Coconut sugar derived from coconut inflorescence sap lowers systolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot study.

Nutraceutical-based interventions hold promise to reduce blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness, which are two cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, the effects of coconut sap powder (CSP), an Asian sweetener and novel nutraceutical, on BP and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults (MA/O, ≥45 yr) has yet to be established. We hypothesized CSP will decrease BP and arterial stiffness in MA/O adults.

Unilateral Handgrip Holds to Failure Result in Sex-Dependent Contralateral Facilitation.

This study examined changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force following dominant (Dm) and nondominant (NDm) unilateral, handgrip isometric holds to failure (HTF) for the exercised ipsilateral (IPS) and non-exercised contralateral (CON) limbs and determined if there are sex- and hand- (Dm vs NDm) dependent responses in the HTF time, performance fatigability (PF) for the exercised IPS limb, and changes in MVIC force for the CON limb after unilateral fatigue. Ten men and 10 women (Age = 22.2 years) completed an isometric HTF at 50% MVIC for the Dm and NDm hand on separate days.

Associations between potential inflammatory properties of the diet and frequency, duration, and severity of migraine headaches: a cross-sectional study.

Despite a large body of literature on the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and various chronic diseases, limited knowledge is available regarding the association between DII and migraine. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between the DII and migraine characteristics, including duration, frequency, and severity of migraine headaches, Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and serum levels of nitric oxide (NO). This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2019 to June 2020 among 262 patients (38 men and 224 women; 20-50 years).

Changes in physical activity during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic response limited access to many traditional forms of physical activity (PA). Purpose:To assess changes in objectively measured PAofUniversity staff during the initial stageofthe COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We implemented a repeated measures natural experiment design.

Effects of grape products on inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted to determine the effects of grapes and grape products on inflammation and oxidative stress among adults. PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to July 2020 to identify RCTs investigating the effects of grape and grape products on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were pooled using a random-effects model.

Dietary fat and alcohol in the prediction of indices of vascular health among young adults.

Objectives: Arterial stiffness, particularly of the aorta, is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and hypertension. Arterial stiffening may be caused or exacerbated by the composition of the diet. Current research has indicated that habitual dietary patterns may influence arteriosclerosis, or the thickening and hardening of the artery walls, but has yet to identify a specific food group as the culprit.

Examination of Curcumin and Fenugreek Soluble Fiber Supplementation on Submaximal and Maximal Aerobic Performance Indices.

Unlabelled: This study examined the effects of curcumin and fenugreek soluble fiber supplementation on the ventilatory threshold (VT) and peak oxygen consumption ( V ˙ O peak).

Methods: Forty-five untrained men and women were randomly assigned to one of three supplementation groups: placebo (PLA, = 13), 500 mg·day CurQfen (CUR, = 14), or 300 mg·day fenugreek soluble fiber (FEN, = 18). Participants completed a maximal graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine the VT and V ˙ O peak before (PRE) and after (POST) 28 days of daily supplementation.

Effects of artichoke on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Clinical trials considering the effects of artichoke supplementation on blood pressure have yielded different and contradictory outcomes. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess effects of artichoke administration on blood pressure.

Methods: Related studies were detected by searching the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases up to 15 March 2020.

Effects of pistachios on anthropometric indices, inflammatory markers, endothelial function and blood pressure in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Evidence suggests that eating nuts may reduce the risk of CVD. This study was intended to pool the data of all randomised controlled trials (RCT) available to determine if pistachios confer a beneficial effect on anthropometric indices, inflammatory markers, endothelial dysfunction and blood pressure. Without language restriction, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for articles published from the earliest records to June 2019 investigating the effect of pistachio consumption on inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and hypertension.

Effects of Curcumin and Fenugreek Soluble Fiber on the Physical Working Capacity at the Fatigue Threshold, Peak Oxygen Consumption, and Time to Exhaustion.

Herrick, LP, Goh, J, Menke, W, Campbell, MS, Fleenor, BS, Abel, MG, and Bergstrom, HC. Effects of curcumin and fenugreek soluble fiber on the physical working capacity at the fatigue threshold, peak oxygen consumption, and time to exhaustion. J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3346-3355, 2020-The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of curcumin in combination with fenugreek soluble fiber (CUR + FEN) or fenugreek soluble fiber alone (FEN) on the neuromuscular fatigue threshold (PWCFT), peak oxygen consumption (V˙o2peak), and time to exhaustion (Tlim) on a graded exercise test (GXT), in untrained subjects.

The Association Between Dietary Zinc Intake and Health Status, Including Mental Health and Sleep Quality, Among Iranian Female Students.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that there is an association between diet and mental health. The aim of the current study was to explore the association between dietary zinc intake and risk of depression, anxiety, and sleep quality distortion among female students of the Semnan University of Medical Sciences in a cross-sectional study. From January through October 2019, 142 female students were randomly selected from the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the Semnan University of Medical Sciences by simple random sampling.

Influence of curcumin on performance and post-exercise recovery.

Intense exercise, especially involving eccentric contractions, causes muscle damage concomitant with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to increased fatigue and decrements in physical performance. Additionally, inflammatory cytokines and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are produced as a result of eccentric exercise and may further lead to decreased exercise performance. Nutritional interventions may provide an avenue to respond to and reduce the symptoms associated with muscle damage.

The effect of cinnamon supplementation on blood pressure in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background & Aims: Several clinical trials have shown that cinnamon can reduce blood pressure, but the results are controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a more precise estimate of the overall effects of cinnamon supplementation on blood pressure in adults.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases through September 2019 to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of cinnamon supplementation on blood pressure.

Sleep and frailty risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Studies on the association between sleep and frailty risk have yielded contradictory outcomes. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to examine the relationship between sleep and frailty risk.

Methods: Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases until 30 November 2019.

Effect of fenugreek supplementation on blood lipids and body weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Fenugreek is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used for centuries to treat hyperglycemia, muscle spasms, gastritis, constipation, edema, and other metabolic disorders. Recently, lipid-lowering effects of fenugreek have been identified.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine and clarify the impact of fenugreek supplementation on anthropometric indices and serum lipid levels.

Curcumin and arterial function in health and disease: impact on oxidative stress and inflammation.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to provide a concise overview of the polyphenol curcumin for improving arterial health, specifically endothelial function and arterial stiffness, to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and to highlight potential mechanisms of action by which curcumin may improve artery function.

Recent Findings: The primary findings of this review support the notion for curcumin to improve arterial health both with aging and obesity. There are few clinical trials on curcumin, and those that currently exist are small in scale but provide evidence for curcumin to improve endothelial function in older adults and reduce arterial stiffness in young, obese men.

Influence of enhanced bioavailable curcumin on obesity-associated cardiovascular disease risk factors and arterial function: A double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether an enhanced bioavailable curcumin formulation, CurQfen®, would improve circulating cardiovascular disease-related blood biomarkers and arterial function in young (age 18-35 y), obese (body mass index ≥ 30.0 kg/m) men.

Methods: This double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial evaluated 22 men.

Palmitate and oleate co-treatment increases myocellular protein content via impaired protein degradation.

Objectives: Protein balance is a crucial determinant of myocellular size and function. The effects of fatty acids on myocellular protein balance remain controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the direct effects of a mixed-species fatty acid environment on myocellular protein synthesis and degradation.

Whole grain consumption is negatively correlated with obesity-associated aortic stiffness: A hypothesis.

Objective: Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that increases aortic stiffness, which predicts future cardiovascular events. Additionally, obesity is associated with overconsumption, which contributes to aortic stiffening. Recent work has highlighted the role of various foods and nutrients on aortic stiffness among the general population.

An Incentivized, Workplace Physical Activity Intervention Preferentially Increases Daily Steps in Inactive Employees.

Unlabelled: Although physical activity (PA) is associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases, fewer than half of American adults meet the recommendations for daily PA, in part, due to large amounts of sedentary time in the workplace.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of an incentivized workplace PA intervention.

Design: Retrospective cohort design.

The emerging role of curcumin for improving vascular dysfunction: A review.

Curcumin, when administered in a bioavailable form, has potential to influence vascular health of various populations, leading to decreases in cardiovascular disease risk. Clinical intervention studies with curcumin have demonstrated significant improvements in endothelial function, arterial compliance, arterial stiffness, and other measures of vascular hemodynamics in young, middle-aged, old, post-menopausal, healthy, diabetic, and obese individuals. Mechanistically, curcumin is believed to improve vascular function through its effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, nitric oxide bioavailability, and structural proteins of the artery.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) attenuates diet-induced aortic stiffening independent of changes in body composition.

We hypothesized a sweet potato intervention would prevent high-fat (HF) diet-induced aortic stiffness, which would be associated with decreased arterial oxidative stress and increased mitochondrial uncoupling. Young (8-week old) C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: low fat (LF; 10% fat), HF (60% fat), low-fat sweet potato (LFSP; 10% fat containing 260.3 μg/kcal sweet potato), or high-fat sweet potato diet (HFSP; 60% fat containing 260.