Physical activity and nutrition最新文献

Purpose: Physical activity is widely recognized for its physical and mental health benefits that are significant for international students who often encounter environmental and cultural challenges. This study aimed to assess the physical activity levels and changes among Chinese international students in South Korea and identify the factors associated with these changes.

Methods: The study included 192 Chinese students from a single university, recruited via an anonymous survey link on WeChat that collected data on sociodemographics, health behaviors, acculturative stress, depression, and social support. Physical activity levels were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and changes in physical activity in South Korea were also evaluated. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with decreased and increased physical activity among the students.

Results: Among the participants, 33.9% indicated decreased physical activity, whereas 29.7% reported increased physical activity compared with their home country. Barriers include academic stress, time constraints, and unfamiliar environments, whereas facilitators include exercise facility accessibility and support from others. Increased physical activity was positively associated with older age, weight changes, and recreational activities. Poor self-health perception was positively associated with reduced physical activity, whereas perceived discrimination and transportation-related physical activity were negatively associated with reduced physical activity.

Conclusion: Changes in physical activity levels and their associated factors among Chinese international students in South Korea were revealed. Multidimensional factors must be addressed to improve physical activity levels, especially considering the challenging circumstances faced by international students.

Purpose: Wearing face masks in indoor public places, including fitness centers, is an effective strategy for preventing the airborne transmission of viruses. Despite this, limited research has addressed the effects of wearing a mask during resistance exercise, which is primarily performed in indoor fitness centers. This study investigated the effects of wearing a KF94 face mask on exercise volume, perceptual parameters, and cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular responses during resistance exercise.

Methods: Twenty young men (23.8 ± 0.5 years old) participated in this randomized crossover trial. The participants performed moderate-intensity resistance exercise (60% of 1RM) sessions under two different conditions (KF94 mask vs. no mask). Cardiorespiratory parameters, exercise volume, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and dyspnea were measured. Blood lactate concentration, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and perceptual parameters were measured pre- and post-exercise.

Results: Wearing the KF94 mask significantly reduced exercise volume, ventilation volume, and ventilation efficiency compared to exercising without a mask (p < 0.05). Although blood lactate concentration remained unchanged between the two conditions, RPE and dyspnea were significantly higher with the KF94 mask (p < 0.01). Central arterial stiffness post-exercise was significantly higher with the KF94 mask than without it (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Wearing a KF94 face mask during resistance exercise affected exercise volume, perceptual parameters, and cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular responses. These findings suggest that coaches and trainers should consider the individual characteristics when designing exercise prescriptions and modifying resistance exercise variables while wearing KF94 masks.

Purpose: This study examined the effects of longterm pre-exercise Curcuma xanthorriza Roxb supplementation on red blood cell indices along with circulating malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in response to endurance exercise to address previously inconsistent findings.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus; n = 20, aged 12-16 weeks) were divided equally into an exercise-only group (C) and three groups supplemented with Curcuma extract at dosages of 6.75 (T1), 13.50 (T2), and 20.25 mg (T3). Curcuma extract supplementation was administered for 28 d immediately prior to exercise.

Results: Following 28 d of exhaustive swimming, the hematocrit and erythrocyte count increased by 15% (p = 0.06). Pre-exercise Curcuma supplementation did not significantly affect mean corpuscular volume or mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Longterm exercise intervention resulted in elevated MDA levels by 41% (p <0.001), while Curcuma supplementation (13.50 mg) attenuated this increase by 16.6% (p = 0.09). Additionally, Curcuma supplementation resulted in a dose-dependent increase in SOD levels, with an 82.6% increase observed at 20.25 mg (p = 0.028).

Conclusion: Our preliminary findings indicated that pre-exercise supplementation with Curcuma extract had a negligible effect on changes in red blood cell markers, but it mitigated the increase in oxidative stress induced by exercise training. Our future research direction will involve applying the findings to humans.

Purpose: Protein supplements are widely used by athletes, prompting the scrutiny of their impact on low energy availability. This study investigated whether habitual protein supplement use is linked to physical characteristics and nutrient intake in Japanese university soccer athletes. In addition, an attempt was made to examine the differences in physical characteristics and nutrient intake according to muscle mass in protein supplement users using the fat-free mass index (FFMI), which reflects muscle mass.

Methods: A dietary survey, physical activity survey, and measurement of the physical characteristics of 38 Japanese collegiate soccer players were conducted.

Results: The habitual protein supplement utilization rate among the participants was 50%, and the participants exhibited an FFMI of 19.2 ± 1.3 kg/m2. Significant disparities between the two groups were noted in exercise energy expenditure (p = 0.023); carbohydrates (p = 0.039); copper (p = 0.003); and vitamins B1 (p = 0.016), B2 (p = 0.040), B6 (p = 0.003), C (p = 0.012), and D (p = 0.033), with higher levels observed in the protein-consuming cohort compared to the non-consuming cohort. Protein supplement users (n = 15) were stratified into two groups based on the median FFMI of the entire population (18.9 kg/m2). While the energy balance ratios were comparable between the groups, the high FFMI group tended to exhibit elevated energy intake (p = 0.169), consumption (p = 0.076), and carbohydrate consumption (p = 0.092), compared to the low FFMI group.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that adequate carbohydrate and protein intakes are crucial for preserving or augmenting muscle mass in young Japanese soccer athletes, including those consuming protein supplements.

Purpose: Sex strongly influences physical performance throughout adolescence, and excess fat mass is associated with several health and performance impairments. This study aimed to evaluate whether variations in strength between men and women dependent on lean mass and body fat content.

Methods: This cross-sectional, quasi-experimental, non-probabilistic study involved 44 university students (22 men and 22 women, aged 19-29). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using an adjustable handgrip dynamometer, body composition was assessed using bioimpedance, and countermovement jumps (CMJ) were measured using a force platform. Data were analyzed using ANOVA to compare HGS and CMJ based on body mass, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was applied to examine the relationships between grip strength, body composition, and jump test performance.

Results: Strength is significantly higher in men compared to women, as is countermovement jump. The strength of women corresponded to over 50% of that of men, whereas the quantity of lean mass in women corresponded to 55% of that of men. We found a significant relationship between strength and lean mass.

Conclusion: This study supports the idea that both upper- and lower-body strengths are strongly influenced by lean mass, thereby contributing to sex differences. The primary factor in body composition that explains the disparities in HGS and CMJ between sexes is the proportion of fat mass to lean mass. Finally, the sex disparities observed between body composition and strength depend on lean mass content.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week intake of fermented oyster extract on free fatty acids and liver enzymes in older women with obesity and to provide basic data for improving liver function in older individuals with obesity.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to confirm the effects of fermented oyster extract intake on free fatty acid (FFA) levels and liver function in older women with obesity. The study included 40 older women with obesity with a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2. Participants were divided into a fermented oyster intake group (n = 20) and control group (n = 20). Serum FFA, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were measured at weeks 0 and 12.

Results: Our results showed an interaction effect between the two groups in terms of serum FFA levels (p<0.05), with a post-intervention decrease in the FSO group (p<0.05). AST, ALT, and GGT levels also showed an interaction effect between the two groups (p<0.05), with a significant postintervention decrease in the FSO group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The intake of fermented oyster extract significantly reduced FFA, ALT, AST, and GGT levels. These results suggested that the consumption of fermented oyster extract may improve liver function. However, the findings of this study were limited to elderly women with obesity, and the relatively short intake period and small sample size may limit the generalization of the results.

Purpose: The Fukuda step test is a valuable tool for identifying vestibular dysfunction in humans. This study evaluated the intra-rater and test-retest reliabilities of videograph observations to determine the diversion time while performing the Fukuda test. This study aimed to determine the use of videographic observation as a beneficial tool for recording real-time assessment procedures in clinical settings.

Methods: Fifty college students who were selected based on the inclusion criteria performed three consecutive sessions of the Fukuda step test. Intra-rater and test-retest reliabilities of the videograph observations were identified using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results: We noted both, good intra-rater (ICC= 0.78) and moderate-to-good test-retest reliabilities (ICC= 0.69) of the videograph observations.

Conclusion: Videographic observation can be used in clinical settings to identify diversion times while performing the Fukuda step test.

Purpose: We analyzed the differences in physical activity (PA) levels and nutrient intake based on grip strength among elderly men and women in single-person households (ESH) in Korea.

Methods: Data were obtained from 1,581 ESH individuals (aged ≥65 years) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014-2019). PA levels (occupational and recreational moderate-intensity activities, travel to and from places, walking, and strength training) and nutrient intake (including, total energy, carbohydrates, protein, and fat) were analyzed.

Results: Men exhibited no differences in PA related to grip strength, except for the number of strength training days (p=0.000). Women with higher grip strength engaged more in recreational activities, travel, and strength training (all, p=0.000). Men with higher grip strength consumed more protein, while women consumed greater amounts of total fat (p=0.030), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (p=0.024), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (p=0.011). Both sexes had increased Vitamin C intake (men: p=0.023, women: p=0.020).

Conclusion: Sex-related differences in PA levels and nutrient intake based on grip strength were observed among older individuals in ESH. Women require programs to enhance diverse PA and balance fat intake, while men need interventions focused on strength training and protein intake.

Purpose: Low energy availability (LEA) and mental health issues are prevalent among female athletes and can have adverse effects on health and sports performance. This study aimed to assess energy availability and, mental health status (depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, drug misuse, alcohol misuse, and disordered eating) among female football players. Despite the availability of validated tools for the triads and REDs, few studies have focused on the prevalence of LEA and mental health in female football players. Furthermore, limited information is available on LEA and its consequences in India.

Methods: Professional female football players (n=25) aged 19-30 years were recruited using incidental sampling. LEA was estimated based on energy availability [energy intake - activity energy expenditure] and LEA female questionnaire (LEAF-Q). Sports mental health assessment tool-1 (SMHAT-1) was used to assess the mental health status. Descriptive statistics and chi square test were used to test the hypotheses.

Results: According to the factorial method and LEAF-Q, 24% and 12% of players had LEA, respectively. LEA symptoms, such as decreased gastrointestinal and menstrual function, were observed in 16% of participants, while 8% had a history of injury. 44% of the participants exhibited poor mental health. Sleep disturbance (12%) and disordered eating (44%), were among the most common mental health issues. No significant difference was found between LEA, disordered eating, and sleep disturbance.

Conclusion: Female football players were more likely to develop LEA and mental health disorders, such as disordered eating and sleep disturbance. LEA was not linked with disordered eating or sleep disturbance. Early detection of LEA and effective intervention enhances the health and performance of female football players.

Purpose: Combat sports, such as judo, are weight categorized. Weight control was established to promote fair disputes among individuals. However, combat sports athletes adopt rapid weight loss (RWL) to obtain an advantage over smaller and lighter opponents. This scoping review article presents the prevalence, magnitude, and methods of RWL and its effects on physical and competitive performance, health risks, and psychological effects. Specific recommendations for attenuating the effects of RWL are also presented.

Methods: Studies were retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Four hundred and forty-six articles were identified, of which fifty-three were considered eligible for this review.

Results: The results showed that the prevalence of RWL was between 40% and 92.9% and that athletes reduced their body mass by approximately 5%. Although the literature suggests that RWL impairs the performance and psychological well-being of athletes, these results were obtained when recovery time was not provided.

Conclusion: No negative effects on performance were observed when the recovery time was >4 h. However, health risks due to RWL practices should be considered, and RWL should be avoided.