Effect of Daily Avocado Consumption on Vascular Health in Adults With Abdominal Obesity: A Sub-Study of the Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial, a Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract Objectives To examine the effect of providing 1 avocado per day for consumption over a 6-month period on cardiovascular health compared to habitual dietary intake in individuals with abdominal obesity. Methods The Habitual diet and Avocado Trial (HAT), a multicenter parallel randomized controlled trial, included participants ≥25 years of age with an elevated waist circumference (≥88 cm women; ≥102 cm men). Participants were randomized to either an experimental group (AVO: consumed 1 avocado/day for 6 months) or a control group (HD: consumed < 2 avocados/month for 6 months). At the Pennsylvania State University, University Park (n = 126), vascular health was measured using a SphygmoCor XCEL (AtCor Medical) at baseline and at the end of the study period. Outcomes include central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), central diastolic blood pressure (cDBP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV), a marker of arterial stiffness. Mixed models were used to examine between-group differences in change across 6 months. Results The sample was 77% female (BMI 34 ± 4 kg/m2, waist circumference 105 ± 12 cm). No significant between-group differences in 6-month change were observed for cSBP (AVO: 1.06 mmHg 95% CI − 1.57, 3.69; HD: 0.35 mmHg 95% CI −2.26, 2.96; P = 0.62), cDBP (AVO: 0.07 mmHg 95% CI −1.82, 1.96; HD: −0.91 mmHg 95% CI − 2.79, 0.97; P = 0.34), or PWV (AVO: −0.18 m/s 95% CI −0.53, 0.17; HD: 0.08 m/s 95% CI −0.27, 0.43; P = 0.17). Conclusions Results suggest that providing adults with abdominal obesity 1 avocado per day to consume for 6 months is not associated with a statistically significant improvement in central blood pressure or PWV, compared to adults following their habitual diet. Additional research using larger samples and longer intervention periods is needed to clarify whether habitual avocado consumption yields clinically significant benefits to cardiovascular health. Funding Sources Hass Avocado Board and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health (1UL1TR002014-01).

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Effects of Supplementing the Usual Diet with a Daily Dose of Walnuts for Two Years on Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in an Elderly Cohort

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12020451 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 451 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ahmed Al Abdrabalnabi ◽

Sujatha Rajaram ◽

Edward Bitok ◽

Keiji Oda ◽

W. Lawrence Beeson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Retention Rate ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Group Differences ◽

Control Group ◽

Habitual Diet ◽

Daily Dose ◽

Elderly Cohort ◽

And Control

Accumulating evidence links nut consumption with an improved risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, long-term trials are lacking. We examined the effects of a daily dose of walnuts for two years on MetS in a large elderly cohort. A total of 698 healthy elderly participants were randomly assigned to either a walnut supplemented or a control diet. The participants in the walnut group were provided with packaged walnuts (1, 1.5, or 2 oz. or ~15% of energy) and asked to incorporate them into their daily habitual diet. The participants in the control group were asked to continue with their habitual diet and abstain from eating walnuts and other tree nuts. Intake of n-3 fatty acid supplements was not permitted in either group. Fasting blood chemistries, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were obtained at baseline and at the end of intervention. A total of 625 participants (67% women, mean age 69.1 y) completed this two-year study (90% retention rate). Triglycerides decreased in both walnut (−0.94 mg/dl) and control (−0.96 mg/dl) groups, with no significant between-group differences. There was a non-significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the walnut group (−1.30 and −0.71 mm Hg, respectively) and no change in the control group. Fasting blood glucose decreased by ~1 point in both the walnut and control groups. There were no significant between-group differences in the development or reversion of MetS. In conclusion, supplementing the diet of older adults with a daily dose of walnuts had no effect on MetS status or any of its components, although the walnut group tended to have lower blood pressure.

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SMART goals setting and biometric changes in obese adults with multimorbidity: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/2050312119858042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 205031211985804

Author(s):

Paul Y Takahashi ◽

Stephanie M Quigg ◽

Ivana T Croghan ◽

Darrell R Schroeder ◽

Jon O Ebbert

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽

Randomized Controlled

Objectives: Clinicians recommend diet and exercise for overweight/obese patients. We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating goal setting and pedometer use versus usual care on weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure of patients with multiple chronic conditions. Methods: In this trial, we recruited and randomized patients over 18 years with multiple chronic conditions. There were two groups with an immediate intervention group who received behavioral coaching and a pedometer versus a delayed control who received the intervention after 2 months. We evaluated body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure as outcomes. We used analysis of covariance to evaluate differences between the intervention and the control groups. Results: Of 130 patients, mean age was 63.4 years (SD, 17.3). At 2 months, intervention participants lost 0.2 kg versus a 0.1-kg gain in the control participants ( P = .44). The immediate intervention group had significantly smaller waist circumference change at 2-month follow-up compared to control at −1.6 cm (95% confidence interval = −3.1 to −0.1), which was driven by an increase in waist circumference in the delayed control group. No difference in systolic blood pressure was observed. Discussion: We observed no difference in weight or blood pressure between the groups with obesity and multiple chronic conditions.

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Effectiveness of Abdominal and Gluteus Medius Training in Lumbo-Pelvic Stability and Adductor Strength in Female Soccer Players. A Randomized Controlled Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1528

Author(s):

Héctor Guerrero-Tapia ◽

Rodrigo Martín-Baeza ◽

Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Gluteus Medius ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Extrinsic Factors ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Limb Injuries ◽

Experimental Group

Background. Abdominal and lumbo-pelvic stability alterations may be the origin of lower limb injuries, such as adductor pathology in soccer players. Imbalance can be caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial over 8 weeks, 25 female footballers were randomly allocated to an experimental group (isometric abdominal training and gluteus medius-specific training) or a control group (isometric abdominal training). Evaluations were performed at baseline, at the end of the intervention and after a 4-week follow-up period. The exercise protocol in common for both groups included three exercises: Plank, Lateral plank and Bird dog. Specific exercises for the gluteus medius were: Pelvic drop and Stabilization of the gluteus medius in knee valgus. Outcome measures were lumbar-pelvic stability and adductor strength. Results: After the intervention, there was an increase in lumbo-pelvic stability in both groups, being greater in the control group than in the experimental group (mean differences [MD]: 4.84 vs. MD: 9.58; p < 0.01) with differences in the analysis of repeated measures (p < 0.001), but not in group interaction (p = 0.26). Changes were found in adductor strength in the experimental group (MD: −2.48; p < 0.001 in the left adductor; MD: −1.48; p < 0.01 in right adductor) and control group (MD: −1.68; p < 0.001 in the left adductor; MD: −2.05; p < 0.001 in the right adductor) after the intervention, with differences in the analysis of repeated measures in left (p < 0.001) and right (p < 0.001) adductor strength. Conclusions: An abdominal and gluteal training protocol shows no advantage over a protocol of abdominal training alone for lumbo-pelvic stability and adductor strength, while improvements in both variables are maintained at four weeks follow-up.

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Efficacy of axial TheraTogs on gait pattern in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy ◽

10.1186/s43161-021-00030-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shamekh Mohamed El-Shamy ◽

Ehab Mohamed Abd El Kafy

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Muscle Tone ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Gait Pattern ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Experimental Group

Abstract Background TheraTogs promotes proprioceptive sense of a child with cerebral palsy and improves abnormal muscle tone, posture alignment, balance, and gait. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of TheraTogs orthotic undergarment on gait pattern in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Thirty children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy were selected for this randomized controlled study. They were randomly assigned to (1) an experimental group that received TheraTogs orthotic undergarment (12 h/day, 3 days/week) plus traditional physical therapy for 3 successive months and (2) a control group that received only traditional physical therapy program for the same time period. Gait parameters were measured at baseline and after 3 months of intervention using Pro-Reflex motion analysis. Results Children in both groups showed significant improvements in the gait parameters (P < 0.05), with significantly greater improvements in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusions The use of TheraTogs may have a positive effect to improve gait pattern in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Trial registration This trial was registered in the ClinicalTrial.gov PRS (NCT03037697).

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Attendance, activation and health profiles of participants, a prospective study on a regional cardiometabolic disease self-management program in Laval, Canada

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10558-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Magali Girard ◽

Janusz Kaczorowski ◽

Marie-Thérèse Lussier ◽

Vivianne Martin

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Management Program ◽

Self Management ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Cardiometabolic Disease ◽

A Prospective Study

Abstract Background Chronic diseases are responsible for over 70% of all deaths globally. While some self-management programs have been shown to be efficacious in preventing or altering trajectories for some chronic conditions, scaling-up and sustaining such programs beyond tightly-controlled study conditions remain a major challenge. CISSS-Laval partnered with the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program team to co-develop Cible-santé/prévention and evaluate the first cohort of participants enrolled in the program, in order to better understand the program’s implementation and scope. The objective of the current study was to describe the profile of attendees and the level of engagement of participants in a new, region-wide cardiometabolic disease self-management program offered in Laval, Canada. Methods This was a prospective study with no comparison group. Potential participants were identified and referred to the program from April to December 2015 by their primary care health professional practicing in one of the city’s interdisciplinary primary care clinics. They had their blood pressure, waist circumference and body mass index measured by trained volunteers, and completed a questionnaire on health habits, level of activation and the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years. Results A descriptive analysis of the first cohort of 141 Cible-Santé/prévention participants showed very low attendance. Furthermore, only 1 in 10 of enrolled participants completed the full program. The program typically attracted adults with some risk factors associated with their conditions (high waist circumference, obesity), but with an already high level of knowledge, skills and confidence to participate in self-management activities. Conclusion This study provides a portrait of new participants to a self-management cardiometabolic disease program, which highlights the potential of supporting patients ready to make changes but also exposes the difficulty of attracting a larger number and diversity of participants and in encouraging completion of the program.

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Cardiovascular health indicators in soccer exercise during adolescence: systematic review

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2020-0301 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Heloyse Elaine Gimenes Nunes ◽

Evelinn Amarilha Faria ◽

Paula Felippe Martinez ◽

Silvio Assis de Oliveira-Júnior

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Longitudinal Design ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Blood Institute

Abstract This review analyzed the studies that evaluated cardiovascular health indicators (blood pressure, waist circumference, heart rate, glucose index and lipid blood) in recreational soccer players during adolescence, and identify possible associated factors. The search was performed in the electronic databases (PubMED, SciELO, LILACS, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science). Inclusion criteria were: population composed of children and/or adolescents (10–19 years or average age up to 19 years); studies adolescents engaged in recreational soccer regularly and observational studies with cross-sectional or longitudinal design. The process of analysis of studies involved reading titles, abstracts and full texts. After these phases, seven articles were eligible. Regarding the design, all studies were cross-sectional. Of the total studies included, five presented moderate methodological quality values and two presented low methodological quality values, according to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute instrument. The most cardiovascular health indicators used in recreational soccer players during adolescence was waist circumference; three studies analyzed heart rate, two evaluated blood pressure, one analyzed insulin resistance and none of the included studies analyzed lipid profile. Factors associated were analyzed in four studies, being that sedentary time and body mass index (BMI) present association with at least one indicator of cardiovascular health.

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Additional benefit of yoga to standard lifestyle modification on blood pressure in prehypertensive subjects: a randomized controlled study

Hypertension Research ◽

10.1038/hr.2014.126 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 48-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Ramkumar Thiyagarajan ◽

Pravati Pal ◽

Gopal Krushna Pal ◽

Senthil Kumar Subramanian ◽

Madanmohan Trakroo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Additional Benefit ◽

Randomized Controlled Study ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Randomized Controlled

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Effect of dietary sodium restriction on body water, blood pressure, and inflammation in hemodialysis patients: a prospective randomized controlled study

International Urology and Nephrology ◽

10.1007/s11255-013-0382-6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 91-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Lidiane Silva Rodrigues Telini ◽

Gabriela de Carvalho Beduschi ◽

Jacqueline Costa Teixeira Caramori ◽

João Henrique Castro ◽

Luis Cuadrado Martin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Body Water ◽

Dietary Sodium ◽

Randomized Controlled Study ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Sodium Restriction ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Dietary Sodium Restriction

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Biofeedback Intervention for Stress and Anxiety among Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ISRN Nursing ◽

10.5402/2012/827972 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Paul Ratanasiripong ◽

Nop Ratanasiripong ◽

Duangrat Kathalae

Keyword(s):

Nursing Students ◽

Stress Level ◽

Clinical Training ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Moderate Increase ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

The Impact

Purpose. It has been well documented that nursing students across the world experience stress and anxiety throughout their education and training. The purpose of this randomized controlled study is to investigate the impact of biofeedback intervention program on nursing students' levels of stress and anxiety during their first clinical training. Methods. Participants consisted of 60 second-year baccalaureate nursing students. The 30 participants in the biofeedback group received training on how to use the biofeedback device to assist in stress and anxiety management for 5 weeks while the 30 in the control group did not receive any training. Findings. Results indicated that the biofeedback group was able to maintain the stress level while the control group had a significant increase in the stress level over the 5-week period of clinical training. Additionally, the biofeedback group had a significant reduction in anxiety, while the control group had a moderate increase in anxiety. Conclusions. The better the nursing students can manage their stress and anxiety, the more successful they can be in their clinical training. Ultimately, the more psychologically healthy the nursing students are, the more likely they will flourish and graduate to become productive and contributing members of the nursing profession.

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Foam Rolling Elicits Neuronal Relaxation Patterns Distinct from Manual Massage: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11060818 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 818

Author(s):

Yann Kerautret ◽

Aymeric Guillot ◽

Sébastien Daligault ◽

Franck Di Rienzo

Keyword(s):

Skin Conductance ◽

Muscle Pain ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Muscle Relaxation ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Foam Rolling ◽

Randomized Controlled

The present double-blinded, randomized controlled study sought to compare the effects of a full-body manual massage (MM) and a foam rolling (FR) intervention on subjective and objective indexes of performance and well-being. A total of 65 healthy individuals were randomly allocated to an FR, MM, or a control group who received a cognitively oriented relaxation routine. Self-report ratings of perceived anxiety, muscle relaxation, and muscle pain were used to index changes in affect and physical sensations. The sit-and-reach and toe-touch tests, as well as a mental calculation task, were used to index motor and cognitive performances, respectively. We also conducted resting-state electroencephalography and continuous skin conductance recordings before and after the experimental intervention. Both FR and MM groups exhibited neural synchronization of alpha and beta oscillations during the posttest. Skin conductance increased from the pretest to the posttest in the relaxation group, but decreased in the FR group. All interventions improved range of motion, although only the MM group outperformed the relaxation group for the toe-touch performance. MM was associated with reduced muscle pain and increased muscle relaxation. Reduced perceived anxiety after the intervention was observed in the FR group only. Overall, MM and FR both improved objective and subjective indexes of performance and well-being. Differences between the two massage interventions are discussed in relation to the effects of pressure stimulation on autonomic regulations and the proactive vs. retroactive nature of FR, compared to MM.

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