Increases in ghrelin and decreases in leptin without altering adiponectin during extreme weight loss in male competitive bodybuilders

Association between Low Energy Availability (LEA) and Impaired Sleep Quality in Young Rugby Players

Low energy availability (LEA) has been associated with several physiological consequences, but its impact on sleep has not been sufficiently investigated, especially in the context of young athletes. This study examined the potential association between energy availability (EA) status and objective sleep quality in 42 male rugby players (mean age: 16.2 ± 0.8 years) during a 7-day follow-up with fixed sleep schedules in the midst of an intensive training phase. Participants' energy intake was weighed and recorded. Exercise expenditure was estimated using accelerometry. Portable polysomnography devices captured sleep on the last night of the follow-up. Mean EA was 29.3 ± 9.14 kcal·kg FFM-1·day-1, with 47.6% of athletes presenting LEA, 35.7% Reduced Energy Availability (REA), and 16.7% Optimal Energy Availability (OEA). Lower sleep efficiency (SE) and N3 stage proportion, along with higher wake after sleep onset (WASO), were found in participants with LEA compared to those with OEA (p = 0.04, p = 0.03 and p = 0.005, respectively, with large effect sizes). Segmented regression models of the EA-sleep outcomes (SE, sleep onset latency [SOL]), WASO and N3) relationships displayed two separate linear regions and produced a best fit with a breakpoint between 21-33 kcal·kg FFM-1·day-1. Below these thresholds, sleep quality declines considerably. It is imperative for athletic administrators, nutritionists, and coaches to conscientiously consider the potential impact of LEA on young athletes' sleep, especially during periods of heavy training.

2023 International Olympic Committee's (IOC) consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) was first introduced in 2014 by the International Olympic Committee's expert writing panel, identifying a syndrome of deleterious health and performance outcomes experienced by female and male athletes exposed to low energy availability (LEA; inadequate energy intake in relation to exercise energy expenditure). Since the 2018 REDs consensus, there have been >170 original research publications advancing the field of REDs science, including emerging data demonstrating the growing role of low carbohydrate availability, further evidence of the interplay between mental health and REDs and more data elucidating the impact of LEA in males. Our knowledge of REDs signs and symptoms has resulted in updated Health and Performance Conceptual Models and the development of a novel Physiological Model. This Physiological Model is designed to demonstrate the complexity of either problematic or adaptable LEA exposure, coupled with individual moderating factors, leading to changes in health and performance outcomes. Guidelines for safe and effective body composition assessment to help prevent REDs are also outlined. A new REDs Clinical Assessment Tool-Version 2 is introduced to facilitate the detection and clinical diagnosis of REDs based on accumulated severity and risk stratification, with associated training and competition recommendations. Prevention and treatment principles of REDs are presented to encourage best practices for sports organisations and clinicians. Finally, methodological best practices for REDs research are outlined to stimulate future high-quality research to address important knowledge gaps.

Alterations in Measures of Body Composition, Neuromuscular Performance, Hormonal Levels, Physiological Adaptations, and Psychometric Outcomes during Preparation for Physique Competition: A Systematic Review of Case Studies

The present paper aimed to systematically review case studies on physique athletes to evaluate longitudinal changes in measures of body composition, neuromuscular performance, chronic hormonal levels, physiological adaptations, and psychometric outcomes during pre-contest preparation. We included studies that (1) were classified as case studies involving physique athletes during the pre-contest phase of their competitive cycle; (2) involved adults (18+ years of age) as participants; (3) were published in an English-language peer-reviewed journal; (4) had a pre-contest duration of at least 3 months; (5) reported changes across contest preparation relating to measures of body composition (fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density), neuromuscular performance (strength and power), chronic hormonal levels (testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, leptin, and ghrelin), physiological adaptations (maximal aerobic capacity, resting energy expenditure, heart rate, blood pressure, menstrual function, and sleep quality), and/or psychometric outcomes (mood states and food desire). Our review ultimately included 11 case studies comprising 15 ostensibly drug-free athletes (male = 8, female = 7) who competed in various physique-oriented divisions including bodybuilding, figure, and bikini. The results indicated marked alterations across the array of analyzed outcomes, sometimes with high inter-individual variability and divergent sex-specific responses. The complexities and implications of these findings are discussed herein.

Body Composition of Competitive Bodybuilders: A Systematic Review of Published Data and Recommendations for Future Work

ABSTRACT

Bauer, P, Majisik, A, Mitter, B, Csapo, R, Tschan, H, Hume, P, Martínez-Rodríguez, A, and Makivic, B. Body composition of competitive bodybuilders: a systematic review of published data and recommendations for future work. J Strength Cond Res 37(3): 726-732, 2023-The purpose of this review was to systematically summarize studies measuring the body composition of competitive bodybuilding athletes to provide recommended values for preparation and during competition. The protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO (CRD42020197921) and followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. A search of 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, CINAHL, and Scopus) was conducted to retrieve all relevant publications from January 1, 2000, up to June 13, 2021. Of 16 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, 6 presented longitudinal data on competition preparation and were discussed in detail. In the general preparation phase, body fat levels of bodybuilding athletes ranged between 15.3 and 25.2% (female) and from 9.6 to 16.3% (male). Close to competition, however, body fat levels were substantially lower, ranging from 8.1 to 18.3% for female and 5.8-10.7% for male athletes. All studies comparing relative body fat values at various time points during competition preparation found significant reductions between 30 and 60% in relative body fat, whereas lean mass was mostly maintained. Findings from the studies included in this review suggest that most bodybuilding competitors keep resistance training volume high while increasing aerobic training volume when preparing for competition. Findings on energy intake and macronutrient distribution were unclear and should be addressed in future studies. Further research, especially on contest preparation, is warranted and should include more details about training programs, nutritional strategies, psychosocial situation, anabolic androgen steroid, and supplement use as well as measurement protocols and preparation.

Effects of repeated use of a commercial topical lotion on subcutaneous fat thickness in resistance-trained male athletes

This study tested whether subcutaneous fat loss is enhanced via application of a popular topical fat loss lotion. Twenty resistance-trained men (mean ± SD age of 26.3 ± 6.3 years and weight of 86.8 ± 11.1 kg) had a topical fat-loss lotion containing Coleus forskholii, Silybin, Eucommia ulmoides leaf, Paullinia cupana seed, caffeine, and black pepper essential oil applied twice daily for 8 weeks to the front and lateral thigh of one of the participant's leg, and a placebo control lotion was applied to the same sites on the other leg. After 8 weeks, there were no significant differences between the placebo and treatment legs for the change in subcutaneous fat thickness of the front thigh (p = 0.73) or for leg fat percentage (p = 0.52). However, there was a slight, yet significant difference in the change in subcutaneous fat thickness of the lateral thigh favoring the treatment leg (-0.42 vs +0.75 mm, p = 0.029), but with this difference disappearing depending on the statistical tests being used. Only 2/19 participants perceived a difference in fat loss in response to each condition. Although the topical lotion tested here resulted in statistically significantly greater subcutaneous fat loss at the lateral but not front thigh, this effect was very small, contingent upon the statistical test being used, and unperceivable by the participants themselves.

Gastrointestinal Hormones, Morphological Characteristics, and Physical Performance in Elite Soccer Players

PURPOSE

To determine the relationship between gastrointestinal hormones (leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1), ghrelin, cholecystokinin, peptide YY, morphological characteristics, and physical performances in elite soccer players.

METHODS

Q2 Twenty-two elite male soccer players (age = 23.1 [2.7] y, height = 177.0 [0.1] cm, weight = 70.2 [2.9] kg, body mass index = 22.1 [1.8] kg/m2) completed 3-day food records each week during the 5-week training period. Blood samples were drawn after an overnight fast before and after preseason training to assess gastrointestinal hormones (leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1, ghrelin, cholecystokinin, and peptide YY). Continuous analysis of the training load was used during the training period. Preintervention and postintervention tests assessed jumping (countermovement jump), sprinting (10, 20, and 30 m), and endurance fitness (the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 [YYIRT1]) levels.

RESULTS

Preseason training decreased body mass index (P = .001; effect size [ES] = 0.183) and body fat percentage (P = .001; ES = 0.516). There were increases in countermovement jump (P = .032; ES = 0.215), 20- (P = .016; ES = 0.195) and 30-m sprints (P = .001; ES = 0.188), and YYIRT1 performance (P = .001; ES = 0.9). Levels of cholecystokinin, peptide YY, and ghrelin did not change during preseason training, although changes in leptin (P = .001; ES = 0.41) and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels (P = .039; ES = 0.606) were recorded. Leptinemia correlated with anthropometric parameters (body mass index, r = .77, P = .001; percentage of body fat,r = .67, P = .006) and the total distance covered during the YYIRT1 (r = -.54; P = .03).

CONCLUSION

Changes in morphological parameters and physical performance in elite-level male soccer players are related to variations in selected gastrointestinal hormones.

Lean mass sparing in resistance-trained athletes during caloric restriction: the role of resistance training volume

Many sports employ caloric restriction (CR) to reduce athletes’ body mass. During these phases, resistance training (RT) volume is often reduced to accommodate recovery demands. Since RT volume is a well-known anabolic stimulus, this review investigates whether a higher training volume helps to spare lean mass during CR. A total of 15 studies met inclusion criteria. The extracted data allowed calculation of total tonnage lifted (repetitions × sets × intensity load) or weekly sets per muscle group for only 4 of the 15 studies, with RT volume being highly dependent on the examined muscle group as well as weekly training frequency per muscle group. Studies involving high RT volume programs (≥ 10 weekly sets per muscle group) revealed low-to-no (mostly female) lean mass loss. Additionally, studies increasing RT volume during CR over time appeared to demonstrate no-to-low lean mass loss when compared to studies reducing RT volume. Since data regarding RT variables applied were incomplete in most of the included studies, evidence is insufficient to conclude that a higher RT volume is better suited to spare lean mass during CR, although data seem to favor higher volumes in female athletes during CR. Moreover, the data appear to suggest that increasing RT volume during CR over time might be more effective in ameliorating CR-induced atrophy in both male and female resistance-trained athletes when compared to studies reducing RT volume. The effects of CR on lean mass sparing seem to be mediated by training experience, pre-diet volume, and energy deficit, with, on average, women tending to spare more lean mass than men. Potential explanatory mechanisms for enhanced lean mass sparing include a preserved endocrine milieu as well as heightened anabolic signaling.

A 1-week diet break improves muscle endurance during an intermittent dieting regime in adult athletes: A pre-specified secondary analysis of the ICECAP trial

Athletes undergoing energy restriction for weight/fat reduction sometimes apply ‘diet breaks’ involving increased energy intake, but there is little empirical evidence of effects on outcomes. Twenty-six resistance-trained athletes (11/26 or 42% female) who had completed 12 weeks of intermittent energy restriction participated in this study. Participants had a mean (SD) age of 29.3 (6.4) years, a weight of 72.7 (15.9) kg, and a body fat percentage of 21.3 (7.5) %. During the 1-week diet break, energy intake was increased (by means of increased carbohydrate intake) to predicted weight maintenance requirements. While the 1-week diet break had no significant effect on fat mass, it led to small but significant increases in mean body weight (0.6 kg, P<0.001), fat-free mass (0.7 kg, P<0.001) and in resting energy expenditure, from a mean (and 95% confidence interval) of 7000 (6420 to 7580) kJ/day to 7200 (6620 to 7780) kJ/day (P = 0.026). Overall, muscle endurance in the legs (but not arms) improved after the diet break, including significant increases in the work completed by the quadriceps and hamstrings in a maximum-effort 25-repetition set, with values increasing from 2530 (2170 to 2890) J to 2660 (2310 to 3010) J (P = 0.018) and from 1280 (1130 to 1430) J to 1380 (1220 to 1540) J (P = 0.018) following the diet break, respectively. However, muscle strength did not change. Participants reported significantly lower sensations of hunger (P = 0.017), prospective consumption (P = 0.020) and irritability (P = 0.041) after the diet break, and significantly higher sensations of fullness (P = 0.002), satisfaction (P = 0.002), and alertness (P = 0.003). In summary, a 1-week diet break improved muscle endurance in the legs and increased mental alertness, and reduced appetite and irritability. With this considered, it may be wise for athletes to coordinate diet breaks with training sessions that require muscle endurance of the legs and/or mental focus, as well as in the latter parts of a weight loss phase when increases in appetite might threaten dietary adherence. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Reference Number: ACTRN12618000638235 anzctr.org.au.

A new action of peptide hormones for survival in a low-nutrient environment

Malnutrition occurs when nutrient intake is too low for any reason and occurs regardless of gender or age. Therefore, besides loss of eating or digestive functionality due to illness, malnutrition can occur when a healthy individual undergoes an extreme diet and biases their nutrition, or when athletes exerts more energy than they can replenish through food. It has recently been reported that in Japan, the mortality rate of leaner individuals is equal to or higher than that of obese people. It is important to understand what homeostatic maintenance mechanism is behind this when the body is under hypotrophic conditions. Such mechanisms are generally endocranially controlled. We address this fundamental concern in this paper by focusing on peptide hormones. We introduce a mechanism for survival in a malnourished state via the regulation of food intake and temperature. Additionally, we will discuss the latest findings and future prospects for research on changes in the endocrine environment associated with malnutrition associated with exercise. We also review changes in next-generation endocrine environments when caused by malnutrition brought on by dieting.

Intermittent Dieting: Theoretical Considerations for the Athlete

Athletes utilise numerous strategies to reduce body weight or body fat prior to competition. The traditional approach requires continuous energy restriction (CER) for the entire weight loss phase (typically days to weeks). However, there is some suggestion that intermittent energy restriction (IER), which involves alternating periods of energy restriction with periods of greater energy intake (referred to as ‘refeeds’ or ‘diet breaks’) may result in superior weight loss outcomes than CER. This may be due to refeed periods causing transitory restoration of energy balance. Some studies indicate that intermittent periods of energy balance during energy restriction attenuate some of the adaptive responses that resist the continuation of weight and fat loss. While IER—like CER—is known to effectively reduce body fat in non-athletes, evidence for effectiveness of IER in athletic populations is lacking. This review provides theoretical considerations for successful body composition adjustment using IER, with discussion of how the limited existing evidence can be cautiously applied in athlete practice.

Anti-obesity effect of ethanolic extract from Cosmos caudatus Kunth leaf in lean rats fed a high fat diet

Background

Obesity is a major health concern both in developed and developing countries. The use of herbal medicines became the subject of interest for the management of obesity due to its natural origin, cost effectiveness and minimal side effects. The present study aimed at investigating anti-obesity potential of ethanolic extract from Cosmos caudatus Kunth leaf (EECCL).

Methods

In this study, the rats were randomly divided into six groups i.e., (1) Normal Diet (ND); (2) Normal Diet and 175 mg/kgBW of EECCL (ND + 175 mg/kgBW); (3) Normal Diet and 350 mg/kgBW of EECCL (ND + 350 mg/kgBW); (4) High Fat Diet (HFD); (5) High Fat Diet and 175 mg/kgBW of EECCL (HFD + 175 mg/kgBW); (6) High Fat Diet and 350 mg/kgBW of EECCL (HFD + 350 mg/kgBW). The anti-obesity potential was evaluated through analyses of changes in body weight, visceral fat weight, and blood biochemicals including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), leptin, insulin, adiponectin, ghrelin and fecal fat content. In addition, metabolite profiling of EECCL was carried out using NMR spectroscopy.

Results

Rats receiving EECCL together with HFD showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in body weight gain compared to rats receiving HFD only. At the end of study, the body weight gain of EECCL treated rats was not significantly (p > 0.05) different with those of ND rats. Other related obesity biomarkers including plasma lipid profiles, insulin, leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin levels also showed significant improvement (p < 0.05). Administration of EECCL caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in fecal fat excretion, which validates the hypothesis of lipase inhibition, an anti-obesity mechanism similar to standard drug of Orlistat. The ¹H-NMR spectra of EECCL ascertained the presence of catechin, quercetin, rutin, kaempherol and chlorogenic acid in the extract.

Conclusion

Conclusively, EECCL showed anti-obesity properties by inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption and modulation of adipocytes markers.

Metabolic adaptation to weight loss: implications for the athlete

Optimized body composition provides a competitive advantage in a variety of sports. Weight reduction is common among athletes aiming to improve their strength-to-mass ratio, locomotive efficiency, or aesthetic appearance. Energy restriction is accompanied by changes in circulating hormones, mitochondrial efficiency, and energy expenditure that serve to minimize the energy deficit, attenuate weight loss, and promote weight regain. The current article reviews the metabolic adaptations observed with weight reduction and provides recommendations for successful weight reduction and long term reduced-weight maintenance in athletes.

Natural bodybuilding competition preparation and recovery: a 12-month case study

Bodybuilding is a sport in which competitors are judged on muscular appearance. This case study tracked a drug-free male bodybuilder (age 26-27 y) for the 6 mo before and after a competition.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to provide the most comprehensive physiological profile of bodybuilding competition preparation and recovery ever compiled.

METHODS

Cardiovascular parameters, body composition, strength, aerobic capacity, critical power, mood state, resting energy expenditure, and hormonal and other blood parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

Heart rate decreased from 53 to 27 beats/min during preparation and increased to 46 beats/min within 1 mo after competition. Brachial blood pressure dropped from 132/69 to 104/56 mmHg during preparation and returned to 116/64 mmHg at 6 mo after competition. Percent body fat declined from 14.8% to 4.5% during preparation and returned to 14.6% during recovery. Strength decreased during preparation and did not fully recover during 6 months of recovery. Testosterone declined from 9.22 to 2.27 ng/mL during preparation and returned back to the baseline level, 9.91 ng/mL, after competition. Total mood disturbance increased from 6 to 43 units during preparation and recovered to 4 units 6 mo after competition.

CONCLUSIONS

This case study provides a thorough documentation of the physiological changes that occurred during natural bodybuilding competition and recovery.

The effect of 4-week training period on plasma neuropeptide Y, leptin and ghrelin responses in male rowers

The aim was to investigate the effect of high-volume low intensity resistance training protocol combined with endurance training on plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentration in rowers. Additionally, leptin and ghrelin, as markers for body energy balance concentrations, were monitored. 12 highly trained national and international level male rowers participated in this study. The participants were tested three times--after reference week (T1), after 2 weeks of high-volume training (T2) and after a recovery week (T3) for aerobic performance, energy intake and expenditure, and blood biochemical parameters. The submaximal rowing performance decreased significantly (P = 0.019) at T2. Fasting leptin decreased significantly (from 2.05 ± 0.88 to 1.28 ± 0.53 ng/mL; P = 0.009) at T2 and increased significantly (from 1.28 ± 0.53 to 1.79 ± 0.79 ng/mL; P = 0.002) at T3. Fasting ghrelin decreased significantly (from 980 ± 300.2 to 873.35 ± 198.6 pg/mL; P = 0.036) at T3 compared to T2, while no changes were found in fasting NPY. Significant decreases in exercise-induced leptin were observed at T2 (from 1.13 ± 0.5 to 1.08 ± 0.5 ng/mL; P = 0.012), PRE and POST test leptin values at T2 were significantly decreased compared to T1(1.40 ± 0.9 to 1.13 ± 0.5 and 1.44 ± 0.8 to 1.08 ± 0.5, respectively). Acute exercise-induced increases in NPY were found at T2 (from 128.1 ± 23.2 to 155.1 ± 28.9 pmol/L; P = 0.002) and at T3 (from 131.3 ± 20.5 to 159.7 ± 32.8 pmol/L, P = 0.004). In conclusion, the combination of high-volume training protocol and energy imbalance induces significant post-exercise changes in NPY, leptin, and ghrelin concentrations and decreases fasting leptin.

Concentrações sanguíneas de adiponectina e exercício físico: associações com a sensibilidade insulínica

O objetivo desta revisão foi apresentar e discutir a influência do exercício físico nas concentrações sanguíneas de adiponectina e a associação com a sensibilidade insulínica. Estudos realizados nos últimos 10 anos mostram que o exercício agudo, de intensidade alta, provoca redução nas concentrações sanguíneas de adiponectina, sem alterar as concentrações de insulina. Porém, exercícios agudos de intensidade moderada não alteram as concentrações sanguíneas de adiponectina, apesar de proporcionar melhoria na sensibilidade insulínica. O exercício crônico, por sua vez, aumenta os níveis sanguíneos de adiponectina, melhora a sensibilidade insulínica, mas altera a composição corporal em indivíduos obesos. Em indivíduos eutróficos, todavia, os níveis de adiponectina não são afetados, apesar dos benefícios do exercício crônico para a composição corporal e sensibilidade insulínica.

Problems in identifying predictors and correlates of weight loss and maintenance: implications for weight control therapies based on behaviour change

Weight management is a dynamic process, with a pre-treatment phase, a treatment (including process) phase and post-treatment maintenance, and where relapse is possible during both the treatment and maintenance. Variability in the statistical power of the studies concerned, heterogeneity in the definitions, the complexity of obesity and treatment success, the constructs and measures used to predict weight loss and maintenance, and an appreciation of who and how many people achieve it, make prediction difficult. In models of weight loss or maintenance: (i) predictors explain up to 20-30% of the variance; (ii) many predictors are the sum of several small constituent variables, each accounting for a smaller proportion of the variance; (iii) correlational or predictive relationships differ across study populations; (iv) inter-individual variability in predictors and correlates of outcomes is high and (v) most of the variance remains unexplained. Greater standardization of predictive constructs and outcome measures, in more clearly defined study populations, tracked longitudinally, is needed to better predict who sustains weight loss. Treatments need to develop a more individualized approach that is sensitive to patients' needs and individual differences, which requires measuring and predicting patterns of intra-individual behaviour variations associated weight loss and its maintenance. This information will help people shape behaviour change solutions to their own lifestyle needs.

Peripheral signals of energy homeostasis as possible markers of training stress in athletes: a review

The importance of physical exercise in regulating energy balance and ultimately body mass is widely recognized. There have been several investigative efforts in describing the regulation of the energy homeostasis. Important in this regulatory system is the existence of several peripheral signals that communicate the status of body energy stores to the hypothalamus including leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α--different cytokines and other peptides that affect energy homeostasis. In certain circumstances, all these peripheral signals may be used to reveal the condition of the athlete as the result of several months of prolonged exercise training. These hormone and cytokine concentrations characterize a physical stress condition in which different hormone and cytokine responses are apparently linked to changes in physical performance. The possibility to use these peripheral signals as markers of training stress (and possible overreaching/overtraining) in elite athletes should be considered. These measured hormone and cytokine levels could also be used to characterize the physical stress of single exercise session, as the hormone and cytokine response to exercise may actually be a response to the concurrent energy deficit. In summary, different peripheral signals of energy homeostasis may be sensitive to changes in specific training stress and may be useful for predicting the onset of possible overreaching/overtraining in athletes.

Energy-restricted high-fat diets only partially improve markers of systemic and adipose tissue inflammation

This study aimed at investigating whether the weight loss due to energy-restricted high-fat diets is accompanied with parallel improvements in metabolic markers and adipose tissue inflammation. Eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were given free access to a low-fat (LF) or a high-fat (45% of energy from fat-HF) diet for 6 months. Restricting intake of the HF diet by 30% (HFR) during the last 2 months of the HF feeding trial decreased fasting plasma insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA(IR)), and plasma triglyceride levels and improved hepatic steatosis compared to ad libitum HF feeding, indicating an improved metabolic profile. Further, analysis of gonadal white adipose tissue (GWAT) gene expression by microarray and quantitative PCR analyses demonstrated that HFR downregulated expression of genes linked to cell and focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation pathway. However, HFR had no effect on circulating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and nonesterified fatty acid levels, which were persistently higher in both HF and HFR groups compared to the LF group. Furthermore, HFR had a negative effect on plasma total adiponectin level. Finally, while HFR decreased GWAT monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and PAI-1 levels, it did not affect several other cytokines including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10. In summary, energy-restricted high-fat diets improve insulin sensitivity, while only partially improving markers of systemic and adipose tissue inflammation. In conclusion, our study supports the recommended low-fat intake for overall cardiovascular health.

Effects of acute ethionine injection on plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels in trained male rats

Ghrelin and obestatin are orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides, respectively, that are secreted from the stomach mucosa into the circulation. These peptides have opposing actions on food intake, weight gain, and adiposity. It is thought that ghrelin is sensitive to a negative energy environment and also plays a considerable role in short- and long-term energy balance and glucose homeostasis. It has been suggested that the levels of ghrelin and obestatin are upregulated by fasting, hypoglycemic status, and a physical-exercise-induced energy deficit. Ethionine (ETH), the ethyl analogue of methionine, has been shown to increase food intake, decrease adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and glycogen levels, and inhibit protein synthesis in the liver. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a single dose of ETH (0.7 mg/g of body weight) injection on resting plasma total ghrelin and obestatin concentrations in male trained rats. Thirty-two adult Wistar male rats weighing 180 to 200 g were randomly assigned to control (n = 16) and training (n =16) groups. The training group was exercised for 10 weeks (25 m/min, 0% grade, 60 minutes, and 5 d/wk). Seventy-two hours after the last exercise session, rats were injected with either saline (NaCl) or ETH and then killed. Ethionine compared with a NaCl injection resulted in significant (P < .013) reductions in resting hepatic ATP and glycogen levels, and in a significant (P < .001) increase in concentrations of plasma total ghrelin but not obestatin. The results indicate that ETH-induced liver ATP and glycogen deficiency could exert a powerful regulatory influence on plasma total ghrelin, but this is not the case for obestatin. Findings demonstrate the short-term energy-regulating capacity of ghrelin.

The effect of auricular acupuncture in obese women: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The aims of this randomized study are to examine the effect of auricular acupuncture on obese women and to explore the relationship between the effect of auricular acupuncture and obesity-related hormone peptides.

METHODS

Forty-five of 60 obese women aged between 16 and 65 years with body mass index (BMI) >27 kg/m2 and who had not received any other weight control maneuvers within the last 3 months completed this study. The subjects were blinded and randomly divided into groups A and B. Group A (n = 23) received auricular acupuncture, and group B (n = 22) received sham auricular acupuncture using placebo needles, twice each week for 6 weeks. The subjects' body weight (BW), BMI, waist circumference (WC), and obesity-related hormone peptides were measured at the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks of treatment. The data were compared and expressed as percent reductions.

RESULTS

This study found no statistical difference in percent reduction in BW, BMI, and WC between the group receiving 6 weeks of auricular acupuncture treatment and the control group. After treatment, group A revealed a significant increase in ghrelin level and decrease in leptin level. On the other hand, group B, who received sham auricular acupuncture, showed no significant difference in ghrelin and leptin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found no statistical difference in percent reduction in BW, BMI, and WC between the two groups. No adverse effects of short-term auricular acupuncture treatment were seen in the study. Auricular acupuncture may have potential benefit on obesity-related hormone peptides.