The effect of vitamin D supplementation on markers of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a systematic review.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a common pathology in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) involved in increased rates of cardiometabolic disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Low serum vitamin D is often associated with insulin resistance but there is no consensus on whether vitamin D supplementation can ameliorate markers of IR in PCOS.

Objectives: We assessed evidence on the effects of vitamin D supplementation (≥ 1000 IU/day), without the use of additional supplements or other pharmacological treatments known to affect IR, on markers of IR and glycemic control in women with PCOS.

The association of appendicular lean mass and grip strength with low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein particle diameter: a Mendelian randomization study of the UK Biobank cohort.

Aims: Reduced muscle mass and reduced strength are frequently associated with both alterations in blood lipids and poorer cardiometabolic outcomes in epidemiological studies; however, a causal association cannot be determined from such observations. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was applied to assess the association of genetically determined appendicular lean mass (ALM) and handgrip strength (HGS) with serum lipid particle diameter.

Methods And Results: Mendelian randomization was implemented using summary-level data from the largest genome-wide association studies on ALM ( = 450 243), HGS ( = 223 315), and lipoprotein [low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very LDL (VLDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)] particle diameters ( = 115 078).

The effect of discretionary snack consumption on overall energy intake, weight status, and diet quality: A systematic review.

The consumption frequency and portion size of discretionary snacks are thought to contribute to a greater food intake and risk of overweight or obesity in the developed world but evidence from epidemiological studies is inconclusive. To investigate this, we systematically evaluated evidence on the effects of discretionary snack consumption on weight status, energy intake, and diet quality. Articles involving discretionary snacks reported against the outcome measures of any primary, peer-reviewed study using human participants from free-living conditions for all age groups were included.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate plant-based omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patient biomarkers and parameters.

Context: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent in 25-30% of British and European populations, representing a potential global public health crisis. Marine omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids offer well-evidenced benefits to NAFLD biomarkers; however, the effect of plant-based n-3 has not been evaluated with a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The review aimed to systematically evaluate the effect of plant-based n-3 supplementation on NAFLD surrogate biomarkers and parameters.

Acceptability of a high-protein Mediterranean-style diet and resistance exercise protocol for cardiac rehabilitation patients: Involving service users in intervention design using a mixed-methods participatory approach.

Background: Current cardiac rehabilitation (CR) practices focus on aerobic-style exercise with minimal nutrition advice. This approach may not be optimal for CR patients with reduced muscle mass and elevated fat mass. Higher protein, Mediterranean-style diets combined with resistance exercise (RE) may improve muscle mass and reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events, although such an approach is yet to be trialed in a CR population.

Impact of probiotics on muscle mass, muscle strength and lean mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Probiotics have shown potential to counteract sarcopenia, although the extent to which they can influence domains of sarcopenia such as muscle mass and strength in humans is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the impact of probiotic supplementation on muscle mass, total lean mass and muscle strength in human adults. A literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception until June 2022.

Differential effects of vitamin D on upper and lower body fat-free mass: potential mechanisms.

Vitamin D insufficiency is a global health concern and low vitamin D status is regularly associated with reduced muscle mass and sarcopenia in observational research. Recent research using Mendelian randomization (MR) has highlighted the potentially causal positive effect of serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) on total, trunk and upper body appendicular fat-free mass (FFM). However, no such effect was found in lower body FFM, a result that mirrors the outcomes of some vitamin D intervention studies.

The impact of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on measures of glucose homeostasis in individuals with hepatic disorders: A systematic review of clinical studies.

Background: Branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation may influence glucose metabolism in individuals with an impaired glyceamic profile. This systematic review investigated the effects of isolated BCAA supplementation on measures of glucose homeostasis in individuals with hepatic disorders.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus for published clinical trials that investigated the effects of isolated BCAA supplementation on measures of glucose homeostasis, including serum glucose and insulin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on cardiac rehabilitation participation and behaviours in the United Kingdom.

Background: COVID-19 lockdown measures led to the suspension of centre-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR). We aimed to describe the impact of lockdown on CR behaviours and perceptions of efficacy in a sample of CR participants.

Methods: An online survey was conducted amongst CR participants from May to October 2020, COVID-19-related lockdown restrictions.

Association of Dietary Intakes and Genetically Determined Serum Concentrations of Mono and Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Chronic Kidney Disease: Insights from Dietary Analysis and Mendelian Randomization.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake is generally associated with better renal function, while the association of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) remains unconfirmed. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to obtain unconfounded estimates of the causal association of dietary intake and genetically determined serum PUFA and MUFA levels with measures of renal function. Data from participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2005 to 2010 were used.

Protein interventions augment the effect of resistance exercise on appendicular lean mass and handgrip strength in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Increased protein intake is suggested as a strategy to slow or reverse the loss of muscle mass and strength observed in sarcopenia, but results from studies that directly tested this possibility have been inconsistent.

Objectives: We assessed the evidence on the effects of whole protein supplementation or higher-protein diets, without the use of amino acids or supplements known to stimulate hypertrophy, alone or in combination with resistance exercise (RE) interventions, on lean body mass (LBM) and strength in older adults.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from January 1990 to July 2021.

Genetically determined blood lead is associated with reduced renal function amongst individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: insight from Mendelian Randomisation.

Some observational studies indicate a link between blood lead and kidney function although results remain controversial. In this study, Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis was applied to obtain unconfounded estimates of the casual association of genetically determined blood lead with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Data from the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on blood lead, eGFR and CKD, from predominantly ethnically European populations, were analysed in total, as well as separately in individuals with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Feasibility of a high-PRotein Mediterranean-style diet and resistance Exercise in cardiac Rehabilitation patients with sarcopenic obesity (PRiMER): Study protocol for a randomised control trial.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an essential component of long-term recovery following a cardiac event. Typical CR may not be optimal for patients presenting with sarcopenic obesity (SO) who present with reduced muscle mass and elevated adipose tissue, and may indicate greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Resistance exercise and high-protein diets are known to increase muscle mass, while Mediterranean-style diets have been shown to reduce CVD risk.

Prevalence of mental health problems among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and posttraumatic stress symptoms among children and adolescents during global COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 to 2020, and the potential modifying effects of age and gender.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and two Chinese academic databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang) for studies published from December 2019 to September 2020 that reported the prevalence of above mental health problems among children and adolescents. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to estimate the pooled prevalence.

A Mitocentric View of the Main Bacterial and Parasitic Infectious Diseases in the Pediatric Population.

Infectious diseases occur worldwide with great frequency in both adults and children. Both infections and their treatments trigger mitochondrial interactions at multiple levels: (i) incorporation of damaged or mutated proteins to the complexes of the electron transport chain, (ii) mitochondrial genome (depletion, deletions, and point mutations) and mitochondrial dynamics (fusion and fission), (iii) membrane potential, (iv) apoptotic regulation, (v) generation of reactive oxygen species, among others. Such alterations may result in serious adverse clinical events with great impact on children's quality of life, even resulting in death.

Sarcopenia during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions: long-term health effects of short-term muscle loss.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an extraordinary global emergency that has led to the implementation of unprecedented measures in order to stem the spread of the infection. Internationally, governments are enforcing measures such as travel bans, quarantine, isolation, and social distancing leading to an extended period of time at home. This has resulted in reductions in physical activity and changes in dietary intakes that have the potential to accelerate sarcopenia, a deterioration of muscle mass and function (more likely in older populations), as well as increases in body fat.

Dietary patterns and the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Diet and lifestyle play a significant role in the development chronic diseases; however the full complexity of this relationship is not yet understood. Dietary pattern investigation, which reflects the complexity of dietary intake, has emerged as an alternative and complementary approach for examining the association between diet and chronic diseases. Literature on this association has largely focused on individual nutrients, with conflicting outcomes, but individuals consume a combination of foods from many groups that form dietary patterns.