Sex Specific Differences in Response to Calorie Restriction in Skeletal Muscle of Young Rats

Effects of Different Caloric Restriction Patterns on Blood Pressure and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

CONTEXT

All types of caloric restriction are preventive against cardiovascular risk factors, but the best restriction method and most affected factors have not been identified.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of different caloric restriction methods on various cardiovascular risk factors by horizontally comparing program advantages and disadvantages via network meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase literature databases were searched (October 2013 to October 2023).

DATA EXTRACTION

Eligible randomized controlled trials involving participants who underwent caloric restriction and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level measurements were included.

DATA ANALYSIS

Thirty-six of 13 208 records (0.27%) were included. Two researchers reviewed the articles, extracted data, and assessed article quality.

RESULTS

Alternate-day fasting (ADF) reduced SBP (4.88 mmHg; CI, 2.06-7.15) and DBP (5.10 mmHg; CI, 2.44-7.76). Time-restricted eating reduced SBP (2.46 mmHg; CI, 0.16-4.76) but not DBP. Continuous energy restriction (CER) significantly reduced BMI (1.11 kg/m2; CI = 0.16, 2.06) and waist circumference (3.28 cm; CI, 0.62-5.94).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis confirmed the preventive effect of CER and ADF on various cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, CER is more likely to reduce obesity, and ADF is more likely to reduce blood pressure (BP). Based on this meta-analysis, CER is recommended to control obesity only for people who are obese and do not have elevated BP or other abnormal indicators. Additionally, ADF for early control or prevention is recommended for patients who have abnormal BP or other cardiovascular risk factors.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023455889.

The influence of biological sex in human skeletal muscle transcriptome during ageing

Sex is a crucial biological variable, and influence of biological sex on the change of gene expression in ageing skeletal muscle has not yet been fully revealed. In this study, the mRNA expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Key genes were identified by differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The gene set enrichment analysis software and Molecular Signatures Database were used for functional and enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using STRING and visualized in Cytoscape. The results were compared between female and male subgroups. Differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways in different sex subgroups shared only limited similarities. The pathways enriched in the female subgroup were more similar to the pathways enriched in the older groups without taking sex difference into consideration. The pathways enriched in the female subgroup were more similar to the pathways enriched in the older groups without taking sex difference into consideration. The muscle myosin filament pathways were downregulated in the both aged female and male samples whereas transforming growth factor beta pathway and extracellular matrix-related pathways were upregulated. With muscle ageing, the metabolism-related pathways, protein synthesis and degradation pathways, results of predicted immune cell infiltration, and gene cluster associated with slow-type myofibers drastically different between the female and male subgroups. This finding may indicate that changes in muscle type with ageing may differ between the sexes in vastus lateralis muscle.