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The search to increase physical performance is inherent to physical activity practitioners, and nutrition features are among the alternatives to seeking such an increase. The literature from the area has shown that different substances can promote beneficial effects over physical performance. One substance that has come into the spotlight is theacrine, an alkaloid similar to caffeine, which aims to increase physical performance. However, the studies on this supplement are scarce. Therefore, this study is a randomized, controlled trial that aimed to verify the effects of theacrine supplementation over physical performance in young male athletes, by applying a battery of physical tests. Twenty-two male amateur flag-football athletes were recruited. Subjects were divided into two groups and assessed at two moments, which were 72 h apart. The first assessment served as a basal measurement. In the second, the subjects ingested the supplement or a placebo 60 min before the following tests: sextuple jump, agility T test, 30 m sprint, 40 s run test (Matsudo test), and 12 min run test (Cooper test). There was no difference between the groups in any of the tests. Therefore, the findings of this study do not support the use of theacrine to increase physical performance.

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Bodybuilding involves athletes performing a series of poses/postures on the stage so that they can be classified according to their best esthetic and physical appearance during the competition. In the weeks prior to the target competition, the athletes subject themselves to restrictive diets and different physical training methods, as well as using dietary supplementation and, in some cases, anabolic steroids, to reduce body fat to low levels and maintain or increase muscle mass. On the other hand, it is known that physical training is a potent stimulator for releasing the components of the GH/IGF-I axis that are directly linked to the anabolic process. Based on these assumptions, this study aimed to verify the kinetics of IGF-I and of its binding protein IGFBP-3 in female bodybuilders. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were recorded before and after standardized training sessions at two different times: in the initial phase (phase 1) and in the final phase of the pre-contest (phase 2) of a 12-week training season. It was possible to conclude that there was a significant reduction in serum IGF-I values at the end of the pre-contest phase that preceded the athletes' participation in a competition. With relation to the serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 values measured before and after the standardized training session, it was only possible to verify significant changes in the IGF-I values in the initial phase of the pre-contest. It seems reasonable to suggest that the caloric restriction used by bodybuilders may be related to the decrease in IGF-I values verified at the end of the pre-contest phase.

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Este estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar os usuários comdiabetes mellitus tipo 2, segundo variáveis sociodemográficas eclínicas, e analisar os escores de conhecimento e atitude em relaçãoà doença. Participaram 1919 idosos atendidos em um serviço deatenção básica à saúde de dezembro de 2009 a dezembro de 2011.Para a obtenção dos dados, foram utilizados os Questionários deConhecimento (DKN-A), e de Atitudes Psicológicas do Diabetes(ATT-19). A maioria da população caracterizou-se por idosos comidade a partir de 65 anos; predominantemente do sexo feminino(1705), alfabetizados (62%) e com sobrepeso. Quanto ao conhecimentoda doença, obtiveram-se escores superiores a oito, indicandoresultado satisfatório quanto ao autocuidado. Os escores obtidos emrelação às atitudes mostram dificuldades para o enfrentamento dadoença, apontando os resultados para a necessidade de implantaçãode Programa de Educação em Diabetes às Unidades de Estudo.

The objective of this study was to characterize patients withtype 2 diabetes mellitus, according to sociodemographic and clinicalvariables, and to analyze scores of knowledge and attitudesregarding the disease. The participants were 1919 users attended ata primary health care service, from December 2009 to December2011. The Diabetes Mellitus Knowledge (DKN-A) and Attitude(ATT-19) questionnaires were used for data collection. The majorityof the population was ≥ 65 years old. Most were literate (62%);female (1705) and overweighted. About knowledge on the disease,the patients obtained scores > 8, indicating satisfactory results onself-care. Scores obtained regarding attitudes showed difficulties tocope with the disease. Results evidence the need to adopt a DiabetesEducation Program at the studied units.

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