Shatavari supplementation during eight weeks of resistance training increases training load, enhances skeletal muscle contractility and alters the skeletal muscle proteome in older women.

Introduction: Shatavari is a herbal dietary supplement that may increase skeletal muscle strength in younger and older adults. Shatavari contains compounds with both estradiol-like and antioxidant properties, which could enhance muscle function. Postmenopausal women may derive the greatest benefit, as estrogen deficiency adversely impacts skeletal muscle function.

Kinematics of balance controls in people with chronic ankle instability during unilateral stance on a moving platform.

Balance control deficits resulting from ankle sprains are central to chronic ankle instability (CAI) and its persistent symptoms. This study aimed to identify differences in balance control between individuals with CAI and healthy controls (HC) using challenging single-leg balance tasks. Twenty-three CAI and 23 HC participants performed balance tasks on a force plate that either remained static or moved mediolaterally.

The skeletal muscle proteomic determinants of neuromuscular function in young and older women following 8 weeks of resistance training.

Resistance training (RT) is the gold standard intervention for ameliorating sarcopenia. Outstanding mechanistic questions remain regarding the malleability of the molecular determinants of skeletal muscle function in older age. Discovery of proteomics can expand such knowledge.

Provision of a daily high protein and high energy meal: Effects on the physical and psychological wellbeing of community-dwelling, malnourished older adults; a randomised crossover trial.

Objectives: To determine whether daily provision of a high protein, high energy meal for 12-weeks to under-nourished older adults living independently in the community can improve physical, physiological, and psychological outcomes.

Design: A randomised crossover trial.

Setting: Participant homes within a 15-mile radius to meal supplier; Dartmoor Community Kitchen Hub.

Montmorency cherry supplementation enhances 15 km cycling time trial performance: Optimal timing 90-min pre-exercise.

Montmorency cherry (MC) can improve endurance performance, but optimal pre-exercise timing of supplementation and influence of training status on efficacy are unknown. We investigated the effect of MC concentrate ingestion between 30- and 150-min pre-exercise in trained and recreational cyclists on 15-km time trial (TT) performance and exercise economy. Twenty participants (10 recreationally active, RA; 10 trained, T) completed 10 min of steady-state exercise (SSE) at 40%Δ (SSE) and a TT on four separate occasions following an unsupplemented (US), 30-, 90- or 150-min pre-exercise Montmorency cherry concentrate (MCC) supplementation conditions (MCC).

Tissue-Level Effect of Andrographis and Ashwagandha Metabolites on Metabolic and Inflammatory Gene Expression in Skeletal Muscle and Adipose Tissue: An Ex Vivo/In Vitro Investigation.

Adipose tissue and skeletal muscle dysfunction play a central role in cardiometabolic morbidity. Ashwagandha and Andrographis are purported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, but this is based on exposure of cells to the parent compounds ignoring phytochemical absorption and metabolism. We explored the anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects of ashwagandha and Andrographis in ex vivo human models of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.

Assessing electronic device use behaviours in healthy adults: development and evaluation of a novel tool.

Background: Chronic exposure of the macula to blue light from electronic devices has been identified as a potential macular health concern. The impacts remain poorly investigated as no validated methods to capture usual device use behaviours exist.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Electronic Device Use Questionnaire (EDUQ) against multiple 24-h electronic device use diaries in healthy Australian and United Kingdom adults.

Shatavari supplementation in postmenopausal women alters the skeletal muscle proteome and pathways involved in training adaptation.

Purpose: Shatavari is an understudied, widely available herbal supplement. It contains steroidal saponins and phytoestrogens. We previously showed that six weeks of shatavari supplementation improved handgrip strength and increased markers of myosin contractile function.

Newly developed dietary assessment tools for lutein and zeaxanthin are correlated with 24-hour diet recalls, but are not a valid measure of intake in Australian and United Kingdom adults.

Habitual dietary intake measurement of carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) has often been omitted or attempted with tools of unknown validity in past research. It was hypothesized that the dietary assessment tool, the L/Z screener, developed as part of this study, would be valid with agreement within 0.25 mg/day when compared against multiple 24-hour diet recalls in healthy Australian and United Kingdom adults.

Stool Microbiota Diversity Analysis of -Positive and -Negative Individuals.

is a unicellular eukaryote found in the gastrointestinal tract of both human and other animal hosts. The clinical significance of colonic colonization remains obscure. In this study, we used metabarcoding and bioinformatics analyses to identify differences in stool microbiota diversity between -positive and -negative individuals (n = 1285).

Shatavari Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women Improves Handgrip Strength and Increases Myosin Regulatory Light Chain Phosphorylation but Does Not Alter Markers of Bone Turnover.

Shatavari has long been used as an Ayurvedic herb for women's health, but empirical evidence for its effectiveness has been lacking. Shatavari contains phytoestrogenic compounds that bind to the estradiol receptor. Postmenopausal estradiol deficiency contributes to sarcopenia and osteoporosis.

Tart Cherry Supplement Enhances Skeletal Muscle Glutathione Peroxidase Expression and Functional Recovery after Muscle Damage.

Introduction: Montmorency cherry concentrate (MCC) supplementation enhances functional recovery from exercise, potentially due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, to date, supporting empirical evidence for these mechanistic hypotheses is reliant on indirect blood biomarkers. This study is the first to investigate functional recovery from exercise alongside molecular changes within the exercised muscle after MCC supplementation.

An appraisal of trials investigating the effects on macular pigment optical density of lutein and zeaxanthin dietary interventions: a narrative review.

Lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z), xanthophylls obtained from the diet, are deposited in the macula of the eye. The macular concentration of L/Z is quantifiable as macular pigment optical density (MPOD). The aim of this review was to critically appraise the effect on MPOD of increasing L/Z intake by dietary intervention in adults.

Review of Analytical Methods and Reporting of the Polyphenol Content of Tart Cherry Supplements in Human Supplementation Studies Investigating Health and Exercise Performance Effects: Recommendations for Good Practice.

Tart cherries (TC) are a rich source of polyphenols that elicit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. As a consequence, the effects of TC derived supplements on markers of human health, exercise performance and sleep have been investigated. Supplementation protocols have been highly variable across studies and the dose of bioactive compounds used has often been poorly characterized.

Use, Practices and Attitudes of Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes towards Tart Cherry Supplementation.

Tart cherry (TC) supplementation can improve exercise recovery and performance; and may also improve sleep duration and quality. This study investigated the use and knowledge of TC supplementation by athletes of all competitive levels. Eighty participants (52.

Use, Practices and Attitudes of Sports Nutrition and Strength and Conditioning Practitioners towards Tart Cherry Supplementation.

Tart cherry (TC) supplementation has been shown to accelerate post-exercise recovery, enhance endurance performance and improve sleep duration and quality. This study aimed to identify the use, practices and attitudes of sports nutrition and strength and conditioning practitioners towards tart cherry supplementation. Thirty-five practitioners anonymously completed an online survey investigating their use, practices and attitudes towards tart cherry supplements.

Inside the Belly of a Beast: Individualizing Nutrition for Young, Professional Male Rugby League Players: A Review.

Professional rugby league (RL) football is a contact sport involving repeated collisions and high-intensity efforts; both training and competition involve high energy expenditure. The present review summarizes and critiques the available literature relating the physiological demands of RL to nutritional requirements and considers potential ergogenic supplements that could improve players' physical capacity, health, and recovery during the preparatory and competition phases of a season. Although there may not be enough data to provide RL-specific recommendations, the available data suggest that players may require approximately 6-8 g·kg-1·day-1 carbohydrate, 1.

Impact of a novel home-based exercise intervention on health indicators in inactive premenopausal women: a 12-week randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: This study tested the hypothesis that a novel, audio-visual-directed, home-based exercise training intervention would be effective at improving cardiometabolic health and mental well-being in inactive premenopausal women.

Methods: Twenty-four inactive premenopausal women (39 ± 10 years) were randomly assigned to an audio-visual-directed exercise training group (DVD; n = 12) or control group (CON; n = 12). During the 12-week intervention period, the DVD group performed thrice-weekly training sessions of 15 min.

Evaluating the Effect of a Home-Delivered Meals Service on the Physical and Psychological Wellbeing of a UK Population of Older Adults - A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

We evaluated the effectiveness of a 3-week, daily meal provision service by a non-profit provider on the physical and psychological wellbeing of an older adult population. We further examined the feasibility of carrying out such measures in participant's homes. 19 older adult participants (8M, 11F; 78.

Tart Cherry Concentrate Does Not Alter the Gut Microbiome, Glycaemic Control or Systemic Inflammation in a Middle-Aged Population.

Limited evidence suggests that the consumption of polyphenols may improve glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity. The gut microbiome produces phenolic metabolites and increases their bioavailability. A handful of studies have suggested that polyphenol consumption alters gut microbiome composition.

Correction to: Effect of Immobilisation on Neuromuscular Function In Vivo in Humans: A Systematic Review.

The following sections 3.5.1 to 3.

Effect of Immobilisation on Neuromuscular Function In Vivo in Humans: A Systematic Review.

Background: Muscle strength loss following immobilisation has been predominantly attributed to rapid muscle atrophy. However, this cannot fully explain the magnitude of muscle strength loss, so changes in neuromuscular function (NMF) may be involved.

Objectives: We systematically reviewed literature that quantified changes in muscle strength, size and NMF following periods of limb immobilisation in vivo in humans.

Fruit-Derived Polyphenol Supplementation for Athlete Recovery and Performance.

Polyphenols are characterised structurally by two or more hydroxyl groups attached to one or more benzene rings, and provide the taste and colour characteristics of fruits and vegetables. They are radical scavengers and metal chelators, but due to their low concentration in biological fluids in vivo their antioxidant properties seem to be related to enhanced endogenous antioxidant capacity induced via signalling through the Nrf2 pathway. Polyphenols also seem to possess anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to enhance vascular function via nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms.

Lower Body Acceleration and Muscular Responses to Rotational and Vertical Whole-Body Vibration at Different Frequencies and Amplitudes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize acceleration transmission and neuromuscular responses to rotational vibration (RV) and vertical vibration (VV) at different frequencies and amplitudes.

Methods: Twelve healthy males completed 2 experimental trials (RV vs VV) during which vibration was delivered during either squatting (30°; RV vs VV) or standing (RV only) with 20, 25, and 30 Hz, at 1.5 and 3.

Montmorency cherry supplementation improves 15-km cycling time-trial performance.

Aim: Montmorency cherries are rich in polyphenols that possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasoactive properties. We investigated whether 7-day Montmorency cherry powder supplementation improved cycling time-trial (TT) performance.

Methods: 8 trained male cyclists ([Formula: see text]: 62.