Association of thyroid hormone with body fat content and lipid metabolism in euthyroid male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

Background This study aimed to explore the associations of thyroid hormones with body fat content and lipid metabolism in euthyroid male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods In January 2017, a cross sectional study, 66 male patients with T2DM who met the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria of 1999 who were ≥ 18.0 years and had normal thyroid function were recruited at a tertiary hospital. The categories of thyroid hormones (free triiodothyronine [FT3], free thyroxine [FT4], and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) were divided into three groups according to tertiles of thyroid hormones. Results The mean FT3, FT4, and TSH of the patients were 2.56 pg/mL, 1.03 ng/dL, and 1.50 μIU/mL, respectively. Increased FT3 were associated with higher body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), body fat percentage (BFP) (P = 0.008), visceral fat content (VFC) (P = 0.019), adiponectin (P = 0.037), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P < 0.001), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) (P = 0.015). There were significant differences among the different FT4 categories for BMI (P = 0.033), waist–hip ratio (WHR) (P = 0.030), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.014), and IL-6 (P = 0.009). Increased TSH could increase the total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.005) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.010). FT3 was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.45; P < 0.001), WHR (r = 0.27; P = 0.028), BFP (r = 0.33; P = 0.007), VFC (r = 0.30; P = 0.014), adiponectin (r = 0.25; P = 0.045), TNF-α (r = 0.47; P < 0.001), and IL-6 (r = 0.32; P = 0.008). FT4 was positively correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.26; P = 0.038), LDL-C (r = 0.26; P = 0.036), and adiponectin (r = 0.28; P = 0.023). TSH was positively correlated with TC (r = 0.36; P = 0.003). Conclusion This study found that the changes in thyroid hormones are associated with various body fat content and lipid metabolism in euthyroid male patients with T2DM.

An Association between Diet and MC4R Genetic Polymorphism, in Relation to Obesity and Metabolic Parameters—A Cross Sectional Population-Based Study

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene harbours one of the strongest susceptibility loci for obesity and obesity-related metabolic consequences. We analysed whether dietary factors may attenuate the associations between MC4R genotypes and obesity and metabolic parameters. In 819 participants genotyped for common MC4R polymorphisms (rs17782313, rs12970134, rs633265, and rs135034), the anthropometric measurements, body fat content and distribution (visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, VAT and SAT, respectively), and blood glucose, insulin, total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides concentrations, and daily macronutrient intake were assessed. ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests were used, and multivariate linear regression models were developed. We observed that the CC genotype carriers (rs17782313) presented higher VAT, VAT/SAT ratio, fasting blood glucose and triglyceride concentrations when they were stratified to the upper quantiles of protein intake. An increase in energy derived from proteins was associated with higher BMI (Est. 5.74, R2 = 0.12), body fat content (Est. 8.44, R2 = 0.82), VAT (Est. 32.59, R2 = 0.06), and VAT/SAT ratio (Est. 0.96, R2 = 0.05). The AA genotype carriers (rs12970134) presented higher BMI, body fat, SAT and VAT, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations. An increase in energy derived from proteins by AA carriers was associated with higher VAT (Est.19.95, R2 = 0.06) and VAT/SAT ratio (Est. 0.64, R2 = 0.05). Our findings suggest that associations of the common MC4R SNPs with obesity and its metabolic complications may be dependent on the daily dietary intake, which may open new areas for developing personalised diets for preventing and treating obesity and obesity-related comorbidities.

Influence of Sports Intervention Based on K-Center Algorithm on Adolescent Obesity Metabolism and Bone Quality

In order to enable obese adolescents to increase muscle content, base metabolism, etc., aerobic training is used reduce body fat and then improve body components, health physique indicators, and physical fitness. This paper adopts the current situation for research and model construction through the K-center algorithm. The results show that 10 min swimming movement increased the adolescent patients’ level of brain metabolism, and with no less than 15 min, the CI value rose to 41, the increase in brain metabolism in adolescents, and the rate of fat combustion effectively increased. It is guaranteed that physical health prevents the occurrence of obese syndrome diseases. Sports training can not only increase the skinny weight of the teen obese population but also reduce body fat content, which has a significant assistance to body type, is a high-cost performance, and has comprehensive training means.

Partial replacement of DL-Methionine and methionine hydroxy analogue with betaine in diets for broiler chickens

The study evaluated the effects on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens of DL-Methionine (DL-Met) and methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) supplementation and their partial replacement with betaine (Bet). Two experiments were performed from day 1 to 21 and from day 22 to 42. Broiler chickens were assigned to six treatments, in a completely randomized design and a 2 × 2 + 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of two Met sources (DL-Met and MHA), with or without Bet, and two negative controls. The six treatments consisted of i) NC-DLM: negative control for DL-Met with 7% reduction in DL-Met; ii) NC-MHA: negative control for MHA with 7% reduction of MHA, iii) DLM100: without Bet, supplemented exclusively with DL-Met reaching 100% of requirements, iv) MHA100: without Bet supplemented exclusively with MHA reaching 100% of requirements, v) DLM93+Bet: DL-Met at 93% of recommended level plus betaine; vi) MHA93+Bet: MHA at 93% of recommended level plus betaine. Growth from day 1 to 21 was not altered by methionine source or betaine supplementation. However, the negative controls had numerically less weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) . Between days and 42 there were no effects on growth. Betaine could partially replace methionine without altering the growth of broiler chickens. In addition, the partial replacement of DL-Met with betaine increased body crude protein content. However, its use increased body fat content regardless of methionine source.

Anthropometric indicators of obesity. Are the new indicators a better predictor of body fat content than BMI?

Anthropometric measurements are widely used in medicine, scientific research, but also in specialist medical care. Their proper use provides valuable information about the nutritional status, the adipose tissue and even the risk of comorbidities. Numerous scientific works question the usefulness of the BMI (body mass index), which is only an indirect measure of obesity. It does not take into account information on gender and age, and does not provide an answer on the distribution of body fat. Misclassification can result in serious deviations in the estimation of obesity-related effects. Therefore, the aim of this study is to present five new anthropometric obesity indicators as an alternative to BMI.In response to the dramatically growing problem of overweight and obesity, further exacerbated by the necessary restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to search for precise, yet simple tools for assessing body composition that can be routinely used by individuals but also for population studies. Based on the literature review, five frequently described indicators were selected: Relative Fat Mass (RFM), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Body Roundness Index (BRI) and CUN-BAE. Application possibilities and their effectiveness for the estimation of adipose tissue content and the risk of coexisting diseases are presented.Growing number of authors confirm the validity of using indicators such as RFM, BRI, CUN-BAE and ABSI. At the same time, researchers point to the need for further verification of their usefulness in clinical practice and public health.

Once-Weekly Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Increases Strength, Stability and Body Composition in Amateur Golfers. A Randomized Controlled Study

Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS), an innovative training technology, is considered as a joint-friendly, highly customizable and particularly time-effective option for improving muscle strength and stability, body composition and pain relief. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of 16 weeks of once-weekly WB-EMS on maximum isometric trunk (MITS), leg extensor strength (MILES), lean body mass (LBM) and body-fat content. A cohort of 54 male amateur golfers, 18 to 70 years old and largely representative for healthy adults, were randomly assigned to a WB-EMS (n = 27) or a control group (CG: n = 27). Bipolar low-frequency WB-EMS combined with low-intensity movements was conducted once per week for 20 min at the participants’ locations, while the CG maintained their habitual activity. The intention to treat analysis with multiple imputation was applied. After 16 weeks of once-weekly WB-EMS application with an attendance rate close to 100%, we observed significant WB-EMS effects on MITS (p < 0.001), MILES (p = 0.001), LBM (p = 0.034), but not body-fat content (p = 0.080) and low-back pain (LBP: p ≥ 0.078). In summary, the commercial setting of once-weekly WB-EMS application is effective to enhance stability, maximum strength, body composition and, to a lower extent, LBP in amateur golfers widely representative for a healthy male cohort.

The Effects of Age and Body Fat Content on Post-Downhill Run Recovery Following Whole Body Cryotherapy

This study explored the effects of age and body fat content on responses to whole body cryotherapy (WBC) following a downhill running bout. Forty-one male participants (mean ± SD age 42.0 ± 13.7 years, body mass 75.2 ± 10.8 kg) were allocated into WBC (n = 26) and control (CON, n = 15) groups. WBC participants were divided into old (OLD, ≥45 years, n = 10) and young (YNG, <40 years, n = 13), as well as high fat (HFAT, ≥20%, n = 10) and low fat (LFAT ≤ 15%, n = 8) groups. Participants completed a 30 min downhill run (15% gradient) at 60% VO2 max. The WBC group underwent cryotherapy (3 min, −120 °C) 1 h post-run and CON participants passively recovered in a controlled environment (20 °C). Maximal isometric leg muscle torque was assessed pre and 24 h post-run. Blood creatine kinase (CK) and muscle soreness were assessed pre, post, one hour and 24 h post-run. Muscle torque significantly decreased in both groups post-downhill run (WBC: 220.6 ± 61.4 Nm vs. 208.3 ± 67.6 Nm, p = 0.02; CON: 239.7 ± 51.1 Nm vs. 212.1 ± 46.3 Nm, p = 0.00). The mean decrease in WBC was significantly less than in CON (p = 0.04). Soreness and CK increased 24 h post for WBC and CON (p < 0.01) with no difference between groups. Muscle torque significantly decreased in OLD participants (p = 0.04) but not in YNG (p = 0.55). There were no differences between HFAT and LFAT (all p values > 0.05). WBC may attenuate muscle damage and benefit muscle strength recovery following eccentrically biased exercises, particularly for young males.