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This study examined the acute effects of different caffeine doses on fat oxidation and cardiovascular responses at rest and during exercise at the intensity of maximal fat oxidation (FATmax) in overweight/obese sedentary female college students. In a randomized trial, eleven participants (age: 20.2 ± 2.3 years; BMI: 26.36 ± 1.78 kg/m²) completed four conditions: placebo (cellulose) or caffeine at 3, 5, or 9 mg/kg. Each session comprised 60 min of seated rest followed by 40 min of treadmill walking at FATmax. Substrate oxidation (via indirect calorimetry), blood pressure, and the fingertip perfusion index (PI) were measured at specific time points: at rest (0, 30, and 60 min after capsule ingestion) and immediately post-exercise (100 min). Additionally, gas exchange and heart rate were recorded continuously throughout the entire 100-min session. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 with two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (or Friedman test for non-normal data) and Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc comparisons. Significance was set at < 0.05. Caffeine did not alter the resting heart rate or substrate oxidation. During exercise, caffeine at 5 and 9  mg/kg significantly increased the heart rate and blood pressure (  < 0.05), while caffeine at 3 mg/kg elicited no such cardiovascular effects. The PI decreased across all caffeine groups (  < 0.05). Caffeine at both 3 and 5 mg/kg enhanced fat oxidation compared to placebo and the 9 mg/kg dose (  < 0.05). Carbohydrate oxidation was lower with 5 mg/kg caffeine than with placebo (  < 0.05), and both the 3 and 5 mg/kg doses showed reduced carbohydrate oxidation relative to the 9 mg/kg dose (  < 0.05). Acute caffeine intake at 3 and 5 mg/kg enhanced fat oxidation during FATmax exercise in sedentary overweight/obese females, whereas 9 mg/kg provided no additional metabolic benefit. However, the 5 mg/kg dose was associated with increased cardiovascular strain, which was not observed with the 3 mg/kg. Therefore, a dose of 3 mg/kg appears to offer an optimal balance between stimulating fat oxidation and maintaining cardiovascular safety in this population during acute exercise.

Background Avenanthramides (AVA) are a group of di-phenolic acids found only in oats and have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Eccentric muscle contraction is intimately involved in rigorous exercise that activates systemic and local inflammatory responses. The objective of the study is to evaluate whether chronic AVA supplementation could attenuate peripheral inflammatory and immunological markers in human subjects in response to an acute bout of downhill running (DR). Methods Eleven male and thirteen female subjects voluntarily participated in this double-blinded, randomized controlled study and were randomly divided into AVA-supplemented (AVA) or control (C) groups. All subjects conducted a DR protocol at − 10% grade with an intensity equivalent to 75% of their maximal heart rate. Blood samples were collected at rest and various time points (0-72 h) after DR (PRE). After an 8-week washout period, participants received two cookies daily containing either 206 mg/kg (AVA) or 0 mg/kg (C) AVA for 8 weeks. Following the oat supplementation regimen, the DR and blood sampling protocols were repeated (POST). Plasma inflammatory and immunological markers were measured using Multiplex immunoassay and muscle soreness was evaluated with pain rating scale. Results DR increased plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity ( P  < 0.01) during PRE, but the response was reduced at 24 and 48 h during POST vs. PRE regardless of AVA status ( P  < 0.05). Neutrophil respiratory burst (NRB) levels were elevated at 4 and 24 h ( P  < 0.05) during PRE but were significantly decreased at 0–48 h during POST vs. PRE ( P  < 0.05 or 0.01). Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), the neutrophil stimulating cytokine, was also increased in response to DR but showed lower levels in AVA compared to C during POST vs. PRE ( P  < 0.05). Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) content showed an increase at 0 and 4 h during PRE and 0 h during POST ( P  < 0.01), whereas during POST there was a trend toward a lower IL-6 level in AVA vs. C ( P  = 0.082). Plasma levels of anti-inflammatory agent interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) showed an increase at 4 h during PRE, and was significantly elevated in AVA vs. C during POST. Both soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) contents increased at 0 and 24 h post DR during PRE as well as POST sessions, however, sVCAM-1 content was lower in AVA vs. C during POST ( P  < 0.05) and MCP-1 levels were below resting level at 24, 48 and 72 h during POST ( P  < 0.05). DR increased muscle pain at all post-DR time points ( P  < 0.01), but the pain level was alleviated by oat supplementation at 48 and 72 h during POST regardless of AVA treatment ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions Oat AVA supplementation reduced circulatory inflammatory cytokines and inhibited expression of chemokines and cell adhesion molecules induced by DR. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02584946 . Registered 23 October 2015.

Inadequate nutrition and a lack of physical activity contribute to functional decline and complications from chronic diseases in older adults. The pandemic halted or altered necessary Older Americans Act (OAA) nutrition services provided to vulnerable, community-dwelling older adults in San Antonio, Texas. The \"digital divide\" or gap in technological access and knowledge further heightened the detrimental effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults who may be \"digitally excluded\" from social, economic, and health-related interactions. During the pandemic, San Antonio congregate meal sites funded by OAA remained partially open biweekly to distribute meals but no longer offered in-person nutrition education, physical activity classes, and social activities. This project expands the current congregate meal programming infrastructure and partnerships with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) to create a sustainable approach focused on improving the health of older adults. The study aims (1) to test the impact of a digital nutrition education intervention on the primary outcomes of food security and diet quality; (2) to determine the effect of the intervention on secondary outcomes of technology knowledge and usage, physical activity, and social isolation and loneliness; and (3) to examine the long-term impact and sustainability of technology use on food security, diet quality, physical activity, social isolation, and loneliness. This proposed digital nutrition education intervention study targets technologically limited older adults enrolled in the congregate meal program (CMP) using a stepped-wedge clustered randomized controlled trial. Key community partners, City of San Antonio Department of Health Services Senior Services Division and OATS, contributed to the study's planning phase, research design, and implementation. The 20-week intervention included 5 weeks of in-person technology training, including internet access and technical support for 1 year and devices, followed by 15 weeks of a culturally tailored online nutrition education intervention. The study randomized 398 older adults from 12 congregate meal sites. Data collection took place at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and 18 months. If successful, the impact of this program could be applied throughout the national OATS network and to similar CMPs to bridge the digital divide beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Recruitment and enrollment of 398 older adults at 12 CMPs was completed in December 2022. Study CMPs were randomly assigned to Cohort 1 and 2: 164 completed Cohort 1 in August 2023 and 111 completed Cohort 2 in April 2024. Eighteen-month data collection is ongoing. This study aims to determine the impact of a digital nutrition intervention on older adults' nutrition status, physical activity, loneliness and isolation, and technology access and usage. Results from this study can inform future interventions with vulnerable populations and may serve as a basis for other OAA nutrition services.

Background:Older Latino individuals are disproportionally affected by various chronic conditions including impairments in physical and cognitive functions, which are essential for healthy aging and independent living.Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of FITxOlder, a 12-week mind-body exercise program, in community-dwelling low-income, predominantly older Latino individuals, and assess its preliminary effects on health parameters relevant to healthy aging and independent living.Methods:This 12-week, single-arm, stage 1B feasibility study had a pre- and poststudy design. A total of 13 older adults (mean age 76.4, SD 7.9 years; 11/13, 85% Latino) of a congregate meal program in a senior center were enrolled. FITxOlder was a tailored Chinese mind-body exercise program using Five Animal Frolics led by a bilingual community health worker (CHW) participating twice a week at the senior center and facilitated by mobile health technology for practice at home, with incrementally increasing goals moving from once a week to at least 3 times a week. The feasibility and acceptability of the study were examined using both quantitative and qualitative data. Healthy aging–related outcomes (eg, physical and cognitive function) were assessed using paired 2-tailed t tests. Qualitative interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results:The attendance rate for the 24 exercise sessions was high (22.7/24, 95%), ranging from 93% (1.8/2) to 97% (1.9/2) over the 12 weeks. Participants were compliant with the incremental weekly exercise goals, with 69.2% (9/13) and 75.0% (9/12) meeting the home and program goals in the last 4 weeks, respectively. Approximately 83% (10/12) to 92% (11/12) of the participants provided favorable feedback on survey questions regarding the study and program implementation, such as program content and support, delivery by the CHW, enjoyment and appeal of the Five Animal Frolics, study burden and incentives, and safety concerns. The qualitative interview data revealed that FITxOlder was well accepted; participants reported enjoyment and health benefits and the desire to continue to practice and share it with others. The 5-time sit-to-stand test (mean change at posttest assessment=−1.62; P<.001; Cohen d=0.97) and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey physical component scores (mean change at post intervention=5.71; P=.01; Cohen d=0.88) exhibited changes with large effect sizes from baseline to 12 weeks; the other parameters showed small or medium effect sizes.Conclusions:The research findings indicated that the CHW-led and mobile health–facilitated Chinese qigong exercise program is feasible and acceptable among low-income Latino older adults. The trending health benefits of the 12-week FITxOlder program suggest it is promising to promote physical activity engagement in underserved older populations to improve health outcomes for healthy aging and independent living. Future research with larger samples and longer interventions is warranted to assess the health benefits and suitability of FITxOlder.

Eccentric exercise and atherosclerosis are known to generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and inflict inflammatory responses, leading to muscle inflammation and coronary artery disease respectively. Selective phenolic compounds from oats (Avenanthramides, AVA) and olive oil (Oleocanthal/Oleacein, Oleo/Olea) have been shown to remove these chemicals and inhibit the progress of inflammation. This dissertation proposed three studies to investigate: (1) The metabolic fate of AVA by measuring plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic properties of AVA in human after an acute oral ingestion of oat cookies. (2) Whether 8 weeks of dietary supplementation of AVA can affect circulatory immune cells and reduce blood inflammatory markers in response to downhill running (DR) induced muscle inflammation in both male and female subjects. (3) Whether 12 weeks of Oleo/Olea supplementation can inhibit inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerotic rats, and combined exercise training would further reduce inflammation and improve immune functions. The findings and conclusions are: (1) AVA found naturally in oats are absorbed in the plasma after oral administration in humans. AVA reach peak plasma concertation 2–3 hours after oral ingestion in human. AVA-B has the slowest elimination rate (Kel) and longest half-life (T1/2) compared to AVA-A and AVA-C, while AVA-C demonstrated the lowest plasma concentrations (Cmax). (2) Oat AVA supplementation reduced circulatory inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) expression and ROS generation (NRB) after DR. AVA in oats also inhibited expression of chemokines (MIP-1β, MCP-1), cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and colony stimulating factors (GM-CSF, G-CSF) induced by DR. Although circulatory immune cells were not affected by oat AVA supplementation, oat supplementation decreased circulatory monocytes activation (CD14+) while oat AVA inhibited neutrophils (CD11b+) and increased NK cells (CD56+) activation after DR. (3) High Oleo/Olea diet tends to increase circulatory leukocytes, granulocytes, neutrophils percentage and inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, RANTES, NAP-3, M-CSF, GM-CSF) but decrease lymphocytes percentage and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) in sedentary rats, whereas exercise training significantly reversed these trends of immune markers induced by EVOO supplementation.

Purpose Rigorous exercise is known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflict inflammatory response. The present study investigated whether dietary supplementation of avenanthramides (AVA) in oats would increase antioxidant protection and reduce inflammation in humans after an acute bout of eccentric exercise. Methods Young women (age 18–30 years, N  = 16) were randomly divided into two groups in a double-blinded fashion, receiving two cookies made of oat flour providing 9.2 mg AVA (AVA) or 0.4 mg AVA (Control, C) each day for 8 weeks. Before and after the dietary regimen each group of subjects ran downhill (DR) on a treadmill at −9 % grade for 1 h at a speed to elicit 75 % of maximal heart rate. Blood samples were collected at rest, immediately and 24 h post-DR. Results Before dietary supplementation plasma creatine kinase activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration were increased immediately after DR ( P  < 0.05), whereas neutrophil respiratory burst (NRB) was elevated 24 h post-DR ( P  < 0.05). CK and TNF-α response to DR was abolished during post-supplementation tests in both AVA and C groups, whereas NRB was blunted only in AVA but not in C. Plasma interleukin-6 level and mononuclear cell nuclear factor (NF) κB activity were not affected by DR either before or after dietary supplementation, but were lowered 24 h post-DR in AVA versus C ( P  < 0.05). Both groups increased plasma total antioxidant activity following 8-week dietary regimen ( P  < 0.05), whereas only AVA group increased resting plasma glutathione (GSH) concentration ( P  < 0.05), decreased glutathione disulfide response to DR, and lowered erythrocyte GSH peroxidase activity ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions Our data of pre- and post-supplementation difference reflect an interaction between repeated measure effect of eccentric exercise and AVA in diet. Long-term AVA supplementation can attenuate blood inflammation markers, decrease ROS generation and NFkB activation, and increased antioxidant capacity during an eccentric exercise bout.

Background. Avenanthramides (AVA) are a group of diphenolic acids found only in oats that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Absorption of AVAs in humans after oral consumption of natural oat flour is unknown. Objective. To examine the appearance of AVAs in plasma after oral ingestion of oat cookies and estimate key pharmacokinetic parameters. Methods. Male and female nonobese participants (n=16) consumed three cookies made with oat flour containing high (229.6 mg/kg, H-AVA) or low (32.7 mg/kg, L-AVA) amounts of AVAs, including AVA-A, AVA-B, and AVA-C. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 h after ingestion. Plasma total (conjugated and free) AVA concentrations were quantified using UPLC-MS, and pharmacokinetic parameters for each AVA were estimated. Results. AVAs reached peak concentrations in plasma between 2 and 3 h for the H-AVA group and between 1 and 2 h for the L-AVA group. Maximal plasma concentrations for AVAs were higher in the H-AVA than in the L-AVA group. AVA-B demonstrated a longer half-life and slower elimination rate than AVA-A and AVA-C. Conclusions. AVAs found naturally in oats are absorbed in the plasma after oral administration in humans. AVA-B has the slowest elimination rate and the longest half-life compared to AVA-A and AVA-C, while AVA-C demonstrated the lowest plasma concentrations. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02415374.

During aging, chronic systemic inflammation increases in prevalence and antioxidant balance shifts in favor of oxidant generation. Avenanthramide (AVA) is a group of oat phenolics that have shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capability. The present study investigated whether dietary supplementation of avenanthramides (AVA) in oats would increase antioxidant protection and reduce inflammation after a bout of downhill walking (DW) in postmenopausal women. Women at age of 50–80 years (N = 16) were randomly divided into two groups in a double-blinded fashion, receiving two cookies made of oat flour providing 9.2 mg AVA or 0.4 mg AVA (control, C) each day for 8 weeks. Before and after the dietary regimen, each group of subjects walked downhill on a treadmill (−9% grade) for 4 bouts of 15 minutes at a speed of 4.0 km/h with 5 minutes rest between sessions. Blood samples were collected at rest, 24 h post-DW, and 48 h post-DW pre- and post-supplementation. Both DW sessions increased plasma creatine kinase activity (P < 0.05). Before supplementation, in vitro neutrophil respiratory burst (NRB) activity was increased at 24 h post-DW (P < 0.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP) was increased 48 h post-DW (P < 0.05). AVA supplementation decreased DW-induced NRB at 24 h (P < 0.05) and CRP level 48 h (P < 0.05). Plasma interleukin (IL)-1β concentration and mononuclear cell nuclear factor (NF) κB binding were suppressed at rest and during post-DW period in AVA but not C group (P < 0.05). Plasma total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity were increased in AVA vs. C (P < 0.05), whereas glutathione redox status was elevated 48 h post-DW but not affected by AVA. Thus, chronic AVA supplementation decreased systemic and DW-induced inflammation and increased blood-borne antioxidant defense in postmenopausal women.

A novel fast sol–gel method, using polyethylene glycol and polyacrylamide as bi-templates, to prepare the pure, Fe-doped, N-doped, and Fe–N co-doped mesoporous TiO 2 samples has been developed. The reaction time is reduced to a few hours for the present work. The IR spectrum has been used to investigate the reaction mechanism of the fast sol–gel method. The results indicate that the fast sol–gel process has been achieved due to the polymerization crosslink between hydrolysates of Ti alkoxides and templates by the intermolecular hydrogen bond. The prepared samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption–desorption, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The results show that the samples have a typical ordered mesoporous structure. The crystallite size, pore size, and surface area of Fe–N co-doped TiO 2 are about 13.6, 18.4 nm, and 172.08 m 2  g −1 , respectively. The iron species as the Fe 3+ oxidation state are substitutionally doped into the TiO 2 lattice, and the doped nitrogen atom is incorporated into the TiO 2 lattice as the interstitial N. The co-doping of nitrogen and iron can enhance the absorption of visible region and inhibit the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, leading to higher photocatalytic activity for the co-doped sample than pure TiO 2 and solely doped with iron or nitrogen for degradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation.

A novel fast sol-gel method, using polyethylene glycol and polyacrylamide as bi-templates, to prepare the pure, Fe-doped, N-doped, and Fe-N co-doped mesoporous TiO sub(2) samples has been developed. The reaction time is reduced to a few hours for the present work. The IR spectrum has been used to investigate the reaction mechanism of the fast sol-gel method. The results indicate that the fast sol-gel process has been achieved due to the polymerization crosslink between hydrolysates of Ti alkoxides and templates by the intermolecular hydrogen bond. The prepared samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N sub(2) adsorption-desorption, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The results show that the samples have a typical ordered mesoporous structure. The crystallite size, pore size, and surface area of Fe-N co-doped TiO sub(2) are about 13.6, 18.4 nm, and 172.08 m super(2 )g super(-1), respectively. The iron species as the Fe super(3+) oxidation state are substitutionally doped into the TiO sub(2) lattice, and the doped nitrogen atom is incorporated into the TiO sub(2) lattice as the interstitial N. The co-doping of nitrogen and iron can enhance the absorption of visible region and inhibit the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, leading to higher photocatalytic activity for the co-doped sample than pure TiO sub(2) and solely doped with iron or nitrogen for degradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation.