Sustainable Food Support during an Ultra-Endurance and Mindfulness Event: A Case Study in Spain

The present industrial food-production system is not suitably ecological for the environment. Mindful nutrition in sport is a relevant emergent sub-discipline that could help reduce environmental degradation. This case study describes a sustainable support diet during an ultra-endurance running (UR) event called the “Indoor Everest Challenge”. This UR challenge involved attaining the altitude of Mount Everest (8849 m) in a simulated way, in less than 24 h, without using ultra-processed food and without wasting plastics. During this challenge, a male athlete (34 years, weight: 78 kg, and height: 173 cm) wore a SenseWear Armband® (BodyMedia Inc., Pittsburg, PA, USA) accelerometer on his right arm to estimate energy expenditure. To supply his nutritional requirements, the athlete consumed only specially prepared homemade and organic food. All consumption was weighed and recorded in real-time; we determined nutrients using two databases: a food composition software, Dial Alce Ingenieria® (Madrid, Spain), to measure energy and macro- and micro-nutrients, and Phenol Explorer Database® (INRA Institut National de Recherche pour l’Alimentation, Paris, France) precisely to determine polyphenolic content. Most energy intake (up to 96%) came from plant foods. We found that subject consumed 15.8 g/kg−1/d−1 or 1242 g of carbohydrates (CHO), (2.4 g/kg−1/d−1) or 190 g of proteins (P), and 10,692 mL of fluid. The total energy intake (7580 kcal) showed a distribution of 65% CHO, 10% P, and 25% lipids (L). Furthermore, this sustainable diet lead to a high antioxidant intake, specifically vitamin C (1079 mg), vitamin E (57 mg), and total polyphenols (1910 mg). This sustainable approach was suitable for meeting energy, CHO, and P recommendations for UR. Physical and mental training (mindfulness) were integrated from the specific preliminary phase to the day of the challenge. The athlete completed this challenge in 18 h with a low environmental impact. This sports event had an educational component, as it awakened curiosity towards food sustainability.

Association of Antioxidant Intake and Blood Lactate Level Among 20–55 Years Old Malaysian Adults

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary antioxidant intake and blood lactate level among 20–55 years old Malaysian adults. Methods Subjects (N = 80) of this cross-sectional study were recruited through convenience sampling. Sole Fitness LCB Upright Bike was used to conduct the modified Wingate Anaerobic Test. Dietary antioxidant level was assessed by using Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS) 2014 food frequency questionnaire. Short Form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess the physical activity level of the subjects. Blood lactate concentration was assessed by The Edge TM blood lactate analyzer, before and after exercise. Saliva samples were collected from subjects for total antioxidant capacity determination using the 2,2-diphenyl-1- picryl-hydrazyl test of saliva (DPPHS) assay. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results The median of total antioxidant intake among Malaysian male and female adults were 1030.64 (734.74) and 9392.90 (10360.44) mg/day, respectively. A significant difference between the means blood lactate level before and after exercise was observed, however, no significant difference in the mean salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) before and after exercise. No significant association observed between the total antioxidant intake and salivary TAC before exercise for both males and females, whereas a significant positive moderate association was observed after exercise for females. A significant inverse moderate association between blood lactate level and salivary TAC before exercise was observed among the males in the present study but no association found after exercise for both males and females. Conclusions Present study indicated no significant association between the total dietary antioxidant intake and blood lactate level among Malaysian adults aged 20–55 years old. Future research with larger sample size should develop strategically to confirm these initial findings. Funding Sources International Medical University, Malaysia

Mind the food: rapid changes in antioxidant content of diet affect oxidative status of chimpanzees

The link between dietary antioxidants and oxidative status has been studied extensively in humans. Surprisingly, comparative data are not available from closely related species, such as chimpanzees, which evolved in environments characterized by strong fluctuations in the availability and quality of vegetable food sources. We tested the hypothesis that an abrupt decrease in dietary antioxidants would increase oxidative damages in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), while a rapid increase in antioxidant intake would decrease oxidative damages accrued while on the low-antioxidant diet. An abrupt decline of dietary antioxidants increased urinary levels of lipid peroxides and of oxidative DNA damage, but not of 8-isoprostanes. In contrast, an increased intake of dietary antioxidants did not affect the oxidative status. Chimpanzees that were both older and with a higher dominance rank had lower urinary levels of lipid peroxides and of DNA damage as compared to younger chimpanzees. Neither individual sex nor proportion of time being groomed explained any variation in all three markers of oxidative status. Finally, we found significant within-individual repeatability of all markers of oxidative status over the course of the experiment, suggesting a significant contribution of individual history to molding oxidative status. Our results show that antioxidant intake plays a non-negligible role in the regulation of oxidative status homeostasis in our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. Our work also suggests that rapid short-term increases in antioxidant intake might not have the desired immediate impact on oxidative status, such as in the case of clinical interventions or training programs.

Total carotenoid intake is associated with reduced loss of grip strength and gait speed over time in adults: The Framingham Offspring Study

ABSTRACT Background Lower antioxidant serum concentrations have been linked to declines in lean mass and physical function in older adults. Yet population data on the effect of dietary antioxidants on loss of muscle strength and physical function are lacking. Objective We sought to determine the association of antioxidant intake [vitamin C, vitamin E, and total and individual carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin)] with annualized change in grip strength and gait speed in adults from the Framingham Offspring study. Methods This prospective cohort study included participants with a valid FFQ at the index examination and up to 2 prior examinations and at ≥2 measures of primary outcomes: grip strength (n = 2452) and/or gait speed (n = 2422) measured over 3 subsequent examinations. Annualized change in grip strength (kg/y) and change in gait speed (m/s/y) over the follow-up period were used. Linear regression was used to calculate β coefficients and P values, adjusting for covariates. Results Mean ± SD age of participants was 61 ± 9 y (range: 33–88 y). Median intakes (IQR, mg/d) of vitamin C, vitamin E, and total carotenoid across available examinations were 209.2 (133.1–394.2), 27.1 (7.4–199.0), and 15.3 (10.4–21.3), respectively. The mean follow-up time was ∼12 ± 2 y (range: 4.5–15.4 y). In the sex-combined sample, higher intakes of total carotenoids, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin were associated with increased annualized change in grip strength [β (SE) per 10-mg higher intake/d, range: 0.0316 (0.0146) to 0.1223 (0.0603) kg/y)]. All antioxidants except for vitamin C were associated with faster gait speed [β (SE) per 10-mg higher intake/d, range: 0.00008 (0.00004) to 0.0187 (0.0081) m/s/y]. Conclusions Higher antioxidant intake was associated with increase in grip strength and faster gait speed in this cohort of adults. This finding highlights the need for a randomized controlled trial of dietary antioxidants and their effect on muscle strength and physical function.