Silver yoga exercises improved physical fitness of transitional frail elders

In the study to to determine the efficacy of 24 weeks of the senior-tailored silver yoga (SY) exercise program for transitional frail elders, researchers at the College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, showed that at the end of the study, the physical fitness indicators of participants in the SY group had improved significantly, and they had better physical fitness than participants in the control group (all p values < .05)(1).

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(1) "Silver yoga exercises improved physical fitness of transitional frail elders" by Chen KM, Fan JT, Wang HH, Wu SJ, Li CH, Lin HS.

Multi-modal exercise programs for older adults

In the review of Fifteen studies, including totalling 2,149 subjects; the mean cohort age ranging from 67 +/- 8 to 84 +/- 3 years. A low mean relative ES for strength was seen across the reviewed studies, showed that multi-modal exercise has a positive effect on falls prevention. The limited data available suggests that multi-modal exercise has a small effect on physical, functional and quality of life outcomes. Future research should include robustly designed trials that involve multi-modal exercise at individually prescribed intensities based on doses found to be effective in single-modality studies(1).

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(1) "Multi-modal exercise programs for older adults" by Baker MK, Atlantis E, Fiatarone Singh MA.

Behaviour modification and eating behaviour in adolescent

In a study conducted to evaluate the effects of behaviour modification on anthropometric indices and to explore if behaviour modification could improve eating behaviour in adolescents, showed that there were statistically significant differences in changes in body weight (-2.75 kg vs. 0.62 kg), body mass index (-1.07 kg/m(2) vs. 0.24 kg/m(2)) and arm circumference (-2.31 cm vs. 0.5 cm) in the experimental group in contrast to controls (P < 0.001). There were also statistically significant differences in scores for eating behaviour, emotional eating (0.63, 0.17), external eating (0.99, 0.05) and restrained eating (0.72, 0.03) in the experimental vs. the control group respectively (P < 0.001)(1)

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(1) "Effect of dietary behaviour modification on anthropometric indices and eating behaviour in obese adolescent girls" by Sabet Sarvestani R, Jamalfard MH, Kargar M, Kaveh MH, Tabatabaee HR.

Walking to health

"Walking is convenient and may be accommodated in occupational and domestic routines. It is self-regulated in intensity, duration and frequency, and, having a low ground impact, is inherently safe. Unlike so much physical activity, there is little, if any, decline in middle age. It is a year-round, readily repeatable, self-reinforcing, habit-forming activity and the main option for increasing physical activity in sedentary populations. Present levels of walking are often low. Familiar social inequalities may be evident. There are indications of a serious decline of walking in children, though further surveys of their activity, fitness and health are required. The downside relates to the incidence of fatal and non-fatal road casualties, especially among children and old people, and the deteriorating air quality due to traffic fumes which mounting evidence implicates in the several stages of respiratory disease. Walking is ideal as a gentle start-up for the sedentary, including the inactive, immobile elderly, bringing a bonus of independence and social well-being. As general policy, a gradual progression is indicated from slow, to regular pace and on to 30 minutes or more of brisk (i.e. 6.4 km/h) walking on most days. These levels should achieve the major gains of activity and health-related fitness without adverse effects. Alternatively, such targets as this can be suggested for personal motivation, clinical practice, and public health. The average middle-aged person should be able to walk 1.6 km comfortably on the level at 6.4 km/h and on a slope of 1 in 20 at 4.8 km/h, however, many cannot do so because of inactivity-induced unfitness. The physiological threshold of 'comfort' represents 70% of maximum heart rate",  according to the study of Dr. Morris JN and Dr. Hardman AE. at the Health Promotion Sciences Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England(1).

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(1) "Walking to health" by Morris JN, Hardman AE.

Yoga and Physical fitness

In the samples of 204 subjects were recruited from eight senior activity centres and 176 subjects completed the study. Subjects were randomly assigned into three groups based on the centres: (1) Experiment I: complete silver yoga with stretching and meditation, (2) Experiment II: shortened silver yoga without the guided-imagery meditation and (3) Wait-list control. The interventions were conducted three times per week for 24 weeks. Physical fitness indicators included body compositions, cardiovascular-respiratory functions, physical functions and the range of motion, the result showed that the physical fitness of older adults in both the 70-minute complete silver yoga group and the 55-minute shortened silver yoga group had significantly improved after the interventions. It was recommended that the silver yoga programme be shortened by eliminating the guided-imagery meditation (1).

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(1) "Physical fitness of older adults in senior activity centres after 24-week silver yoga exercises" by Chen KM, Chen MH, Hong SM, Chao HC, Lin HS, Li CH.

Weight Loss and Yoga

In the comprehensive search yielded 507 studies; 10 studies with 544 participants (69.6 ± 6.3 yr, 71% female) were included. Large variability in yoga styles and measurement outcomes make it challenging to interpret results across studies, but researchers found that moderate improvements for gait (ES = 0.54, 0.80), balance (ES = 0.25-1.61), upper/lower body flexibility (ES = 0.25, 0.70), lower body strength (ES = 0.51), and weight loss (ES = 0.73, 0.99).Yoga may engender improvements in some components of fitness in older adults. However, more evidence is needed to determine its effectiveness as an alternative exercise to promote fitness in older adults. Further investigation into yoga as an exercise activity for older adults is warranted(1)

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(1) "Does yoga engender fitness in older adults? A critical review" by Roland KP, Jakobi JM, Jones GR.

CV health starts with good nutrition

A healthy diet is essential, regardless of CV risk. Caloric balance is inherent to a good diet. Despite patients who say they eat little, ideal weight can be maintained if calories are burned. Composition is another component of a healthy diet. Dr. Whayne TF Jr, and Dr. Maulik N. at the University of Kentucky, showed that Exercise, in conjunction with a healthy diet and good nutrition, helps maintain optimal weight and provides CV benefit such as decreased inflammation and increased vasodilatation. Whether vitamins or other nutritional supplements are important in a healthy diet is unproven. Nevertheless, the most promising data of added benefit to a healthy diet is with vitamin D. Some dietary supplements also have promise. Alcohol, in moderation, especially red wine, has nutritional and heart protective benefits. Antioxidants, endogenous or exogenous, have received increased interest and appear to play a favorable nutritional role. CV health starts with good nutrition(1).

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(1) " Nutrition and the healthy heart with an exercise boost" by Whayne TF Jr, Maulik N.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and level of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)

In the investigation of the plasma lipidomic analysis in a rodent model of obesity and insulin resistance as well as in lean, obese and obese individuals with T2DM, showed that Irrespective of species, our lipidomic profiling revealed a generalized decrease in circulating LPC species in states of obesity. Moreover, our data indicate that diet and adiposity, rather than insulin resistance or diabetes per se, play an important role in altering the plasma LPC profile(1).

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(1) "Plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels are reduced in obesity and type 2 diabetes"by Barber MN, Risis S, Yang C, Meikle PJ, Staples M, Febbraio MA, Bruce CR.

Heart healthy diet and myocardial infarction and venous thromboembolism.

In the study to investigate the association of a heart healthy diet on risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and venous thromboembolism (VTE)., showed that  High intake of fish, fruit, vegetables and polyunsatured fat had a 23% reduced risk of MI (HR 0.77; 95%CI: 0.60-0.98), but no association with VTE (HR 0.95; 95%CI: 0.64-1.40). A heart healthy diet showed an even more favourable association with MI in obese subjects (HR: 0.62; 95%CI: 0.41-0.95), but not with VTE. Our findings suggest that a heart healthy dietary pattern is associated with moderately reduced risk of MI, but not related to risk of VTE(1).

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(1) "Heart healthy diet and risk of myocardial infarction and venous thromboembolism. The Tromsø Study" by Hansen-Krone IJ, Enga KF, Njølstad I, Hansen JB, Braekkan SK.

The Mediterranean diet: is it cardioprotective?

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco that increasing scientific evidence suggests that the traditional Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The cardiovascular benefits of this whole-diet approach may outweigh those of typically prescribed low-fat diets. The burden of coronary heart disease is enormous, and nutritional approaches that optimize cardiovascular health are essential(1).

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(1) " The Mediterranean diet: is it cardioprotective?" by Bautista MC, Engler MM.

Effectiveness and safety of 1-year ad libitum consumption of a high-catechin beverage under nutritional guidance

In a study to study to conduct based on a comprehensive cohort design using a catechin beverage (containing 588 mg of tea catechins) and a control beverage (containing 126 mg of tea catechins), data were analyzed using per protocol samples of 134 subjects (catechin group, n = 77; control group, n = 57). Body weight and body mass index were reduced significantly in the catechin group compared to the control group. Changes in body weight during the study period were -1.1 kg in the catechin group and 0.2 kg in the control group. In the catechin group, the visceral fat areas at the start of the trial were significantly correlated with the magnitude of fat reduction at the end of the trial. Under the guidance of a registered dietitian, subjects in the catechin group who showed a reduction in their fat-derived energy percentage during the test period tended to reduce more body weight than those with an increase in this percentage, although no difference in total energy intake was noted between the two groups. One-year ad libitum consumption of a catechin beverage posed no health risks and resulted in a reduction in body weight(1).

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(1) "Effectiveness and safety of 1-year ad libitum consumption of a high-catechin beverage under nutritional guidance" by Yoneda T, Shoji K, Takase H, Hibi M, Hase T, Meguro S, Tokimitsu I, Kambe H.

Hypocaloric dietary intervention implemented in a school of obese children.

In the study to examine whether a protein-sparing modified fast diet and a hypocaloric balanced diet are effective in a clinic-based dietary intervention implemented in a school setting high-risk weight loss program for superobese (> or = 140% of their ideal body weight for height [IBW] children of
12 superobese children placed on a 2520 to 3360 J (600 to 800 Cal) protein-sparing modified fast diet.  showed that at 6 months the 12 superobese children on protein-sparing modified fast diet had a significant weight loss from baseline (-5.6 +/- 7.1 kg, ANOVA p < 0.02); a significant decrease in percentage IBW (-24.3 +/- 20%, ANOVA p < 0.002); and had positive growth velocity Z-score (1.3 +/- 1.6, ANOVA p < 0.05). Six children were not superobese at 6 months. At 6 months eight of 12 children were active participants and 11 of 12 children were followed. Decrease in blood pressure, as well as, downward trends in serum lipids were observed at 6 months. No clinical complications were observed. At 6 months, the 7 control superobese children, when compared with baseline had gained weight (2.8 +/- 3.1 kg, ANOVA p < 0.008); but had no significant change in percentage IBW (-0.3 +/- 5.9%, ANOVA p = 0.61); and had no changes in growth velocity Z-score (0.1 +/- 1.3, ANOVA p = 0.83). These children did not have any change in blood pressure and an upward trend in serum lipids were observed at 6 months. Protein-sparing modified fast diet and a hypocaloric balanced diet appear to be effective in a group of superobese-school-age children in a medically supervised clinic-based program implemented in a school setting over a 6-month period. The efforts of committed clinic staffs, school officials, peers, and family involvement were crucial to the success of this intervention program in promoting and maintaining weight loss over a 6-month period(1).

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(1) "Feasibility of a clinic-based hypocaloric dietary intervention implemented in a school setting for obese children" by Figueroa-Colon R, Franklin FA, Lee JY, von Almen TK, Suskind RM.