Vitamin D intake and status are associated with lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in U.S. adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2003-2006.

Background: Previous reports have shown that metabolic syndrome and some metabolic syndrome components are associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D].

Methods: Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 2003-2006, we evaluated the associations of vitamin D intake (n=3543) and vitamin D status [25(OH)D; n=3529], with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in adults 20 years and older. Exclusion criteria included nonfasted subjects, those pregnant and/or lactating, and, for intake analyses, those with unreliable 24-h recall records.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and other cardiovascular disease risk markers in subjects with elevated waist circumference.

The objective of the present trial was to assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in subjects with high waist circumference. Subjects were randomly assigned a daily multivitamin and mineral (MVM) supplement or a MVM supplement plus vitamin D 1,200 IU/day (MVM+D) for 8 weeks. There was a significant difference in mean change for 25(OH)D between the MVM and MVM+D treatment groups ( - 1.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is independently associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the metabolic syndrome in men and women.

Background: Low vitamin D status has been associated with markers of cardiovascular disease risk.

Objective: This cross-sectional study assessed the relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and selected markers for cardiovascular disease risk, including metabolic syndrome and its components, in adult men and women.

Methods: Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure were assessed in 257 men and women.

The effects of ten weeks of resistance and combined plyometric/sprint training with the Meridian Elyte athletic shoe on muscular performance in women.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the combined effects of resistance and sprint/plyometric training with or without the Meridian Elyte athletic shoe on muscular performance in women. Fourteen resistance-trained women were randomly assigned to one of 2 training groups: (a) an athletic shoe (N = 6) (AS) group or (b) the Meridian Elyte (N = 8) (MS) group. Training was performed for 10 weeks and consisted of resistance training for 2 days per week and 2 days per week of sprint/plyometric training.

Androgenic responses to resistance exercise: effects of feeding and L-carnitine.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of 3 wk of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT) supplementation and post-resistance-exercise (RE) feeding on hormonal and androgen receptor (AR) responses.

Methods: Ten resistance-trained men (mean+/-SD: age, 22+/-1 yr; mass, 86.3+/-15.

The effects of carbohydrate loading on repetitive jump squat power performance.

The beneficial role of carbohydrate (CHO) supplementation in endurance exercise is well documented. However, only few data are available on the effects of CHO loading on resistance exercise performance. Because of the repetitive use of high-threshold motor units, it was hypothesized that the power output (power-endurance) of multiple sets of jump squats would be enhanced following a high-CHO (6.

The effects of amino acid supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance training overreaching.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of amino acid supplementation on muscular performance and resting hormone concentrations during resistance training overreaching. Seventeen resistance-trained men were randomly assigned to either an amino acid (AA) or a placebo (P) group and underwent 4 weeks of total-body resistance training designed to induce a state of overreaching. The protocol consisted of two 2-week phases (phase 1, 3 sets of 8 exercises performed for 8-12 repetitions; phase 2, 5 sets of 5 exercises performed for 3-5 repetitions).

A cetylated fatty acid topical cream with menthol reduces pain and improves functional performance in individuals with arthritis.

This investigation was an extension of a previous study conducted in our laboratory in which we showed that 1 month of treatment with a topical cream (Celadrin) consisting of cetylated fatty acids was effective for reducing pain and improving functional performance in individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (Kraemer et al., Journal of Rheumatology, 2004). We wanted to verify that the addition of menthol to the compound would produce a similar percentage of improvement in therapeutic effects.

Androgen receptor content following heavy resistance exercise in men.

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine androgen receptor (AR) content in the vastus lateralis following two resistance exercise protocols of different volume. Nine resistance-trained men (age=24.3+/-4.

High-affinity growth hormone binding protein and acute heavy resistance exercise.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of resistance training on circulating concentrations of growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) in response to acute heavy resistance exercise.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional experimental design, a group of resistance-trained men (RT, N=9, 7.9+/-1.

Effects of treatment with a cetylated fatty acid topical cream on static postural stability and plantar pressure distribution in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of 30 days of treatment with a topical cream consisting of cetylated fatty acids on static postural stability and plantar pressures in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of one or both knees. Forty patients diagnosed with knee OA were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 topical treatment groups: (a) cetylated fatty acid (CFA; N = 20; age = 62.7 +/- 11.

Skeletal muscle and hormonal adaptations to circuit weight training in untrained men.

Twelve men either performed 10 weeks of timed circuit weight training 3 days week(-1) (CWT; n=8; X+/-SE; age=23.6+/-1.8 years), or were part of a sedentary control group (n=4; age=20.

Effect of a cetylated fatty acid topical cream on functional mobility and quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine the effect of a topical cream consisting of cetylated fatty acids on functional performance in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of one or both knees.

Methods: Forty patients diagnosed with knee OA were randomly assigned to one of 2 topical treatment groups: (1) cetylated fatty acid (CFA) (n = 20; age 62.7 +/- 11.

Longitudinal tracking of muscular power changes of NCAA Division I collegiate women gymnasts.

Gymnastics relies upon power as a critical component of sports-specific fitness. The purpose of this study was to monitor long-term training adaptations in the power of National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I women gymnasts. Twenty members of a women's gymnastic team (aged 18-22) were tracked over 3 years with the first year a baseline year of testing.

Changes in exercise performance and hormonal concentrations over a big ten soccer season in starters and nonstarters.

As a consequence of the physiological demands experienced during a competitive soccer season, the antagonistic relationship between anabolic and catabolic processes can affect performance. Twenty-five male collegiate soccer players were studied throughout a season (11 weeks) to investigate the effects of long-term training and competition. Subjects were grouped as starters (S; n = 11) and nonstarters (NS; n = 14).

The effects of creatine supplementation on muscular performance and body composition responses to short-term resistance training overreaching.

To determine the effects of creatine supplementation during short-term resistance training overreaching on performance, body composition, and resting hormone concentrations, 17 men were randomly assigned to supplement with 0.3 g/kg per day of creatine monohydrate (CrM: n=9) or placebo (P: n=8) while performing resistance exercise (5 days/week for 4 weeks) followed by a 2-week taper phase. Maximal squat and bench press and explosive power in the bench press were reduced during the initial weeks of training in P but not CrM.

Physiological and functional effects of acute low-frequency hand-arm vibration.

The effects of low frequency of vibration have not been widely studied in the scientific literature, yet humans are exposed to such environmental stress everyday. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the physiological responses to low-frequency upper-body limb vibration. Fourteen healthy men were exposed to 1 hour of bilateral hand-arm vibration and control (no vibration) conditions in a counter-balanced, cross-over design separated by 2 days.

Increasing fluid milk favorably affects bone mineral density responses to resistance training in adolescent boys.

This study examined the effects of increasing milk on bone and body composition responses to resistance training in adolescents. Twenty-eight boys (13 to 17 years of age) were randomly assigned to consume, in addition to their habitual diet, 3 servings/day of 1% fluid milk (n=14) or juice not fortified with calcium (n=14) while engaged in a 12-week resistance-training program. For all subjects combined, there were significant (P View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT) supplementation using a balanced, cross-over, placebo-controlled research design on the anabolic hormone response (i.e., testosterone [T], insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 [IGFBP-3], and immunofunctional and immunoreactive growth hormone [GHif and GHir]) to acute resistance exercise.

The effects of amino acid supplementation on muscular performance during resistance training overreaching.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of amino acid supplementation on muscular strength, power, and high-intensity endurance during short-term resistance training overreaching. Seventeen resistance-trained men were randomly assigned to either an amino acid (AA) or placebo (P) group and underwent 4 weeks of total-body resistance training consisting of two 2-week phases of overreaching (phase 1: 3 x 8-12 repetitions maximum [RM], 8 exercises; phase 2: 5 x 3-5 RM, 5 exercises). Muscle strength, power, and high-intensity endurance were determined before (T1) and at the end of each training week (T2-T5).

Responses of growth hormone aggregates to different intermittent exercise intensities.

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of high-intensity intermittent exercise on the presence of circulating growth hormone (GH) aggregates measured using two different assay techniques. Six male subjects with endurance training background participated in this study under both exercise and no-exercise control conditions. After resting blood sampling, subjects completed an intermittent treadmill exercise protocol at four speeds predicted to elicit a specific VO(2):60% VO(2max) for 10 min, 75% for 10 min, 90% for 5 min, and 100% for 2 min.

Performance, biochemical, and endocrine changes during a competitive football game.

Purpose: This study represents the first time that anaerobic power performance was examined during an actual intercollegiate American football game. In addition, biochemical and endocrine responses also were examined to assess the physiological stress imposed by this competitive contest.

Methods: Twenty-one members of a NCAA Division III football team were divided into two groups.

Detraining produces minimal changes in physical performance and hormonal variables in recreationally strength-trained men.

The object of this study was to examine changes in muscular strength, power, and resting hormonal concentrations during 6 weeks of detraining (DTR) in recreationally strength-trained men. Each subject was randomly assigned to either a DTR (n = 9) or resistance training (RT; n = 7) group after being matched for strength, body size, and training experience. Muscular strength and power testing, anthropometry, and blood sampling were performed before the experimental period (T1), after 3 weeks (T2), and after the 6-week experimental period (T3).

Effect of alkalosis on plasma epinephrine responses to high intensity cycle exercise in humans.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of alkalosis on epinephrine concentrations in response to a 90 s maximal exercise test. A group of ten healthy men ingested either a bicarbonate (BS) supplement (0.3 g x kg(-1) of body mass of sodium bicarbonate) or placebo mixture (P) prior to performing a 90 s maximal cycle ergometer test.

The effects of a 10-kilometer run on muscle strength and power.

Recovery of maximal force and power following a 10-km race has not been widely studied in the scientific literature. Ten healthy men who were experienced distance runners participated in this investigation. Data were collected prerace, immediate postrace, and 48 hours postrace to examine the effect of a 10-km race on muscle force production in the lower body.