Effect of resistance training on phase angle in older women: A randomized controlled trial

Traditional Korean Medicine-Based Forest Therapy Programs Providing Electrophysiological Benefits for Elderly Individuals

We aimed to develop forest therapy programs (FTPs) to prevent dementia and related health problems in the elderly population, with the assumption that health benefits are FTP-type specific and depend on the participant's psychophysiological traits. For this purpose, we developed two distinct FTPs, namely, a guided-breathing meditation program (BP) and a walking program (WP); we adopted the approach of Sasang constitutional (SC) medicine, which categorizes individuals into one of three SC types (SC1, SC2, or SC3) for medical care. The FTPs ran 11 sessions over 11 weeks. We recruited 29/31/28 participants who were 65 years of age or older for the BP/WP/control groups, respectively; obtained electrophysiological measurements via electroencephalogram (EEG), heart rate variability (HRV), and bioimpedance; and analyzed the intervention effects with analysis of covariance. Compared with the control, the BP and WP resulted in benefits for neural activity and parasympathetic nervous activity (PNA), respectively, and both FTPs yielded distinct beneficial effects on bioimpedance. Constitution-specific effects were also present. The SC1- and SC2-type participants gained positive effects in neural activity from the BP and WP, respectively. The SC3-type participants showed improvements in PNA from the WP. In conclusion, for older individuals, both programs conferred health benefits that would help prevent dementia, and the benefits were program-specific and constitution-specific.

Improvements in Phase Angle Are Related With Muscle Quality Index After Resistance Training in Older Women

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between muscle quality index (MQI) and phase angle (PhA) after a program of progressive resistance training (RT) in older women. Sixty-six older women with previous RT experience (68.8 ± 4.6 years, 156.6 ± 5.3 cm, 66.0 ± 13.0 kg, and 26.7 ± 4.6 kg/m2) underwent 12 weeks of RT (3 ×/week, eight exercises, and 10-15 repetition maximum). Anthropometry, muscular strength (one-repetition maximum tests), and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and spectral bioimpedance) were measured pre- and posttraining. There were observed significant increases for PhA, MQI, muscular strength, muscle mass, and reactance, whereas no significant changes in body fat and resistance were found. A significant correlation was observed between the RT-induced relative changes in PhA and MQI (r = .620). We conclude that improvements in MQI induced by RT are associated with increases in PhA. Therefore, PhA may be a valid tool to track changes in MQI after 12 weeks of RT in older women.

Impact of 5-week high-intensity interval training on indices of cardio metabolic health in men

PURPOSE

To compare the acute and chronic effects of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on indices of cardio-metabolic health: (HDL-c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, heart ratio, and phase angle/PhA) in physically active men.

METHODS

Twenty active men were randomly allocated to HIIT (n = 10), or MICT (n = 10) for 5 weeks, three times per week. HIIT consisted of running 5 km with 1-min at 100% of maximal aerobic speed interspersed by 1-min passive recovery while subjects in MICT group ran continuously the same 5 km at 70% of maximal aerobic speed. Blood samples were collected at different moments during the first and last exercise session. Before and after 5 weeks of both exercise training protocols, heart ratio (during exercise session) and PhA were measured pre and post-exercise training.

RESULTS

Fasting HDL-c levels did not change after 5 weeks of HIIT or MICT. Perceptual variation of HDL pre and post training (fed state) tended to differ between HIIT and MICT (p = 0.09). All lipoproteins parameters (HDL-c, total cholesterol, triglycerides and non-HDL) were increased in post-acute exercise session compared to pre-exercise during the first and last training session, these being observed after both training protocols. PhA and heart rate measured at different times during the first and last training session were not affected in both training protocols.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that HIIT and MICT modify the post-exercise lipoprotein profile acutely. On the other hand, only HIIT tended to increase HDL-c levels chronically.

Phase Angle Is Moderately Associated With Muscle Quality and Functional Capacity, Independent of Age and Body Composition in Older Women

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is a growing body of evidence indicating that phase angle (PhA) can be used as an indicator of nutritional status, disease prognosis, and mortality risk; however, it is still unknown whether PhA can be used as an explanator of functional capacity and muscle quality in older women. The main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore whether PhA is associated with muscle quality and functional capacity in older women, regardless of total and regional body composition.

METHODS

A total of 125 older women-66.7 (4.7) years; 65.6 (10.9) kg body mass; 156.1 (5.2) cm height; 26.9 (4.0) kg/m body mass index-participated in this study. Anthropometric, PhA, body composition (whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) and muscle quality (defined as total muscular strength per kilogram of appendicular lean soft tissue) were measured. The functional capacity was assessed by 4 tests: 10-m walk test, rising from sitting position, rising from ventral decubitus position, and rising from a chair and walking around the house. The summing z-scores for the 4 tests was used as a continuous functional capacity score. Linear regression analysis was conducted to test whether PhA is related to the dependent variables (muscle quality and functional capacity), after adjusting for potential covariates.

RESULTS

The PhA presented a small-to-moderate relationship with muscle quality (r = 0.27; P < .01) and functional capacity (r = 0.31; P < .01), respectively. These relationships remained significant after adjustment for age, lower limb lean soft tissue, and total fat mass for muscle quality (β= 0.55; P < .01) and functional capacity (β= 1.38; P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that healthy elderly women with higher values of PhA have a better muscle quality and functionality, regardless of age and body composition.

Satiating Effect of High Protein Diets on Resistance-Trained Subjects in Energy Deficit

Short-term energy deficit strategies are practiced by weight class and physique athletes, often involving high protein intakes to maximize satiety and maintain lean mass despite a paucity of research. This study compared the satiating effect of two protein diets on resistance-trained individuals during short-term energy deficit. Following ethical approval, 16 participants (age: 28 ± 2 years; height: 1.72 ± 0.03 m; body-mass: 88.83 ± 5.54 kg; body-fat: 21.85 ± 1.82%) were randomly assigned to 7-days moderate (PRO_MOD: 1.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1) or high protein (PRO_HIGH: 2.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1) matched calorie-deficit diets in a cross-over design. Daily satiety responses were recorded throughout interventions. Pre-post diet, plasma ghrelin and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY), and satiety ratings were assessed in response to a protein-rich meal. Only perceived satisfaction was significantly greater following PRO_HIGH (67.29 ± 4.28 v 58.96 ± 4.51 mm, p = 0.04). Perceived cravings increased following PRO_MOD only (46.25 ± 4.96 to 57.60 ± 4.41 mm, p = 0.01). Absolute ghrelin concentration significantly reduced post-meal following PRO_MOD (972.8 ± 130.4 to 613.6 ± 114.3 pg·mL^-1; p = 0.003), remaining lower than PRO_HIGH at 2 h (-0.40 ± 0.06 v -0.26 ± 0.06 pg·mL^-1 normalized relative change; p = 0.015). Absolute PYY concentration increased to a similar extent post-meal (PRO_MOD: 84.9 ± 8.9 to 147.1 ± 11.9 pg·mL^-1, PRO_HIGH: 100.6 ± 9.5 to 143.3 ± 12.0 pg·mL^-1; p < 0.001), but expressed as relative change difference was significantly greater for PRO_MOD at 2 h (+0.39 ± 0.20 pg·mL^-1 v -0.28 ± 0.12 pg·mL^-1; p = 0.001). Perceived hunger, fullness and satisfaction post-meal were comparable between diets (p > 0.05). However, desire to eat remained significantly blunted for PRO_MOD (p = 0.048). PRO_HIGH does not confer additional satiating benefits in resistance-trained individuals during short-term energy deficit. Ghrelin and PYY responses to a test-meal support the contention that satiety was maintained following PRO_MOD, although athletes experiencing negative symptoms (i.e., cravings) may benefit from protein-rich meals as opposed to over-consumption of protein.

Isoflavone supplementation plus combined aerobic and resistance exercise do not change phase angle values in postmenopausal women: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of isoflavone supplementation plus combined exercise protocol on phase angle (PhA) values in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Thirty postmenopausal women were randomly assigned in a double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial divided into two groups: 100 mg/day of isoflavone supplementation (n = 16) and 100 mg/day of starch (placebo; n = 14). In addition, both groups performed a combined aerobic and resistance exercise during 10 weeks. Body composition and PhA were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance.

RESULTS

PhA values did not change in the isoflavone group (PRE: 6.7 ± 0.7° to POST: 6.7 ± 0.6°) and in the placebo group (PRE: 7.2 ± 1.0° to POST: 6.8 ± 0.5°); p group = 0.304, p time = 0.227, p group x time interaction = 0.137. Additionally, delta values were not different (0.04 ± 0.5° vs. -0.40 ± 0.99°; p = 0.176) between isoflavone and placebo groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that isoflavone supplementation plus combined aerobic and resistance exercise did not change PhA in postmenopausal women. The patients were part of ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03008785.

Correlations between resistance training-induced changes on phase angle and biochemical markers in older women

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of resistance training (RT) on phase angle (PhA), inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, and to evaluate whether these RT-induced adaptations are related to PhA changes. Fifty-one older women (70.6 ± 5.1 years; 26.9 ± 4.2 kg/m² ) were randomly allocated into a training group (TG) that performed 12-week RT or a nonexercising control group (CG). The PhA (Xitron), body composition (DXA), and blood sample measurements (after a 12 hours fast) were performed before and after the intervention. The TG showed a significant (P < .05) increase in PhA (TG: +7.4±5.9% vs CG: -3.6 ± 8.8%), and interleukin-10 (IL-10; TG: +51.8 ± 71.1% vs CG: -46.6 ± 38.0%), and a decrease in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α; TG: -15.2 ± 11.1% vs CG: +6.9±17.7%), interleukin-6 (IL-6; TG: -17.9 ± 17.8% vs CG: +6.1 ± 24.8%), and C-reactive protein (CRP; TG: -24.1 ± 19.9% vs CG: +43.8 ± 31.1%). Moreover, TG upregulated catalase (TG: +11.4 ± 15.0% vs CG: -6.7 ± 10.2%). Changes in TNF-α (r = -.71), CRP (r = -.65), lower advanced oxidation protein products (r = -.55), and catalase (r = +.73) after RT were correlated with changes in PhA (P < .05). These results suggest that RT improves PhA, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, and the changes in inflammatory and oxidative damage markers are correlated with changes in PhA.

The short-term effect of high versus moderate protein intake on recovery after strength training in resistance-trained individuals

Background

Dietary protein intakes up to 2.9 g.kg⁻¹.d⁻¹ and protein consumption before and after resistance training may enhance recovery, resulting in hypertrophy and strength gains. However, it remains unclear whether protein quantity or nutrient timing is central to positive adaptations. This study investigated the effect of total dietary protein content, whilst controlling for protein timing, on recovery in resistance trainees.

Methods

Fourteen resistance-trained individuals underwent two 10-day isocaloric dietary regimes with a protein content of 1.8 g.kg⁻¹.d⁻¹ (PRO_MOD) or 2.9 g.kg⁻¹.d⁻¹ (PRO_HIGH) in a randomised, counterbalanced, crossover design. On days 8–10 (T1-T3), participants undertook resistance exercise under controlled conditions, performing 3 sets of squat, bench press and bent-over rows at 80% 1 repetition maximum until volitional exhaustion. Additionally, participants consumed a 0.4 g.kg⁻¹ whey protein concentrate/isolate mix 30 min before and after exercise sessions to standardise protein timing specific to training. Recovery was assessed via daily repetition performance, muscle soreness, bioelectrical impedance phase angle, plasma creatine kinase (CK) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

Results

No significant differences were reported between conditions for any of the performance repetition count variables (p > 0.05). However, within PRO_MOD only, squat performance total repetition count was significantly lower at T3 (19.7 ± 6.8) compared to T1 (23.0 ± 7.5; p = 0.006). Pre and post-exercise CK concentrations significantly increased across test days (p ≤ 0.003), although no differences were reported between conditions. No differences for TNF-α or muscle soreness were reported between dietary conditions. Phase angle was significantly greater at T3 for PRO_HIGH (8.26 ± 0.82°) compared with PRO_MOD (8.08 ± 0.80°; p = 0.012).

Conclusions

When energy intake and peri-exercise protein intake was controlled for, a short term PRO_HIGH diet did not improve markers of muscle damage or soreness in comparison to a PRO_MOD approach following repeated days of intensive training. Whilst it is therefore likely that moderate protein intakes (1.8 g.kg⁻¹.d⁻¹) may be sufficient for resistance-trained individuals, it is noteworthy that both lower body exercise performance and bioelectrical phase angle were maintained with PRO_HIGH. Longer term interventions are warranted to determine whether PRO_MOD intakes are sufficient during prolonged training periods or when extensive exercise (e.g. training twice daily) is undertaken.