Heart failure (HF) is an important public health problem, considered a new epidemic with high morbidity and mortality. The progression of HF often determines weight reduction, muscle mass loss, and reduced physical ability. Whey protein supplementation may increase the effects of exercise on strength and muscle mass, in addition to promoting improved endothelial function, body composition and quality of life. However, studies are needed to evaluate its benefits in patients with HF. This is a double-blind, randomized …

Objective Sarcopenia, an age-related decline of muscle mass, strength, and physical function, was associated with falls, frailty, and poor quality of life. The aim of the current study is to examine the effect of nutritional supplement containing whey protein, vitamin D and E on measures of sarcopenia. Methods A total of 60 sarcopenic older adult subjects participated in the current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (iso-caloric control product) trial for 6 months. Muscle mass [Relative skeletal mass index (RSMI) measured by …

Several studies on Caucasian volunteers have proven that milk is an effective recovery drink for athletes. Such benefit, however, cannot be directly applied to the lactose-intolerant Asian population. This study investigated the effects of ingesting water (WT), sports drink (SPD) and lactose-free milk (LFM) on cycling capacity. Ten healthy young men completed 3 randomized experimental trials. Each trial consisted of an intermittent glycogen depleting session, a 2 h recovery period during which they ingested the test drink, followed by cycling …

Given the increased concerns about the degenerative decline in the physical performance of the elderly, there is a need for developing effective strategies to suppress the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and functional capacity through a lifestyle intervention. This randomized controlled trial examined whether a combination of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) supplement and exercise affected muscle mass, muscle function, and targeted molecular expressions. Sixty-seven subjects aged 55–75 years were assigned to placebo …

Background & aims Oat β-glucan (OBG) and phytosterols (PS) are known to lower blood cholesterol levels via different mechanisms. Combination of high molecular weight (MW) OBG and PS in a single functional food could have complementary and/or synergistic effects for optimising heart health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with high-MW OBG with or without PS on plasma lipids in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. Methods In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 2× 2 …

Background and aims Fluid retention is a risk factor for mortality in several medical conditions. However, the accurate and fast assessment of hydration status remains a challenge in the clinical practice. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) could be an alternative to assess volume status. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the use of BIA to identify hydration status in patients with different medical conditions and to verify the association of hyperhydration, assessed by BIA, with mortality. Methods This systematic …

Background Falls are a serious problem among frail elderly and their prevention is an important health concern. We compared the frequency of falls among institutionalized frail elderly residents following different interventions: low-frequency exercise, vitamin D supplementation, and a combination of both. Methods Participants (N= 91) were residents in an institution for frail elderly (84.8±8.8 years of age, 69 women). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions:(1) the control group (n= 23) was provided three sessions …

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the ingestion of tomato before bed on obese postmenopausal women's urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) level and sleep quality. We quantified melatonin concentrations in beefsteak tomato, black tomato, and two commercial tomato juices and found that beefsteak tomato contained the highest level of melatonin. In this 8-week open-label, randomized controlled dietary intervention trial, 36 subjects completed the entire trial. The tomato group ate 250 g of beefsteak tomatoes 2 h …

Background The impact of prehabilitation on physical fitness and postoperative course after hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeries for malignancy is unknown. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative exercise and nutritional therapies on nutritional status, physical fitness, and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing an invasive HPB surgery for malignancy. Methods Patients who underwent open abdominal surgeries for HPB malignancies (major hepatectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy, or hepato …

Epidemiological and interventional studies have linked saturated fatty acids (SFA) with elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increased CVD risk. However, the effects of the SFA chain length on postprandial lipemia in humans are not well elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of short, medium and long-chain SFA on postprandial blood lipids in healthy volunteers. Sixteen healthy volunteers consumed test biscuits containing 40 g of either butter (BB), coconut oil (CB) or lard (LB) in a …