Intake of Pistachios as a Nighttime Snack Has Similar Effects on Short- and Longer-Term Glycemic Control Compared with Education to Consume 1-2 Carbohydrate Exchanges in Adults with Prediabetes: A 12-Wk Randomized Crossover Trial

BACKGROUND

Nut intake is associated with better glycemic control and lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It remains unclear if nut intake timing affects glycemic control and CVD risk factors. Intake of pistachios as a nighttime snack may attenuate morning glucose production and lower fasting plasma glucose (FPG).

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the effects of a nighttime (after dinner and before bedtime) pistachio snack (57 g/d) on glycemic control markers, vascular health, lipids/lipoproteins, and diet quality compared with education to consume 1-2 carbohydrate (CHO) exchanges (usual care) in individuals with prediabetes.

METHODS

A 2-period, randomized crossover trial was conducted. Participants were provided 57 g/d of dry roasted unsalted pistachios (319 kcal; fat 26 g; CHO 16 g; protein 12 g; fiber 6 g) as a nighttime snack or received usual care for 12 wk. Primary (FPG) and secondary outcomes [hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), lipids/lipoproteins, vascular health, and Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015)] were measured before and after each condition.

RESULTS

A total of 66 participants (50.9 ± 11.6 y, FPG: 106.2 ± 6.4 mg/dL) were randomly assigned, and 51 participants completed the trial. No between-condition differences in FPG {0.9 mg/dL [95% confidence interval (CI): -1.2, 3.1]}, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, lipids/lipoproteins, blood pressure, or vascular health were observed. The HEI-2015 score was higher after the pistachio condition [6.8 points (95% CI: 1.5, 12.1)] than after usual care driven by higher component scores for seafood and plant proteins [2.0 points (95% CI: 1.0, 2.9)], refined grains [2.3 points (95% CI: 1.1, 3.5)], and the fatty acid ratio [1.7 points (95% CI: 0.0, 3.5)].

CONCLUSIONS

In adults with prediabetes, consuming 57 g/d of pistachios as a nighttime snack increased diet quality but had similar effects on glycemic markers, lipids/lipoproteins, blood pressure, and vascular health compared with the usual care comparator. Pistachios may be a healthful alternative to carbohydrate-rich nighttime snacks to increase alignment with Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04056208.

The effect of cottonseed oil on lipids/lipoproteins: a systematic review and plasma cholesterol predictive equations estimations

CONTEXT

Cottonseed oil (CSO) is higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) than many liquid plant oils.

OBJECTIVES

To conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining effects of CSO on markers of lipid metabolism and evaluate lipid and lipoprotein effects of incorporating CSO into a healthy dietary pattern using regression equations.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search was conducted for RCTs comparing CSO with a non-CSO comparator in any population.

DATA ANALYSES

The Katan regression equation was used to predict lipid/lipoprotein changes when incorporating CSO into a US-style healthy eating pattern at 25 to 100% of the total oil allowance (ie, 27 g/2000 kcal) compared with average American intake (NHANES 2017 to 2020 pre-COVID pandemic).

RESULTS

In total, 3 eligible publications (n = 2 trials), with 58 participants that provided 44% and 30% of total energy as CSO, were included. Fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; ≈ -7.7 mg/dL) and triglycerides (≈ -7.5 mg/dL) were lower after 5 days of a CSO-enriched diet vs olive oil (OO). In a 56-day trial, CSO lowered total cholesterol (TC; ≈ -14.8 mg/dL), LDL-C (≈ -14.0 mg/dL), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (≈ -14.2 mg/dL) vs OO. Postprandially, angiopoietin-like protein-3, -4, and -8 concentrations decreased with CSO and increased with OO intake. Compared with average American intake, a healthy eating pattern with 27 g of CSO was estimated to lower TC (-8.1 mg/dL) and LDL-C (-7.3 mg/dL) levels, with minimal reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-1.1 mg/dL). Compared with the healthy eating pattern, incorporating 27 g of CSO was predicted to increase TC and LDL-C levels by 2.4 mg/dL.

CONCLUSION

Limited high-quality research suggests CSO may improve lipid/lipoprotein levels compared with OO. Cholesterol predictive equations suggest CSO can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern without significantly affecting lipids/lipoproteins.

Resistance Exercise Increases Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Markers of Gut Permeability, and Damage in Resistance-Trained Adults

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the influence of acute resistance exercise (RE) and biological sex on subjective gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, GI epithelial damage, and GI permeability in resistance-trained males and females.

METHODS

Thirty resistance-trained men ( n = 15) and women ( n = 15) completed an RE bout and a nonexercise control (CON) session in a randomized counterbalanced design. The RE protocol used a load of 70% one-repetition maximum for 4 sets of 10 repetitions with a 90-s rest period length between sets and a 120-s rest period between exercises (squat, seated shoulder press, deadlift, bent-over row, and leg press). Blood samples were collected before exercise (PRE), immediately postexercise (IP), and 15-, 30-, and 60-min postexercise. Participants completed GI symptom questionnaires to assess subjective GI symptoms PRE, IP, and 60-min postexercise. Blood samples were assayed to quantify small intestine damage (I-FABP) and GI permeability (lactulose-rhamnose [L/R] ratio). Data were analyzed via separate repeated-measures ANOVA, and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were completed via one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Participants reported greater GI symptoms in RE at IP compared with CON ( P < 0.001) with 70% of participants reporting at least one GI symptom with no differences between sexes. Nausea was the most reported GI symptom (63.3%), followed by vomiting (33.3%). I-FABP and L/R ratio did not exhibit differential responses between conditions. However, L/R ratio AUC was greater in males after RE than male CON ( P = 0.002) and both conditions for females ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, I-FABP AUC in the male RE condition was greater than both female conditions ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Resistance-trained individuals experience GI distress after RE, with males incurring the greatest increases in markers of GI damage and permeability.

Comparison of the lymphocyte response to interval exercise versus continuous exercise in recreationally trained men

The purpose of this investigation was to compare changes in circulating lymphocyte subset cell counts between high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), sprint interval exercise (SIE), and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE). Recreationally active men (n ​= ​11; age: 23 ​± ​4 ​yr; height: 179.9 ​± ​4.5 ​cm; body mass: 79.8 ​± ​8.7 ​kg; body fat %:12.6 ​± ​3.8%; V̇O2max: 46.6 ​± ​3.9 ​ml⋅kg-1⋅min-1) completed a maximal graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and three duration-matched cycling trials (HIIE, SIE, and MICE) in a randomized, counterbalanced fashion. HIIE consisted of fifteen 90-s bouts at 85% V̇O2max interspersed with 90-s active recovery periods. SIE consisted of fifteen 20-s bouts at 130% maximal power and 160-s active recovery periods. MICE was a continuous bout at 65% V̇O2max. Total exercise duration was 53 ​min in all three trials, including warm-up and cool-down. Blood was collected before, immediately post, 30 ​min, 2 ​h, 6 ​h, and 24 ​h post-exercise. Changes in lymphocyte subset counts, and surface expression of various markers were analyzed via flow cytometry. Changes were assessed using mixed model regression analysis with an autoregressive first order repeated measures correction. Significant decreases were observed in absolute counts of CD56dim NK cells, CD19+ B cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells 30 ​min and 24-h post-exercise in all three trials. Despite resulting in greater total work and oxygen consumption, MICE elicited similar changes in lymphocyte subset counts and receptor expression compared to both SIE and HIIE. Similarly, while the two interval trials resulted in differing oxygen consumption and total work, no differences in the lymphocyte response were observed. Though both forms of exercise resulted in declines in circulating lymphocyte cell counts, neither exercise type provides an immune-related advantage when matched for duration.

Influence of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Physical Performance and Body Composition Following Offseason Training in Division I Athletes

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation, in the form of red spinach extract (RSE), on adaptations to offseason training in collegiate athletes. Methods: Sixteen Division I male baseball athletes (20.5 ± 1.7y, 90.4 ± 0.5 kg) enrolled in this study and were randomized into a RSE (n = 8) or placebo (n = 8; PL) group. Athletes completed an 11-week resistance training program during the offseason, which consisted of 2-3 workouts per week of upper and lower-body exercises and baseball-specific training. Athletes consumed a RSE (2 g; 180 mg nitrate) or PL supplement daily for the entire offseason training program. Pre and post-training, all athletes underwent one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength testing for the bench press and completed a Wingate anaerobic cycle test (WAnT). Body composition analysis was completed via a 4-compartment model, as well as muscle thickness (MT) measurement of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) via ultrasonography. Resting heart rate and blood pressure (BP) were also obtained. Separate repeated measures analyses of variance were used to analyze all data. Results: Significant (p ≤ 0.05) main effects for time were observed for improved bench 1RM, fat-free mass, body fat percentage, RF MT, and VL MT. No significant group x time interactions (p > 0.05) were found for any measure of performance, body composition, or cardiovascular health. However, a trend for improved peak power in the WAnT was observed (p = 0.095; η²=0.200). Conclusions: These data suggest that daily RSE supplementation had no effect on performance, body composition, or cardiovascular measures in male Division I baseball players following offseason training.

Measurement of the ratio of the numu charged-current single-pion production to quasielastic scattering with a 0.8 GeV neutrino beam on mineral oil

Using high statistics samples of charged-current numu interactions, the MiniBooNE [corrected] Collaboration reports a measurement of the single-charged-pion production to quasielastic cross section ratio on mineral oil (CH2), both with and without corrections for hadron reinteractions in the target nucleus. The result is provided as a function of neutrino energy in the range 0.4 GeV<Enu<2.4 GeV with 11% precision in the region of highest statistics. The results are consistent with previous measurements and the prediction from historical neutrino calculations.

Search for muon neutrino and antineutrino disappearance in MiniBooNE

The MiniBooNE Collaboration reports a search for nu_{micro} and nu[over]_{micro} disappearance in the Deltam;{2} region of 0.5-40 eV;{2}. These measurements are important for constraining models with extra types of neutrinos, extra dimensions, and CPT violation. Fits to the shape of the nu_{micro} and nu[over]_{micro} energy spectra reveal no evidence for disappearance at the 90% confidence level (C.L.) in either mode. The test of nu[over]_{micro} disappearance probes a region below Deltam;{2} = 40 eV;{2} never explored before.

Measurement of numicro and nue events in an off-axis horn-focused neutrino beam

We report the first observation of off-axis neutrino interactions in the MiniBooNE detector from the NuMI beam line at Fermilab. The MiniBooNE detector is located 745 m from the NuMI production target, at 110 mrad angle (6.3 degrees) with respect to the NuMI beam axis. Samples of charged-current quasielastic numicro and nue interactions are analyzed and found to be in agreement with expectation. This provides a direct verification of the expected pion and kaon contributions to the neutrino flux and validates the modeling of the NuMI off-axis beam.

Unexplained excess of electronlike events from a 1-GeV neutrino beam

The MiniBooNE Collaboration observes unexplained electronlike events in the reconstructed neutrino energy range from 200 to 475 MeV. With 6.46x10;{20} protons on target, 544 electronlike events are observed in this energy range, compared to an expectation of 415.2+/-43.4 events, corresponding to an excess of 128.8+/-20.4+/-38.3 events. The shape of the excess in several kinematic variables is consistent with being due to either nu_{e} and nu[over ]_{e} charged-current scattering or nu_{mu} neutral-current scattering with a photon in the final state. No significant excess of events is observed in the reconstructed neutrino energy range from 475 to 1250 MeV, where 408 events are observed compared to an expectation of 385.9+/-35.7 events.

Measurement of muon neutrino quasielastic scattering on carbon

The observation of neutrino oscillations is clear evidence for physics beyond the standard model. To make precise measurements of this phenomenon, neutrino oscillation experiments, including MiniBooNE, require an accurate description of neutrino charged current quasielastic (CCQE) cross sections to predict signal samples. Using a high-statistics sample of nu_(mu) CCQE events, MiniBooNE finds that a simple Fermi gas model, with appropriate adjustments, accurately characterizes the CCQE events observed in a carbon-based detector. The extracted parameters include an effective axial mass, M_(A)(eff)=1.23+/-0.20 GeV, that describes the four-momentum dependence of the axial-vector form factor of the nucleon, and a Pauli-suppression parameter, kappa=1.019+/-0.011. Such a modified Fermi gas model may also be used by future accelerator-based experiments measuring neutrino oscillations on nuclear targets.

Search for electron neutrino appearance at the Delta m2 approximately 1 eV2 scale

The MiniBooNE Collaboration reports first results of a search for nu e appearance in a nu mu beam. With two largely independent analyses, we observe no significant excess of events above the background for reconstructed neutrino energies above 475 MeV. The data are consistent with no oscillations within a two-neutrino appearance-only oscillation model.