Differences in the genotype frequencies of genes related to blood pressure regulation - a comparative study between South-West Europe and Peri-equatorial Africa.

Background: Since the emergence of the genus Homo, hominids have occupied a wide variety of environments, facing different selective pressures.

Objectives: The aim this study is to compare genotype frequencies between South-West Europe and Peri-equatorial Africa in genes potentially modulators of blood pressure.

Methods: The analyzed sample consisted of 325 individuals from Portugal and 226 individuals from Africa (48 from Mozambique and 178 from São Tomé and Príncipe).

Long-term swimming training modifies acute immune cell response to a high-intensity session.

Purpose: Long-term training influence on athletes' immune cell response to acute exercise has been poorly studied, despite the complexity of both chronic and acute adaptations induced by training. The purpose of the study is to study the influence of a 4-month swimming training cycle on the immune cell response to a high-intensity training session, during 24 h of recovery, considering sex, maturity, and age group.

Methods: Forty-three swimmers (16 females, 14.

Comparison of immunohematological profile between endurance- and power-oriented elite athletes.

There is general perception that elite athletes are highly susceptible to changes in immunohematological profile. The objective of this study was to compare immunohematological parameters of elite athletes of different aerobic and muscular strength sports and analyze changes over 2 months. Sixteen judoists and 14 swimmers were evaluated 2 months before (M1) and immediately prior to competition (M2).

Coordination between antioxidant defences might be partially modulated by magnesium status.

The aim of this study was to compare the redox balance in competitive adult swimmers against recreational practitioners, controlling for Mg intake. Fifteen, competitive swimmers and 16 recreational practitioners, all male and aged 18-25years, were recruited into the study. Oxidative and muscle damage markers, and antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants were evaluated by photometry (except for thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), which was assessed by fluorimetry).

Immune cell changes in response to a swimming training session during a 24-h recovery period.

Understanding the impact of training sessions on the immune response is crucial for the adequate periodization of training, to prevent both a negative influence on health and a performance impairment of the athlete. This study evaluated acute systemic immune cell changes in response to an actual swimming session, during a 24-h recovery period, controlling for sex, menstrual cycle phases, maturity, and age group. Competitive swimmers (30 females, 15 ± 1.

Magnesium and phase angle: a prognostic tool for monitoring cellular integrity in judo athletes.

Adequate magnesium (Mg) levels play a vital role in membrane excitability, cell contractility and metabolism, being a key nutrient for sustaining appropriate muscular contraction and performance levels in athletes. Phase angle (PhA), assessed by bioimpedance analysis (BIA), has been reported to be positively associated with most nutritional markers and is an indicator of membrane integrity and water distribution between intra- and extracellular spaces. The aim of the present study was to verify the association between Mg status and PhA as a predictor of cellular health, in a sample of judo athletes from a period of weight stability to prior to competition.

Sex-based effects on immune changes induced by a maximal incremental exercise test in well-trained swimmers.

Studies examining the immune response to acute intensive swimming have shown increased leukocytosis and lymphocyte populations. However, studies concerning mucosal immunity and sex differences remain controversial. The objective of the study was to examine sex differences on the immune response to maximal incremental swimming exercise in well trained swimmers.

Magnesium intake mediates the association between bone mineral density and lean soft tissue in elite swimmers.

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency has been associated with bone disorders. Physical activity is also crucial for bone mineralization. Bone mass loss has been observed to be accelerated in subjects with low Mg intake.

Magnesium intake is associated with strength performance in elite basketball, handball and volleyball players.

Magnesium plays significant roles in promoting strength. Surveys of athletes reveal that intake of magnesium is often below recommended levels. We aimed to understand the impact of magnesium intake on strength in elite male basketball, handball, and volleyball players.

Magnesium and strength in elite judo athletes according to intracellular water changes.

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency strongly affects muscle performance. In judo, many athletes often undergo impressive weight changes associated with severe dehydration. Common practices used by athletes to achieve a target weight can lead to Mg deficit.

Decreased erythrocyte activity of methemoglobin and glutathione reductases may explain age-related high blood pressure.

Objectives: Erythrocytes may play an important role in regulating blood pressure as storage sites for nitric oxide (NO). The objective of this work was to determine whether factors related to variations in erythrocyte metabolism associated with NO bioavailability, such as the activity of two enzymes--methemoglobin reductase (MHbR) and glutathione reductase (GSHR)--may help explain age-related increased blood pressure.

Methods: The sample consisted of 468 individuals of both sexes, 237 hypertensive (HT) and 231 normotensive (NT), aged between 18 and 98 years (48.

ACP1 genotype, glutathione reductase activity, and riboflavin uptake affect cardiovascular risk in the obese.

Erythrocyte acid phosphatase (ACP locus 1), also known as low-molecular-weight protein tyrosine phosphatase, has previously been associated to glycemia, dyslipidemia, and obesity. In this study, ACP1 genotype and activity were tested in 318 women aged 19 to 83 (mean, 51.74 +/- 13.

Exercise, magnesium and immune function.

Physical exercise may deplete magnesium, which together with a marginal dietary magnesium intake may impair energy metabolism, muscle function, oxygen uptake and electrolyte balance. Consequently, the ability to perform physical work may be compromised. Many aspects of immune function can be depressed temporarily by either a single bout of very severe exercise or a longer period of excessive training.

Genetic polymorphisms of angiotensin-I converting enzyme, haptoglobin and angiotensinogen and oxidative stress parameters in 12 to 15-year-old adolescents.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D, haptoglobin (Hp) 1/2 and angiotensinogen (AGT) M235T gene polymorphisms have been associated with the risk of various cardiovascular conditions. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species have also been implicated in endothelial injury. In a randomly selected sample of healthy adolescents, we studied the relationship between these genetic polymorphisms and somatic characteristics, blood pressure and certain biochemical markers of oxidative stress.

Magnesium, insulin resistance and body composition in healthy postmenopausal women.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the association between magnesium (Mg), body composition and insulin resistance in 136 sedentary postmenopausal women, 50 to 77 years of age.

Methods: Diabetics, hypertensives and women on hormonal replacement therapy were excluded and the remaining 74 were divided according to BMI> or =25 (obese: OG) and BMI<25 kg/m(2) (non-obese: NOG). Nutritional data disclosed that intakes were high for protein and saturated fat, low for carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fat and Mg and normal for the other nutrients, according to recommended dietary allowances (RDA).

Role of cellular magnesium in health and human disease.

The aim of this paper is to discuss, on the basis of an extensive literature review, the role of magnesium in health and disease. Magnesium is an essential cation playing a crucial role in many physiological functions. It is critical in energy-requiring metabolic processes, in protein synthesis, membrane integrity, nervous tissue conduction, neuromuscular excitability, muscle contraction, hormone secretion, and in intermediary metabolism.

[Erythrocytic acid phosphatase genetic polymorphism and cardiovascular risk in health children and adolescents].

Objective: To correlate, in a sample of healthy children and adolescents, the activity of the enzyme acid phosphatase (ACP) with its different genetic phenotypes and of these with some cardiovascular risk parameters such as body mass index (BMI), percentage of total fat mass (%TFM), trunk fat (TF), insulin resistance, and the arterial blood pressure (BP).

Design And Methods: The sample was composed of 173 healthy children and adolescents, 96 (55.5%) F and 77 (44.

[Ionized calcium and magnesium as interdependent variables in blood pressure origin in healthy adolescents].

Introduction: Growing evidence indicates that diet divalent cations--ionized calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)--and MN blood group polymorphism may be associated with essential arterial hypertension.

Objectives: To assess a possible relationship between serum ionized Ca and Mg and MN blood group polymorphism with blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI).

Population And Methods: The study group consisted of 173 healthy adolescents, 96 female (55.

Lipid profile and redox status in high performance rhythmic female teenagers gymnasts.

Background: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the lipid profile and some parameters of oxi-redox status in a group of teenage female athletes. All gymnasts of the Portuguese National Team of Rhythmic (n=20) were included in the study. A group of untrained healthy female adolescents, matched for age, was also included (n=28).

LDL peroxidation in adolescent female gymnasts.

Unlabelled: Physical exercise may in vivo promote an increase of free radical formation. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are highly susceptible to oxidation, probably because of their high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, since lipid oxidation is an important factor in the genesis and development of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect in a group of adolescent gymnasts, of intense and regular physical exercise on lipid profile and redox status.

Effect of an aerobic training on magnesium, trace elements and antioxidant systems in a Down syndrome population.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an aerobic training on plasma and red blood cells' levels of magnesium, copper, selenium and zinc and on some oxidative stress parameters in a Down syndrome (DS) sample population. Sixteen young male adults with DS participated in the protocol. Among them, eight were randomly assigned to the control group and the remaining eight participated in a 16 week training programme consisting of 10 min warm-up followed by an aerobic session at a work intensity of 60 to 75 per cent of VO2 peak lasting from 15 to 25 min, increasing 5 min every 5 weeks and by a 5 min cool-down period, 3 days/week.