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Background and aim: Deficiency of zinc and selenium is common in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) and has been associated with the development of non-AIDS related comorbidities, impaired immune system function and mortality. Micronutrient supplementation on long-term-treated PLWHIV could bring potential clinical and immunological benefits improving their health status and quality of life. The aim of the present study is to analyze the effect of zinc and selenium supplementation on body composition, bone mineral density, CD4+ T-cell counts, metabolic profile and immune system status on clinical stable PLWHIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: This is a randomized pilot clinical trial in which we recruited 60 PLWHIV on ART who were assigned to the intervention groups: zinc (30 mg of zinc gluconate), selenium (200 µg of selenium yeast), zinc + selenium (same doses and presentations) or to a control group (without nutritional supplementation) who received supplementation during 6 months. Primary outcome was defined as changes in body composition (weight, muscle and fat mass and bone mineral density) and secondary outcomes as changes in biochemical and immunological parameters (CD4+ T-cell count, cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides and seric zinc and selenium seric concentrations) before and after supplementation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of one individual of each intervention group were analyzed for single cell transcriptomics before and after supplementation. Results: BMI (p = 0.03), fat mass (p = 0.03), and trunk fat (p = 0.01) decreased after 6 months of selenium supplementation. No changes were observed for cholesterol, glucose or triglycerides after supplementation (p > 0.05 in all cases). CD4+ T cells percentage increased after 6 months of selenium supplementation (p = 0.03). On the transcriptome analysis, zinc and selenium supplementation induced changes on de expression of genes associated with the function of naive and memory CD8+ T-cells (p < 0.05 in all cases). Conclusion: Zinc and selenium supplementation could represent a complementary intervention that may improve the health status and immune response of treated PLWHIV.

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Zinc plays a crucial role in cell structure and functionality. Neurodegenerative Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) alters muscle membrane structure, leading to a loss of muscle mass and strength. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in phase angle (PA) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) results in patients with DMD after oral zinc supplementation. This clinical trial included 33 boys aged 5.6 to 24.5 years diagnosed with DMD. They were divided into three groups according to age (G1, G2, and G3) and supplemented with oral zinc. The mean serum zinc concentration was 74 µg/dL, and 29% of patients had concentrations below the reference value. The baseline values (mean (standard deviation)) of the bioelectrical impedance parameters PA, resistance (R), and reactance (Xc) were 2.59° (0.84°), 924.36 (212.31) Ω, and 39.64 (8.41) Ω, respectively. An increase in R and a decrease in PA and lean mass proportional to age were observed, along with a negative correlation (r = -0.614; p < 0.001) between age and PA. The average cell mass in G1 was greater than that in G3 (p = 0.012). There were no significant differences in serum zinc levels or bioelectrical impedance parameters before and after zinc supplementation. We conclude that this population is at risk of zinc deficiency and the proposed dosage of zinc supplementation was not sufficient to alter serum zinc levels, PA and BIVA results.

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Patients with active acromegaly have a higher percentage of lean body mass, a lower percentage of fat body mass, and an increase in their extracellular water compartment compared to healthy individuals. However, muscle function appears to be compromised in patients with acromegaly, with some experiencing worsened physical performance and sarcopenia. Myokine alterations, insulin resistance, dysregulation of protein metabolism, muscle oxidative stress, neuromuscular junction impairment, and increased ectopic intramuscular fat deposits may play roles in muscle dysfunction in patients with acromegaly.

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BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin (DOX) has been widely used in the treatment of breast cancer, but it is directly associated with late-onset cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whether anthropometric, food intake or other risk factors together with DOX-based chemotherapy can increase the risk of developing cardiotoxicity remains uncertain. We examined the association between anthropometric variables with doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in women with breast cancer. METHODS: Twenty-six women (53.7 ± 9.6 y) undergoing DOX-based chemotherapy (408.3 ± 66.7 mg/m2) participated in the study. We collected data on body composition (bioimpedance), dietary intake (24 h) and cardiac function (echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF). All measurements were taken at baseline, one month of treatment completion and one-year follow-up after start of treatment. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity was defined as ≥ 10% absolute decrease in LVEF. Thus, the participants were then grouped as DOX-induced (DIC) or non-DOX-induced (non-DIC) cardiotoxicity. Data are shown as mean ± SD (standard deviation). We performed comparisons between the two groups using Student's t-test for independent samples or Generalized Estimating Equations (groups + 3 evaluation time points) with Bonferroni post-hoc test. Lastly, the correlations were analyzed using Pearson correlation; p < 0.05 for all tests. RESULTS: At baseline the participants' body mass index (BMI) was 29.9 ± 7.9 kg/m2 and LVEF was 67.4 ± 6.2%. Seven of them (26.9%) developed therapy-induced cardiotoxicity (ΔLVEF - 3.2 ± 2.6%; p < 0.001). Postmenopausal status and family history of CVD were more prevalent in the DIC group than non-DIC group. We found no consistent BMI changes in the groups over time. Interestingly, the non-DIC group showed a small increase in visceral fat at treatment completion and increased waist circumference at one-year follow-up compared to baseline. These same changes were not seen in the DIC group. We also observed a pattern of correlation of some anthropometric variables with LVEF: the more unfavorable the body composition the more pronounced the LVEF decrease at one-year follow-up, though not associated with cardiotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not provide sufficient evidence to support that anthropometric variables, food intake or other risk factors increase the risk of developing cardiotoxicity. However, there are apparent trends that need to be further investigated in larger samples.

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BACKGROUND: Health-related physical fitness (HRPF) attributes are considered important markers beneficial to various health outcomes. However, the literature is divergent regarding HRPF and bone health in adulthood, especially due to the end of the second and beginning of the third decades of life when the peak bone mass period occurs. OBJECTIVE: To analyze which HRPF variables are areal bone mineral density (aBMD) predictors in adult males and females. METHODS: This study evaluated 137 healthy young adults aged 18-25 years (50% males). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to estimate fat mass and lean mass and aBMD, hand grip strength test, sit-ups test, flexibility test, lower limb muscle strength and 20-meter run were used to evaluate physical fitness. Multiple linear regression using the backward method was used to analyze bone mineral density predictors by sex. RESULTS: HRPF indicators showed correlations from R = 0.28 in the right femoral neck aBMD to R = 0.61 in the upper limbs aBMD in males; in females, correlations from R = 0.27 in total body aBMD to R = 0.68 in the lower limbs aBMD were found. In males, body mass and HRPF indicators were aBMD predictors with HRPF indicators explaining variance from R²=0.214 in the lumbar spine to R²=0.497 in the upper limbs, and in females, with the exception of the lumbar spine, variance from R²=0.237 in the right femoral neck aBMD to R²=0.442 in the lower limbs aBMD was found. CONCLUSION: Health-related physical fitness components were able to predict aBMD in different anatomical regions in young adults, especially muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness indicators for males, while only lean mass and fat mass for females.

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BACKGROUND: Familial Partial Lipodystrophy (FPLD) is a disease with wide clinical and genetic variation, with seven different subtypes described. Until genetic testing becomes feasible in clinical practice, non-invasive tools are used to evaluate body composition in lipodystrophic patients. This study aimed to analyze the different anthropometric parameters used for screening and diagnosis of FPLD, such as thigh skinfold thickness (TS), Köb index (Köbi), leg fat percentage (LFP), fat mass ratio (FMR) and leg-to-total fat mass ratio in grams (LTR), by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, focusing on determining cutoff points for TS and LFP within a Brazilian population. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with FPLD and seventy-four healthy controls matched for body mass index, sex and age were studied. Data were collected through medical record review after signing informed consent. All participants had body fat distribution evaluated by skinfolds and DXA measures. Fasting blood samples were collected to evaluate glycemic and lipid profiles. Genetic studies were carried out on all patients. Two groups were categorized based on genetic testing and/or anthropometric characteristics: FPLD+ (positive genetic test) and FPLD1 (negative genetic testing, but positive clinical/anthropometric criteria for FPLD). RESULTS: Eighteen (48.6%) patients were classified as FPLD+, and 19 (51.4%) as FPLD1. Unlike what is described in the literature, the LMNA variant in codon 582 was the most common. Among the main diagnostic parameters of FPLD, a statistical difference was observed between the groups for, Köbi, TS, LFP, FMR, and LTR. A cutoff point of 20 mm for TS in FPLD women was found, which is lower than the value classically described in the literature for the diagnosis of FPLD. Additionally, an LFP < 29.6% appears to be a useful tool to aid in the diagnosis of these women. CONCLUSION: Combining anthropometric measurements to assess body fat distribution can lead to a more accurate diagnosis of FPLD. This study suggests new cutoff points for thigh skinfold and leg fat percentage in women with suspected FPLD in Brazil. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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Background/Objectives: Increasing evidence indicates that body composition can significantly influence prognosis in women with breast cancer. However, alterations in body composition, particularly among young women (<40 years), remain largely unknown and underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of computed tomography (CT)-derived body composition with mortality rates among young women recently diagnosed with breast cancer, identifying the best-correlated cutoff value. Methods: This is a bi-set cohort study with retrospective data collection. Women newly diagnosed with ductal invasive breast cancer, aged 20 to 40 years, treated in reference oncology units were included. Body composition was assessed using CT scans at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level, including muscle and adipose compartments. The outcome of interest was the incidence of overall mortality. A maximally selected log-rank Cox-derived analysis was employed to assess the cutoffs associated with mortality. Results: A total of 192 women were included before any form of treatment (median age of 35 years, IQ range: 31-37). Overall mortality occurred in 12% of the females. Stages III-IV were the most frequent (69.5%). Patients who died had a significantly lower muscle area index. CT-derived muscle area was inversely associated with mortality. Each 1 cm2/m2 decrease in skeletal muscle index increased the mortality hazard by 9%. Higher values of adiposity compartments were independently associated with higher mortality. Conclusions: Our study highlights the predictive significance of skeletal muscle area and adipose tissue in predicting survival among young women recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

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Assessing growth quality in preterm infants present challenges, particularly with the use of the standard fat-free mass measurement. We report here a moderate correlation between indirect skeletal muscle mass measurements using the D3-creatine dilution method and fat-free mass measured with air-displacement plethysmography. Skeletal muscle mass could serve as an indicator of growth quality.

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BACKGROUND: The clinical findings of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which is characterized by malnutrition, sedentary lifestyle, uremia, and catabolism associated with dialysis produce changes in Body Composition (BC), causing increased Fat Mass (FM), decreased in both Lean Mass (LM) and Body Mineral Density (BMD), even despite uremic reversal after a Kidney Transplant (KT); immunosuppressive medications alter BC, increasing the risk of loss of the kidney transplant and cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate whether there are differences in BC between a group of patients with KT and a group of patients on Hemodialysis (HD), when comparing them with a control group without the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present observational study, with a comparative design; 125 patients were evaluated (46 with KT, 47 on HD, and 32 from the healthy control group). The BC was evaluated with the full-body Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) method. RESULTS: The mean age and standard deviation (X±SD) of the study subjects were: 28.89 ± 5.76, 27.39 ± 5.04, and 29.63 ± 6.34 years for the HD, KT, and control subjects, respectively. The HD patients presented a total FM of 14.98 ± 6.96 kg in comparison with 20.1 ± 6.5 kg for the control group (p = 0.007), and 19.06 ± 7.94 kg for the group with KT (p = 0.02). The total LM was lower in the KT patients in comparison with the control group (p = 0.023). The content and total BMD were lower in both groups of patients with KT and HD. CONCLUSIONS: Although a comprehensive improvement in BC was expected after kidney transplantation, the results are not close to "normal' values, when compared with those of healthy subjects of the same age.

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BACKGROUND: This study examines whether creatine supplementation combined with strength training mitigates muscle mass loss in women during early rehabilitation post-bariatric surgery, as its effectiveness remains untested in this context. METHODS: Fifteen women (37.8 ± 9.6 years; BMI, 38.8 ± 5.6 kg/m2) completed the intervention (creatine group = 7; placebo group = 8). Both groups followed a strength training program three times a week for 8 weeks. The dosage for both the creatine and placebo was 8 g prior to each exercise session. Body weight, skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, handgrip strength, and physical activity levels were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The creatine group showed a reduction of 9.5 ± 1.5 kg in body weight, with a 0.72 ± 0.6 kg decrease in muscle mass and an 8.64 ± 1.2 kg reduction in fat mass. The placebo group had a reduction of 9.6 ± 3.5 kg in body weight, with a 0.6 ± 1.2 kg decrease in muscle mass and an 8.88 ± 3.2 kg reduction in fat mass, without significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The pre-session strength exercise training creatine supplementation is not superior to placebo regarding body weight and fat mass losses and the attenuation of muscle mass loss during the first weeks of rehabilitation following bariatric surgery.

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BACKGROUND: Phase angle (PhA) obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) works as a predictor of clinical outcomes. Specific cutoff values for longitudinal changes and their relationship with clinical outcomes are still undetermined for patients with critical illness. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between longitudinal changes in PhA during intensive care unit (ICU) stay and all-cause 90-day mortality in patients critically ill with COVID-19. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of adults critically ill with COVID-19 undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation with a length of stay >14 days. BIA was performed at ICU admission and at days 7 and 14 of ICU stay; PhA and hydration parameters were collected. Differences between survivors and nonsurvivors were assessed. Longitudinal changes were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis of variance. A receiver operating characteristics curve for PhA declined (%) during the first 14 days, and all-cause 90-day mortality was performed. Survival probability was reported using hazard ratios (HR). RESULTS: One-hundred nine patients were included. The change in the value of PhA was close to 17.1%. Nonsurvivors had a higher prevalence of individuals with a decrease in PhA >22.2% (area under the curve = 0.65) in the first 14 days in comparison with survivors (70% vs 34.8%, P < 0.01). PhA decrease >22.2% at 14 days was a significant predictor of all-cause 90-day mortality (HR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.71-3.6, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Changes in PhA are associated with all-cause 90-day mortality. Future studies should be directed to interventions to prevent changes in this nutrition marker.

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SUMMARY: Military readiness relies heavily on the physical fitness and operational capability of its personnel. This study aims to enhance the effectiveness of body composition assessment and classification protocols within the military context. A comprehensive evaluation of 4370 active-duty Chilean military personnel was conducted, focusing on anthropometric characteristics, including adipose tissue, muscle tissue, and anthropometric indices. The study observed significant differences in body composition between genders, with men exhibiting lower levels of body fat percentage (men: 26.28 %; women: 34.62 %) but higher levels of muscle mass (men: 42.0 %; women: 36.0 %;), skeletal muscle index (men:11.81; women: 9.31), and fat-free mass index (men: 19.92; women: 18.45) compared to women. High levels of muscle tissue were observed in both groups. By integrating these findings into a standardized assessment protocol, a more accurate classification of military personnel was achieved, surpassing traditional methods used in sedentary obese populations. The study advocates the future adoption of an assessment model based on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, which consider the multifaceted nature of body composition and its impact on operational capability. Such a model would enable military forces to optimize their personnel's physical fitness and readiness, thus enhancing their effectiveness in deployment operations.

La preparación militar depende en gran medida de la aptitud física y la capacidad operativa de su personal. Este estudio tiene como objetivo mejorar la eficacia de los protocolos de evaluación y clasificación de la composición corporal dentro del contexto militar. Se realizó una evaluación integral de 4.370 militares chilenos en servicio activo, centrándose en las características antropométricas, incluido el tejido adiposo, el tejido muscular y los índices antropométricos. El estudio observó diferencias significativas en la composición corporal entre sexos, con los hombres exhibiendo niveles más bajos de porcentaje de grasa corporal (hombres: 26,28 %; mujeres: 34,62 %) pero niveles más altos de masa muscular (hombres: 42,0 %; mujeres: 36,0 %;), índice de músculo esquelético (hombres: 11,81; mujeres: 9,31) e índice de masa magra (hombres: 19,92; mujeres: 18,45) en comparación con las mujeres. Se observaron altos niveles de tejido muscular en ambos grupos. Al integrar estos hallazgos en un protocolo de evaluación estandarizado, se logró una clasificación más precisa del personal militar, superando los métodos tradicionales utilizados en poblaciones obesas sedentarias. El estudio aboga por la adopción futura de un modelo de evaluación basado en algoritmos de inteligencia artificial (IA), que consideren la naturaleza multifacética de la composición corporal y su impacto en la capacidad operativa. Un modelo de este tipo permitiría a las fuerzas militares optimizar la aptitud física y la preparación de su personal, mejorando así su eficacia en las operaciones de despliegue.

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SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to establish an age-related dynamic of change model for predicting changes in body composition indicators in professional firefighters. The study included a total sample of 145 subjects, comprising professional firefighters from Serbia (Age: 36.6 ± 7.6 yrs., Min - Max: 21.0 - 52.0 yrs.). Four basic variables were analysed: Body Mass - BM, Body Fat Mass - BFM, Skeletal Muscle Mass - SMM, and Visceral Fat Area - VFA, as well as five derived, or index, variables: Body Mass Index - BMI, Percentage of Body Fat - PBF, Percentage of Skeletal Muscle Mass - PSMM, Protein-Fat Index - PFI, and Index of Body - IBC Composition. The results showed a statistically significant dynamic of change as a function of age for eight of the examined variables, while only one (Skeletal Muscle Mass - SMM) was not statistically significant. The highest statistical significance in terms of dynamics of change as a function of age was found for the variable VFA (F = 35.241, p = 000) and the variable PSMM (F = 31.398, p = 0.000). Professional firefighters in Serbia fall into the category of people with normal nutritional indicators. However, due to a dominant increase in visceral fat (VFA) combined with a dominant decrease in the proportion of skeletal muscles in the body (PSMM), it can be concluded that they are exposed to a risk of developing various chronic diseases, while their working conditions, which promote certain negative lifestyle habits, also contribute to the observed increase in body fat components.

El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer un modelo de dinámica de cambio relacionada con la edad para predecir cambios en los indicadores de composición corporal en bomberos profesionales. El estudio incluyó una muestra total de 145 sujetos, incluidos bomberos profesionales de Serbia (Edad: 36,6 ± 7,6 años, mín. - máx.: 21,0 - 52,0 años). Se analizaron cuatro variables básicas: Masa Corporal - MC, Masa Grasa Corporal - MGC, - Masa Muscular Esquelética - MME y Área Grasa Visceral - AGV, así como cinco variables derivadas o indexadas: Índice de Masa Corporal - IMC, Porcentaje de grasa corporal - PGC, porcentaje de masa muscular esquelética - PMME, índice proteína-grasa - IPG e índice de composición corporal - ICC. Los resultados mostraron una dinámica de cambio estadísticamente significativa en función de la edad para ocho de las variables examinadas, mientras que sólo una, MME no fue estadísticamente significativa. La mayor significancia estadística en términos de dinámica de cambio en función de la edad se encontró para la variable AGV (F = 35,241, p = 000) y la variable PMME (F = 31,398, p = 0,000). Los bomberos profesionales de Serbia pertenecen a la categoría de personas con indicadores nutricionales normales. Sin embargo, debido a un aumento dominante de la grasa visceral combinado con una disminución dominante de la PMME, se puede concluir que están expuestos a un riesgo de desarrollar diversas enfermedades crónicas, mientras que las condiciones de trabajo, que promueven ciertos hábitos de vida negativos, también contribuyen al aumento observado de los componentes de la grasa corporal.

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El análisis de impedancia bioeléctrica (BIA) es un método relativamente económico, rápido y no invasivo para la determinación de la composición corporal. El ángulo de fase (PhA) es un indicador de la salud celular y de la integridad de la membrana y parece estar relacionado con la capacidad física y el rendimiento deportivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue el de analizar las posibles relaciones entre PhA y el porcentaje de masa muscular esquelética (SMM%) y entre PhA y el porcentaje de masa grasa (FM%) en una población caucásica sana, con un amplio rango de edad. Se analizaron 210 sujetos caucásicos sanos (99 mujeres y 111 hombres), de edades comprendidas entre 20 y 70 años. Se utilizó un dispositivo BIA mano-pie (BIA-101, AKERN-Srl, Firenze, Italy) para la determinación de los parámetros bioeléctricos y un escáner DXA de cuerpo entero QDR, serie Horizon (Hologic Inc., Bedford, MA, USA) para la determinación de SMM% y FM%. Se observaron correlaciones significativas positivas fuertes entre PhA y SMM%, independientemente de la franja de edad, (0,520-0,687; p < 0,01) y correlaciones significativas negativas fuertes (o moderadas/fuertes) entre PhA y FM% (0,492-0,657; p < 0,01), también independientemente de la franja de edad. Estas correlaciones indican que PhA podría utilizarse como marcador para ver la evolución de un sujeto activo, sea deportista o no. Se recomienda, por tanto, el desarrollo y la validación de nuevas ecuaciones para determinar la masa muscular y la masa grasa, que incluyan PhA como parámetro bioeléctrico.

SUMMARY: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive, economic and fast method for body composition assessment. Phase angle (PhA) is considered an indicator of cellular health and cell membrane integrity, and it seems to be related to physical capacity and performance. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible relationships between PhA and skeletal muscle mass percentage (SMM%) and between PhA and fat mass percentage (FM%) in a healthy Caucasian population with a wide age range. 210 healthy Caucasian participants (99 women and 111 men), aged 20-70 years were analyzed. A BIA foot-to-hand body composition analyzer (BIA-101, AKERN-Srl, Firenze, Italy) was used to determine bioelectrical parameters, and a whole body DXA scanner QDR, serie Horizon (Hologic Inc., Bedford, MA, USA) was used for SMM% and FM% assessment. Irrespective of age range, strong positive significant correlations were observed between PhA and SMM% (0.520-0.687; p < 0.01) and strong (or moderate/strong) negative significant correlations were observed between PhA and FM% (0.492-0.657; p < 0.01). These correlations indicate that PhA could be used as a marker to monitor the evolution of an active subject, whether an athlete or not. It would be useful to develop and validate new equations for skeletal muscle mass and fat mass assessment, which include PhA as a bioelectrical parameter.

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BACKGROUND & AIMS: The association of Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) with prognosis has been established for various cancer types, including rectal cancer. However, the precise relationship between PNI and body composition characteristics in patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PNI on overall survival and disease-free survival in non-metastatic rectal cancer patients undergoing total surgical resection. Additionally, it sought to assess the inflammatory status and body composition in patients across different PNI levels. METHODS: Patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer who underwent total surgical resection, were consecutively enrolled. PNI was calculated using the formula: PNI = (10 × serum albumin [g/dl]) + (0.005 × lymphocytes/µL). Body composition was assessed using CT-derived measurements and laboratory tests performed at diagnosis were used to calculate inflammatory indices. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses as well as Kaplan-Meier curves were used to determine prognostic values. RESULTS: A total of 298 patients were included. Patients with low PNI demonstrated significantly reduced overall survival and disease-free survival compared to those with high PNI (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.85; Confidence interval [CI] 1.30-2 0.62; p = 0.001). Moreover, patients with low PNI exhibited heightened systemic inflammatory status and reduced skeletal muscle index, increased muscle radiodensity, as well as a decrease in subcutaneous adipose tissue area, subcutaneous fat index, and low attenuation of both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. CONCLUSION: The PNI, assessed prior to treatment initiation, serves as a prognostic biomarker for non-metastatic rectal cancer patients undergoing total surgical resection and is linked with both inflammation and alterations in body composition.

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BACKGROUND: The most frequent body composition alterations in post-COVID-19 syndrome include low muscle mass, dynapenia, sarcopenia, and obesity. These conditions share interconnected pathophysiological mechanisms that exacerbate each other. The relationship between body composition phenotypes and metabolic abnormalities in post-COVID-19 syndrome remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between body composition phenotypes and insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic abnormalities in non-diabetic individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome. METHODS: A cross-sectional, single-center study involving 483 subjects with post-COVID-19 syndrome following moderate to severe acute COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. Individuals with diabetes, those who declined to participate, or those who could not be contacted were excluded. Body composition phenotypes were classified as normal weight, dynapenia, sarcopenia, dynapenic obesity, and sarcopenic obesity (SO). RESULTS: The average age was 52.69 ± 14.75 years; of note, 67.08% were male. The prevalence of body composition phenotypes was as follows: 13.25% were of normal weight, 9.52% had dynapenia, 9.94% had sarcopenia, 43.69% had obesity, 18.84% had dynapenic obesity, and 4.76% had SO. Additionally, 58.18% had IR. Obesity (OR: 2.98, CI95%; 1.64-5.41) and dynapenic obesity (OR: 4.98, CI95%; 1.46-6.88) were associated with IR. CONCLUSION: The most common body composition phenotypes were obesity, dynapenic obesity, and dynapenia. Furthermore, obesity and dynapenic obesity were associated with IR in post-COVID-19 syndrome.

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The interaction between lifestyle--defined more specifically in health care as the personal exposome--and its implications on obesity and breast cancer development highlights the critical role of body composition and inflammation in these patients. There is clear evidence that the personal and internal exposome triggers biochemical, inflammatory, and metabolic reprogramming, which might favor ectopic lipid accumulation within the body, such as muscles. Additionally, the presence of excessive adipose tissue exacerbates these alterations in the internal exposome, resulting in cell damage and modifying body composition. Understanding the nexus between these lifestyle-induced exposome modifications, such as inflammation, and the resultant changes in body composition is crucial to assess the association with breast cancer progression and treatment responses. Various techniques can be used to evaluate body composition; one of those most used currently is bioelectrical impedance analysis. This analysis provides parameters, including phase angle (PhA), by which cellular health and metabolic activity can be assessed. In addition, PhA is a potential indicator of nutritional status and disease prognosis, as it has been linked to survival and quality of life in patients with cancer. Therefore, PhA might be used in daily oncology practice to implement an accurate nutritional intervention, reducing side effects and complications of oncology management, and improving quality of life during treatment and survival, even in patients with breast cancer with obesity or overweight. The aim of this review is to analyze the existing information on the current application of PhA in patients with breast cancer and its potential use as a tool to assess inflammatory response, identify malnutrition, and predict the deterioration of quality of life so that it could be proposed as an early indicator for nutritional interventions in this group of patients.

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Obesity causes metabolic changes, such as the development of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, physical exercise promotes protection against these diseases. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate whether combined physical training can improve the metabolic system of women with obesity, reducing plasma concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and sphingolipids, regardless of weight loss. Fourteen obese women (BMI 30-40 kg/m2), aged 20-40 years, sedentary, were submitted to 8 weeks of combined physical training (strength and aerobic exercises). The training was performed three times/week, 55 min/session, at 75-90% maximum heart rate. All participants were evaluated pre- and post-exercise intervention, and their body composition, plasma TMAO, creatinine, lipid profile, and sphingolipid concentrations were recorded. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), Speed lactate threshold 1 (SpeedLT1), and Speed lactate threshold 2 (SpeedLT2) evaluated physical performance. Results: After combined exercise, it did not change body composition, but TMAO, total cholesterol, and sphingolipid concentrations significantly decreased (p < 0.05). There was an increase in physical performance by improving VO2max, SpeedLT1, and SpeedLT2 (p < 0.05). The combined physical exercise could induce cardiovascular risk protection by decreasing TMAO in obese women, parallel to physical performance improvement, independent of weight loss.

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BACKGROUND: The vegan diet (VEGD) has gained popularity in recent years for ecological and ethical reasons, as well as for its health benefits. In addition to the type of diet, the resistance training program (RTP) plays a fundamental role as one of the main natural anabolic stimuli to increase musculoskeletal mass and reduce fat mass. METHODS: The study was a 16-week non-randomized controlled clinical trial consisting of three RTP sessions per week. The sample included 70 Chilean individuals, aged between 18 and 59 years, who had been following a VEGD or omnivorous diet (OMND) for the past 6 months. Four groups were established: Vegan Diet Resistance Training Program (VEGD-RTP), Vegan Diet Control (VEGD-C), Omnivorous Diet Resistance Training Program (OMND-RTP), and Omnivorous Diet Control (OMND-C). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 47 women and 23 men, with a mean age of 30.1 (±8.6) years. A reduction of 1.20% in the percentage of fat mass (%FM) was observed in the VEGD-RTP group (r = 0.554, p = 0.016), as well as a reduction of 0.70 kg in kilograms of fat mass (KFM) (r = 0.480, p = 0.036). The OMND-RTP group decreased %FM by 0.90% (r = 0.210, p = 0.432) and KFM by 0.50 kg (r = 0.109, p = 0.683). CONCLUSIONS: RTP combined with VEGD or OMND significantly reduced the percentage of fat mass, although its effect was more significant in the VEGD-RTP participants.

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