The Effect of Vitamin D Consumption on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Athletes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Vitamin D is essential for the optimal health of the skeletal system. However, this vitamin also plays a role in other functions of the human body, such as muscle, immune, and inflammatory functions. Some studies have reported that adequate levels of vitamin D improve immune system function by reducing the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can protect against the risk of post-exercise illness.

Enhancing long-term memory through strength training: An experimental study in adult and middle-aged rats.

The study aimed to explore the impact of strength training on long-term memory in adult and middle-aged rodents, specifically male Wistar rats aged 9 and 20 months. These rats were divided into two groups: one sedentary (SED) and the other trained (ST) for a period of 12 weeks. The strength training involved squatting exercises using adapted equipment, while the sedentary group maintained their regular, non-exercised routine.

Pre-exercise meal on oxidation of energy substrates during maximal exercise test in non-trained individuals.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the influence of a high carbohydrate meal versus high-fat meal on the oxidation of substrates during an exercise incremental test.

Materials And Methods: Ten untrained male subjects underwent two days of the protocol. Randomly, they received a high carbohydrate meal or a high-fat meal, receiving the other one in the next protocol.

Effects of aerobic and resistance exercise training associated with carnosine precursor supplementation on maximal strength and V̇O in rats with heart failure.

Background: Combined exercise training (CET) has been associated with positive responses in the clinical status of patients with heart failure (HF). Other nonpharmacological tools, such as amino acid supplementation, may further enhance its adaptation. The aim was to test whether CET associated with supplementing carnosine precursors could present better responses in the functional capacity and biochemical variables of rats with HF.

Biochemical analysis of ectonucleotidases on primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells and in silico investigation of their role in vascular diseases.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exhibit a high degree of plasticity when they undergo the progression from a normal to a disease condition, which makes them a potential target for evaluating early markers and for the development of new therapies. Purinergic signalling plays a key role in vascular tonus control, ATP being an inductor of vasoconstriction, whereas adenosine mediates a vasodilation effect antagonising the ATP actions. The control of extracellular ATP and adenosine levels is done by ectonucleotidases, which represent a potential target to be evaluated in the progression of cardiovascular diseases.

Quantification of DNA Damage in Different Tissues in Rats with Heart Failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex syndrome which comprises structural and functional alterations in the heart in maintaining the adequate blood demand to all tissues. Few investigations sought to evaluate oxidative DNA damage in CHF.

Objective: To quantify the DNA damage using the comet assay in left ventricle (LV), lungs, diaphragm, gastrocnemius and soleus in rats with CHF.

β-Alanine and l-histidine supplementation associated with combined training increased functional capacity and maximum strength in heart failure rats.

What is the central question of the study? Does β-alanine with l-histidine supplementation associated with endurance and strength training improve echocardiographic parameters, functional capacity, and maximum strength in rats with chronic heart failure? What is the main finding and its importance? β-Alanine with l-histidine supplementation associated with endurance and strength training increased functional capacity and maximum strength through increasing exercise capacity peripherally but did not affect echocardiographic parameters in rats with chronic heart failure. Combined training (CT) has been associated with positive responses in the clinical status of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Other non-pharmacological tools, such as amino acid supplementation, may further enhance its adaptation.

Resistance training and L-arginine supplementation are determinant in genomic stability, cardiac contractility and muscle mass development in rats.

L-arginine supplementation has been related to increased maximum strength and improvement of hemodynamic parameters in several diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation and resistance training on muscle mass, hemodynamic function and DNA damage in healthy rats subjected to a low-arginine concentration diet. Twenty three Wistar rats (290-320g) were divided into 4 groups: Sedentary (SED-Arg, n = 6), Sedentary+Arg (SED+Arg, n = 6), Resistance Training (RT-Arg, n = 5), Resistance Training+Arg (RT+Arg, n = 6).

High-intensity resistance training alone or combined with aerobic training improves strength, heart function and collagen in rats with heart failure.

Background: Resistance training (RT) has been associated with positive responses in patients with cardiovascular disease, and when it is combined with continuous aerobic training (CAT), favorable adaptations appear to be even more pronounced. However, the effects of high-intensity RT alone or in combined with CAT in the case of heart failure (HF) is not completely elucidated.

Methods: 28 male Wistar rats with HF (90 days old) were allocated to 4 groups: high-intensity RT (RT, n=7), CAT (CAT, n=7), RT and CAT (RT+CAT, n=7) and sedentary (Sed, n=7).

Functional capacity in a rat model of heart failure: impact of myocardial infarct size.

What is the central question of this study? To the best of our knowledge, no studies have evaluated oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production and exercise tolerance in rats that have undergone myocardial infarction classified by myocardial infarct (MI) size. What is the main finding and its importance? Oxygen uptake and exercise intolerance are MI size dependent, and classification based on MI size can distinguish rats with functional capacity impairment. Rats with a large MI (>40% of the left ventricle) might provide a good model for the testing of new therapies that have the potential to modify the variables of functional capacity.

Maximal oxygen uptake and exercise tolerance are improved in rats with heart failure subjected to low-level laser therapy associated with resistance training.

Exercise tolerance and maximal oxygen uptake (VO) are reduced in heart failure (HF). The influence of combined resistance training (RT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on exercise tolerance and VO in HF has not yet been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of combined RT and LLLT on VO and exercise tolerance in rats with HF induced by myocardial infarction (MI).

Effects of creatine supplementation associated with resistance training on oxidative stress in different tissues of rats.

Background: Creatine supplementation is known to exert an effect by increasing strength in high intensity and short duration exercises. There is a hypothesis which suggests that creatine supplementation may provide antioxidant activity by scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species. However, the antioxidant effect of creatine supplementation associated with resistance training has not yet been described in the literature.