TREAD: TReatment with Exercise Augmentation for Depression: study rationale and design.

Background: Despite recent advancements in the pharmacological treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), over half of patients who receive treatment with antidepressant medication do not achieve full remission of symptoms. There is evidence that exercise can reduce depressive symptomatology when used as a treatment for MDD. However, no randomized controlled trials have evaluated exercise as an augmentation strategy for patients with carefully diagnosed MDD who remain symptomatic following an adequate acute phase trial of antidepressant therapy.

Exercise as an augmentation strategy for treatment of major depression.

The use of augmentation strategies among patients with major depression is increasing because rates of complete remission with standard antidepressant monotherapy are quite low. Clinical and neurobiological data suggest that exercise may be a good candidate for use as an augmentation treatment for depression. This pilot study examined the use of exercise to augment antidepressant medication in patients with major depression.

Pedometer indices for weekly physical activity recommendations in postmenopausal women.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify pedometer-determined steps per day associated with 50, 100, and 150% of the current public health recommendation for weekly physical activity in sedentary postmenopausal women.

Methods: A sample of 111 women from the DREW (Dose Response to Exercise in Women) study provided data. We randomly assigned women into one of three exercise groups expending 4, 8, or 12 kcal(-1).

Cholesterol-lowering effects of bovine serum immunoglobulin in participants with mild hypercholesterolemia.

Background: The consumption of milk products has been shown to lower cholesterol. The mechanism of action surrounding this observation has been attributed to the protein fraction of milk and serum.

Objective: We examined the effect of an oral serum bovine immunoglobulin protein fraction (bIg) derived from US Department of Agriculture-approved beef (aged <30 mo) on lipid indexes in humans.

Associations of muscle strength and fitness with metabolic syndrome in men.

Purpose: To examine the associations for muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among men.

Methods: Participants were 8570 men (20-75 yr) for whom an age-specific muscular strength score was computed by combining the body weight adjusted one-repetition maximum measures for the leg press and the bench press. Cardiorespiratory fitness was quantified by age-specific maximal treadmill exercise test time.

Effects of oral ATP supplementation on anaerobic power and muscular strength.

Purpose: We examined 14 d of oral adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) supplementation on indices of anaerobic capacity and muscular strength.

Methods: Twenty-seven healthy males successfully completed the trial, after randomly receiving in a double-blind manner an oral dose of low dose (150 mg) or high dose (225 mg) ATP, or matched placebo. To improve absorption characteristics, the ATP was enterically coated.

Eight weeks of moderate-intensity exercise training increases heart rate variability in sedentary postmenopausal women.

Background: Regular exercise is associated with increased heart rate variability (HRV). However, results from studies examining the effect of exercise training on HRV in postmenopausal women are inconclusive. In addition, the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on HRV remains a subject of speculation.

Effects of a commercial herbal-based formula on exercise performance in cyclists.

Introduction/purpose: We examined the effects of a commercially marketed herbal-based formula purported to increase endurance on oxygen consumption (VO2) in 17 competitive category III/IV amateur cyclists [mean (SEM) age: 31.1 (1.8) yr; height: 178.