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Current evidence indicates that foods with added plant sterols or stanols can lower serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This review summarizes the recent findings and deliberations of 31 experts in the field who participated in a scientific meeting in Winnipeg, Canada, on the health effects of plant sterols and stanols. Participants discussed issues including, but not limited to, the health benefits of plant sterols and stanols beyond cholesterol lowering, the role of plant sterols and stanols as adjuncts to diet and drugs, and the challenges involved in measuring plant sterols and stanols in biological samples. Variations in interindividual responses to plant sterols and stanols, as well as the personalization of lipid-lowering therapies, were addressed. Finally, the clinical aspects and treatment of sitosterolemia were reviewed. Although plant sterols and stanols continue to offer an efficacious and convenient dietary approach to cholesterol management, long-term clinical trials investigating the endpoints of cardiovascular disease are still lacking.

Current global estimation suggests that about 10% of adults worldwide have diabetes, thus, various strategies are needed to address the issue, including dietary factors such as vitamin D. Various studies have suggested an inverse associations between vitamin D and the risks and pathogenesis of all forms of diabetes (type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes). The underlying mechanism is not fully understood; however, the expression of vitamin D receptors in pancreatic beta cells suggests an important physiological role for vitamin D in beta cell function. Vitamin D deficiency may impair blood glucose control and decrease insulin sensitivity by reducing insulin secretion from beta cells. Many studies suggest that vitamin D intervention may be beneficial; however, there is inconclusive evidence of the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation on reducing the risks or managing the pathogenesis of all forms of diabetes. Part of the pathogenesis of vitamin D for reducing diabetes is thought to be related to its impact on gut microbiota profile, via the suggested prebiotic properties of vitamin D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle is critical for mobility and many metabolic functions integral to survival and long-term health. Alcohol can affect skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism, which will have immediate and long-term consequences on health. While skeletal muscle abnormalities, including morphological, biochemical, and functional impairments, are well-documented in adults that excessively consume alcohol, there is a scarcity of information about the skeletal muscle in the offspring prenatally exposed to alcohol ('prenatal alcohol exposure'; PAE). This minireview examines the available studies addressing skeletal muscle abnormalities due to PAE. Growth restriction, fetal alcohol myopathy, and abnormalities in the neuromuscular system, which contribute to deficits in locomotion, are some direct, immediate consequences of PAE on skeletal muscle morphology and function. Long-term health consequences of PAE-related skeletal abnormalities include impaired glucose metabolism in the skeletal muscle, resulting in glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In general, there is limited information on the morphological, biochemical, and functional features of skeletal abnormalities in PAE offspring. There is a need to understand how PAE affects muscle growth and function at the cellular level during early development to improve the immediate and long-term health of offspring suffering from PAE. Key words: muscle fiber, fetal alcohol myopathy, cytoskeleton proteins, amino acids, insulin resistance. Le muscle squelettique est un element cle de la mobilite et de plusieurs fonctions metaboliques necessaires a la survie et a la sante a long terme. L'alcool peut affecter la physiologie et le metabolisme du muscle squelettique, ce qui aura des consequences immediates et a long terme sur la sante. Alors que les anomalies du muscle squelettique, qui comprennent des deficits morphologiques, biochimiques et fonctionnels, sont bien documentees chez les adultes qui abusent d'alcool, l'information sur le muscle squelettique d'enfants soumis a une exposition prenatale a l'alcool (EPA) est rare. Cette synthese examine les etudes disponibles qui portent sur les anomalies du muscle squelettique provoquees par l'EPA. Le retard de croissance, la myopathie alcoolique foetale et les anomalies du systeme neuromusculaire qui contribuent aux problemes de locomotion constituent quelques unes des consequences directes et immediates de l'EPA sur la morphologie et la fonction du muscle squelettique. Les consequences sur lasante a long terme des anomalies dumuscle squelettique lieesal'EPA comprennent une diminutiondumetabolismedu glucose dans lemuscle, resultantenune intoleranceau glucose etune resistance al'insuline qui menent a un risque accru de developper un diabete de type 2. En general, l'information sur les caracteristiques morphologiques, biochimiques et fonctionnelles des anomalies squelettiques des enfants soumis a une EPA est limitee. Il est necessaire de comprendre comment l'EPA affecte la croissance et la fonction du muscle au niveau cellulaire durant le developpement precoce afin d'ameliorer la sante immediate et a long terme des enfants soumis a une EPA. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : fibre musculaire, myopathie alcoolique foetale, proteines du cytosquelette, acides amines, resistance a l'insuline., Introduction Skeletal muscle, comprising about 30% of the body mass in the neonate, is critical for mobility and many metabolic functions integral tosurvival and long-term health (Davis and Fiorotto 2009; [...]

Sarcopenia is a progressive degenerative disorder affecting ≥40% of older adults over the age of 70 years. It is characterized by involuntary muscle loss leading to functional disability, weakness, and frailty in the elderly. Numerous mechanisms have been suggested as potential contributors to sarcopenia onset, including anorexia of aging, protein imbalances, and oxidative stress. While consensus preventive and management approaches for sarcopenia are not yet clearly defined, it is unquestionable that nutrition plays a critical role. This review focuses on the more widely studied, potent nutrients used to attenuate sarcopenia: protein/amino acids, vitamin D and calcium, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. In efforts to achieve optimum delivery of these nutrients to target tissues in older adults it is important to also consider the issue of compromised digestive system that occurs with aging, which will contribute to suboptimal nutrients absorption and utilization. Therefore, this review aims to summarize key sarcopenia-attenuating nutrients and to distinguish for each identified nutrient whether a dietary or a supplemental form is the most effective therapy for nutrient delivery in sarcopenic older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate if resistance training can reach Moderate to Vigorous Intensity (MVI) and contribute to the aerobic component of the international physical activity guidelines. Sixteen participants aged between 20 and 35 were recruited. Heart rate was recorded by heart rate monitor during a resistance training program. Based on maximal heart rate, time spent at MVI (55-69% of maximal heart rate) was calculated. Participants displayed a HR equal or above MVI for 51.5% ± 21.7% of time. When stratifying by lower and upper body sessions, that proportion was median (25-75th); 75.0% (32.5%-89.2%) and 45.8% (30.0%-66.8%) respectively. Body mass (r=.68; p<.01), body mass index (r=.54; p=.03), and leg press strength (r=.59; p=02) were positively associated with time spent at MVI. Assuming 10-minute bouts of aerobic exercise are not needed to achieve health benefits, it is possible to reach MVI with resistance training. Emphasis on the importance of performing resistance training should be done to reach the aerobic component of the physical activity guidelines and optimize health benefits. This provides an alternative option to those who may have difficulty or be unable to reach the required aerobic intensity by traditional aerobic exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously demonstrated that intra-uterine growth-restricted (IUGR) Yucatan miniature pigs develop modestly elevated blood pressure (BP) as young adults. The present study evaluated the effects of a post-weaning Western-style, high-salt-fat-sugar (HSFS) diet on early programming of BP. IUGR piglets (3d old, 0.77 (SEM 0.04)kg, n 6) were paired with normal weight (NW) same-sex littermates (1.14 (SEM 003)kg, n 6) and fed milk replacer for 4 weeks. A third littermate was left with the sow (SF; 1.01 (SEM 005)kg, n 6). When 4 weeks old, all pigs were placed on a HSFS diet ad libitum for 5h/d. When 11 months old, telemeters were implanted to measure BP in pigs before (4.5% NaCl) and after (0.5% NaCl) a 7 d reduced salt challenge. At necropsy, nephron numbers were determined. Before sexual maturity, IUGR pigs had greater relative feed intake (P<0.05), and experienced catch-up growth with greater adiposity, with correlations between adiposity and BP (P<0.05). Adult IUGR pigs had 26.34% fewer nephrons and higher diastolic BP (107.7 (SEM 49)mmHg, P=0.044) than NW (97.2 (SEM 1.8)mmHg) and SF (98-9 (SEM 53)mmHg) pigs. Systolic BP was similar among the three groups, but was significantly elevated compared with levels previously reported for a control diet. Salt restriction reduced BP in all groups CP<0.05), but with no differences (P>0.05) in the degree of salt sensitivity among groups. In conclusion, a post-weaning Western-style diet exacerbates early programming of diastolic BP in Yucatan miniature swine, whereas systolic BP is more sensitive to postnatal diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotelemetry was used to evaluate diet-related elevation of blood pressure in adult Yucatan miniature swine. Systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), diastolic atrial blood pressure (DAP), heart rate, and locomotor activity were assessed in 9- or 11-mo-old Yucatan miniature pigs fed a standard diet or a North American-type diet high in salt, fat, and sugar (HSFS). Compared with pigs fed standard diet, pigs fed HSFS diet showed markedly elevated SAP (132 ± 3 compared with 156 ± 6 mm Hg), whereas DAP was unchanged (92 ± 2 compared with 99 ± 5 mm Hg). In addition, all pigs were modestly sensitive to short-term changes in dietary salt, as indicated by a 6% to 7% response in blood pressure parameters. According to these data, the increase in SAP for pigs on the HSFS diet was too large to be explained by the NaCl content of the diet alone. We found no evidence of endothelial dysfunction, and the relaxation responses of isolated coronary arteries actually were enhanced in the HSFS group. In conclusion, in a Yucatan miniature pigs model chronically fed a HSFS diet, DAP did not increase, but SAP and pulse pressure appeared to be affected by high dietary levels of fat or sugar (or both).