrum. Moreover, it might increase mature human milk fractalkine, which could induce a greater neurodevelopment and neuroprotection in the newborn. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02582567) on October 20, 2015.

Aerobic interval exercise improves renal functionality and affects mineral metabolism in obese Zucker rats

Obesity, metabolic syndrome, and renal injury are considered risk factors for type 2 diabetes, as well as kidney disease. Functional and structural changes in the kidney as consequence of obesity and metabolic syndrome may lead to impaired mineral metabolism in what is known as chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder. Lifestyle interventions such as physical activity are good strategies to manage these pathologies and therefore, prevent the loss of kidney functionality and related complications in mineral metabolism. In this study, we have used 40 male Zucker rats that were randomly allocated into four different experimental groups, two of them (an obese and a lean one) performed an aerobic interval training protocol, and the other two groups were sedentary. At the end of the experimental period (8 wk), urine, plasma, and femur were collected for biochemical and mineral composition analysis, whereas the kidney was processed for histological studies. The obese rats exhibited albuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, and hypertrophy in glomeruli and renal tubule in some areas, together with alterations in mineral content of plasma but not of femur. The training protocol prevented the generation of albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis, showing a significant action on plasma and bone mineral levels. Therefore, the specific training protocol used in this study was able to prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy and affected the metabolism of certain minerals.