ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7548-7138
Current Organisations
University of Granada
,
Karolinska Institutet
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Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 13-06-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.06.09.22275139
Abstract: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness European children and adolescents aged 6–18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multi-language fitness platform (FitBack) (2) To provide comparisons across European countries. This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by: (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data, and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the ALPHA test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity, and health-related predictive validity: the 20-m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness) handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength) and body height, body mass, body mass index, and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the GAMLSS method. A total of 7,966,693 data points from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex- and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including in idual and group reporting, and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available at www.fitbackeurope.eu . This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from a health, educational and sport perspective, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe. - Fitness testing in youth is important from a health, educational and sport point of view. - The EU-funded ALPHA project reviewed the existing evidence and proposed a selection of field-based fitness tests that showed the highest test-retest reliability, criterion/construct validity, and health-related predictive validity among available tests. - The FitBack project provides the most up-to-date and geographically erse reference fitness values for 6-to 18-year-old Europeans. - This study introduces the first web-based, open-access, and multi-lingual fitness reporting platform (FitBack) providing interactive information and visual mapping of the European fitness landscape. - From a health perspective, very low fitness levels are a non-invasive indicator of poor health at both the in idual and group level (e.g., school, region), which have utility for health screening and may guide public health policy. There are already ex les of regional and national fitness testing systems that are integrated into the healthcare systems. - From an educational perspective, fitness testing is part of the school curriculum in many countries, and the FitBack platform offers physical education teachers an easy-to-use tool for interpreting fitness test results by sex and age. - From a sport perspective, these reference values can help identify young in iduals who are talented in specific fitness components.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 07-09-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980011002230
Abstract: There are no percentile curves for BMI, waist circumference (WC) or waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) available for Portuguese children and adolescents. The purpose of the present study was to develop age- and sex-specific BMI, WC and WHtR percentile curves for a representative s le of adolescents living in the Portuguese islands of Azores, one of the poorest regions of Europe, and to compare them with those from other countries. Cross-sectional school-based study. Weight, height and WC were objectively measured according to standard procedures. Smoothed percentile curves were estimated using Cole's LMS method. Azores, Portugal. Proportionate stratified random s le of 1500 adolescents, aged 15–18 years. Results showed some sex differences in the shape of the BMI curves: in girls, the upper percentile values tend to decrease by the age of 16 and 17 years whereas in boys, the upper percentiles tend to be flat between 15 and 16 years and then increase until the age of 18 years. In both sexes, the upper percentile values of both WC and WHtR decreased slightly by the age of 16 years and then increased steeply. In both sexes, the Azorean values for the 50th and 90th WC percentiles were higher than those reported for adolescents from the majority of other countries. The reference curves presented herein provide baseline data for the long-term surveillance of Azorean adolescents, as well as for national and international comparisons.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-09-2020
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2013
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2013.803595
Abstract: This report aims (1) to examine the association between seasonality and physical activity (PA) and sedentary time in European adolescents and (2) to investigate whether this association was influenced by geographical location (Central-North versus South of Europe), which implies more or less extreme weather and daylight hours. Valid data on PA, sedentary time and seasonality were obtained in 2173 adolescents (1175 females 12.5-17.5 years) included in this study. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured by accelerometers. ANCOVA was conducted to analyse the differences in PA and sedentary time across seasons. Results showed that girls had lower levels of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and average PA, and spent more time in sedentary activities in winter compared with spring (all P < 0.05). Stratified analyses showed differences in PA and sedentary time between winter and spring in European girls from Central-North of Europe (P < 0.05 for sedentary time). There were no differences between PA and sedentary time across seasonality in boys. In conclusion, winter is related with less time spent in MVPA, lower average PA and higher time spent in sedentary activities in European adolescent girls, compared with spring. These differences seem to mainly occur in Central-North Europe.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-03-2017
DOI: 10.1136/BJSPORTS-2016-096955
Abstract: To identify criterion-referenced standards for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) to estimate the percentage of children and youth that met each standard and to discuss strategies to help improve the utility of criterion-referenced standards for population health research. A search of four databases was undertaken to identify papers that reported criterion-referenced CRF standards for children and youth generated using the receiver operating characteristic curve technique. A pseudo-dataset representing the 20-m shuttle run test performance of 1 142 026 children and youth aged 9–17 years from 50 countries was generated using Monte Carlo simulation. Pseudo-data were used to estimate the international percentage of children and youth that met published criterion-referenced standards for CRF. Ten studies reported criterion-referenced standards for healthy CRF in children and youth. The mean percentage (±95% CI) of children and youth that met the standards varied substantially across age groups from 36%±13% to 95%±4% among girls, and from 51%±7% to 96%±16% among boys. There was an age gradient across all criterion-referenced standards where younger children were more likely to meet the standards compared with older children, regardless of sex. Within age groups, mean percentages were more precise (smaller CI) for younger girls and older boys. There are several CRF criterion-referenced standards for children and youth producing widely varying results. This study encourages using the interim international criterion-referenced standards of 35 and 42 mL/kg/min for girls and boys, respectively, to identify children and youth at risk of poor health—raising a clinical red flag.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
Abstract: Adolescence is a critical period, because major physical and psychologic changes occur during a very short period of time. Changes in dietary habits may induce different types of nutritional disorders and are likely to track into adulthood. The aim of this review is to describe the key findings related to nutritional status in European adolescents participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. We performed a cross-sectional study in 3528 (1845 females) adolescents aged 12.5–17.5 y. Birth weight was negatively associated with abdominal fat mass in adolescents and serum leptin concentrations (in female adolescents), providing additional evidence for a programming effect of birth weight on energy homeostasis control. Breakfast consumption was associated with lower body fat content and healthier cardiovascular profile. Adolescents eat half of the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables and less than two-thirds of the recommended amount of milk and milk products but consume more meat and meat products, fats, and sweets than recommended. For beverage consumption, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweetened milk, low-fat milk, and fruit juice provided the highest amount of energy. Although the intakes of saturated fatty acids (FAs) and salt were high, the intake of polyunsaturated FAs was low. Adolescents spent, on average, 9 h/d of their waking time (66–71% and 70–73% of the registered time in boys and girls, respectively) in sedentary activities. Factors associated with adolescents’ sedentary behavior included the following: 1) age 2) media availability in the bedroom 3) sleeping time 4) breakfast consumption and 5) season. Sedentary time was also associated with cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral content. In European adolescents, deficient concentrations were identified for plasma folate (15%), vitamin D (15%), pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (5%), β-carotene (25%), and vitamin E (5%). Scientists and public health authorities should raise awareness of the importance of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle as a foundation of the health of the European population, now and in the future.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-06-2011
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 15-09-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114511004600
Abstract: The present study was intended to examine whether ponderal index (PI) at birth modifies the effect of the fat mass and obesity associated ( FTO) rs9939609 polymorphism on adiposity in European adolescents. A total of 628 adolescents aged 14·4 ( se 1·3) years (56·8 % female) were recruited. PI was calculated from parental reports of birth weight and length (kg/m 3 ), and the BMI (kg/m 2 ), body fat percentage and fat mass index (FMI, kg/m 2 ) were calculated. The rs9939609 polymorphism was genotyped and physical activity assessed by accelerometry. Sex, duration of pregnancy, pubertal status, centre and physical activity were used as confounders in all the analyses. The minor A allele of the FTO rs9939609 was significantly associated with higher BMI, body fat percentage and FMI (all P 0·05) but not with PI. Significant interactions between PI and the rs9939609 polymorphism in terms of body fat percentage ( P = 0·002) and FMI ( P = 0·017) were detected. However, this polymorphism was only significantly associated with higher BMI, body fat percentage and FMI (all P 0·05) in adolescents in the lower PI tertile. Indeed, both body fat percentage and FMI were higher in those adolescents in the lower PI tertile carrying the A allele of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism than in those with the TT genotype (25·0 ( se 0·8) v. 22·1 ( se 1·0) %, adjusted P = 0·030 and 5·6 ( se 0·3) v. 4·6 ( se 0·4) kg/m 2 , P = 0·031, respectively). Our findings suggest that those adolescents born with lower PI could be more vulnerable to the influence of the A risk allele of the FTO polymorphism on total adiposity content.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.NUMECD.2012.01.011
Abstract: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and diet have been involved as significant factors towards the prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of the combined associations of CRF and adherence to the Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEADiet) on the clustering of metabolic risk factors in adolescents. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 468 adolescents aged 15-18, from the Azorean Islands, Portugal. We measured fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, waits circumference and height. HOMA, TC/HDL-C ratio and waist-to-height ratio were calculated. For each of these variables, a Z-score was computed by age and sex. A metabolic risk score (MRS) was constructed by summing the Z scores of all in idual risk factors. High risk was considered when the in idual had ≥ 1 SD of this score. CRF was measured with the 20 m-Shuttle-Run-Test. Adherence to SEADiet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression showed that, after adjusting for potential confounders, unfit adolescents with low adherence to SEADiet had the highest odds of having MRS (OR = 9.4 95%CI:2.6-33.3) followed by the unfit ones with high adherence to the SEADiet (OR = 6.6 95% CI: 1.9-22.5) when compared to those who were fit and had higher adherence to SEADiet. Unfit adolescents showed higher odds of having high MRS, regardless of the adherence to SEADiet suggesting that high CRF may overcome the deleterious effects of low adherence to a healthy dietary pattern in adolescents.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-02-2014
DOI: 10.1007/S00246-014-0882-X
Abstract: Few studies have reported associations between clustering metabolic risk factors and socioeconomic status (SES) in youth. This study aimed to analyze the association between clustering metabolic risk factors and SES in adolescents. It was hypothesized that SES is inversely related to clustering metabolic risk factors. This 2009 cross-sectional school-based study investigated 517 Portuguese adolescents ages 15-18 years. The study considered the age- and sex-adjusted z-scores for the ratio of total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein, homeostasis model, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure, and a metabolic risk score was constructed by summing all the z-scores (≥1 standard deviation was considered high risk). Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated by the 20 m shuttle-run test and dietary intake by a food frequency questionnaire. The best of parental education was used as a proxy measure of SES. The results showed that adolescents with low SES were more likely to have a high metabolic risk score (odds ratio [OR], 1.96 p < 0.020) regardless of cardiorespiratory fitness, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, or pubertal stage. In conclusion, a lower SES was associated with increased risk for a high metabolic risk score among Azorean adolescents after adjustment for pubertal stage, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Future health-promotion strategies among Azorean adolescents should consider the impact of SES on their health.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.NUMECD.2017.10.018
Abstract: The ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH) construct consists of 4 health behaviors (smoking status, body mass index, physical activity and diet) and 3 health factors (total cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting glucose). A greater number of iCVH components in adolescence are related to better cardiovascular health, but little is known about the correlates of iCVH in adolescents. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine correlates of iCVH in European adolescents. The study comprised 637 European adolescents with complete iCVH data. Participants were part of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study, a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted in 9 different European countries. Correlates investigated were sex and age, family affluence scale, maternal education, geographic location, sleep time, television viewing, duration of pregnancy, birth weight and breastfeeding. Younger adolescents, those whose mothers had medium/high education or those who watched television less than 2 h per day had a greater number of iCVH components compared to those who were older, had a mother with low education or watched television 2 h or more daily (P ≤ 0.01). Since in our study older adolescents had worse iCVH than younger adolescents, early promotion of cardiovascular health may be important. Future studies may also investigate the usefulness of limiting television viewing to promote iCVH. Finally, since adolescents of mothers with low education had poorer iCVH, it may be of special interest to tailor public health promotion to adolescents from families with low socioeconomic status.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 16-08-2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSAMS.2012.05.004
Abstract: To determine the association between the nuclear respiratory factor 2 (NRF-2) polymorphisms and elite athletic performance. We compared the genotype and allele frequencies of the NRF-2 A/C (rs12594956), NRF-2 A/G (rs7181866), and NRF-2 C/T (rs8031031) polymorphisms between world-class endurance athletes (n=89), elite power-oriented athletes (n=38), and non-athletic controls (n=110) of the same Caucasian (Spanish) origin. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral EDTA-treated, anti-coagulated blood using a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The frequency of the AA genotype of the NRF-2 A/C (rs12594956) polymorphism was significantly higher in endurance athletes compared with power athletes (P<0.01) and controls (P<0.01) (48% vs. 13% and 21%, respectively). The likelihood of having the AA (rs12594956) genotype was higher in elite endurance athletes compared with controls [odds ratio (OR): 3.536, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.903-6.571] and elite power athletes (OR: 6.170, 95%CI: 2.206-17.253). Our results suggest that the NRF-2 A/C polymorphism might belong to a growing group of polymorphisms associated with endurance performance at the elite level. However, it is important to replicate these findings in other groups of elite athletes using larger s le sizes.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2011
DOI: 10.1038/OBY.2011.74
Abstract: This study examined the effect of ponderal index (PI) at birth on the relationships between eight common polymorphisms of the leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes and adiposity in adolescents. A total of 823 European adolescents (45.4% girls) aged 14.8 ± 1.4 years were genotyped for the LEP (rs2167270, rs12706832, rs10244329, rs2071045, and rs3828942) and LEPR (rs1137100, rs1137101, and rs8179183) polymorphisms. The PI was calculated from parental reports of birth weight and length. Fat mass index (FMI) was calculated. Analyses were adjusted for relevant confounders. An "adiposity-risk-allele score" based on genotypes at the three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with adolescents' FMI in adolescents within the lower tertile of PI was calculated. The LEP rs10244329 and rs3828942 polymorphisms were associated with higher FMI only in adolescents within the lower PI tertile (+0.55 kg/m(2) per minor T allele, P = 0.040, and +0.58 kg/m(2) per major G allele, P = 0.028, respectively). The LEPR rs8179183 polymorphism was significantly associated with higher FMI in adolescents within the lower PI tertile (+0.87 kg/m(2) per minor C allele, P = 0.006). After correction for multiple comparisons, only the association between the LEPR rs8179183 and FMI persisted. However, each additional risk allele conferred 0.53 kg/m(2) greater FMI in adolescents within the lower tertile of PI (P = 0.008). In conclusion, our results suggest that those adolescents born with lower PI could be more vulnerable to the influence of the LEP rs10244329 and rs3828942 polymorphisms and LEPR rs8179183 polymorphism on total adiposity content. Due to the relatively small s le size, these findings should be replicated in further larger population s les.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 09-01-2023
DOI: 10.1136/BJSPORTS-2022-106176
Abstract: (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6–18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack) (2) to provide comparisons across European countries. This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test–retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness) handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength) and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method. A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including in idual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online ( www.fitbackeurope.eu ). This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSAMS.2013.02.005
Abstract: To determine the association between the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) R577X polymorphism and elite team-sport athletic status in three cohorts of European team-sport athletes. We compared the genotype and allele frequencies of the ACTN3 R577X (rs1815739) polymorphisms between team-sport athletes (n=205), endurance athletes (n=305), sprint ower athletes (n=378), and non-athletic controls (n=568) from Poland, Russia and Spain all participants were unrelated European men. Genomic DNA was extracted from either buccal epithelium or peripheral blood using a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed using several methods, and the results were replicated following recent recommendations for genotype-phenotype association studies. Genotype distributions of all control and athletic groups met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (all p>0.05). Team-sport athletes were less likely to have the 577RR genotype compared to the 577XX genotype than sprint ower athletes [odds ratio: 0.58, 95% confidence interval: 0.34-0.39, p=0.045]. However, the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was not associated with team-sports athletic status, compared to endurance athletes and non-athletic controls. Furthermore, no association was observed for any of the genotypes with respect to the level of competition (elite vs. national level). The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was not associated with team-sport athletic status, compared to endurance athletes and non-athletic controls, and the observation that the 577RR genotype is overrepresented in power/sprint athletes compared with team-sport athletes needs to be confirmed in future studies.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-08-2010
DOI: 10.1007/S00421-010-1585-5
Abstract: We compared the cardiorespiratory response and muscle recruitment [as determined by electromyography (EMG)] of 37 McArdle patients [19 males, 37.4 ± 2.8 years, body mass index (BMI): 25.1 ± 4.7 kg m(-2)] and 33 healthy controls (18 males, 36.4 ± 10.0 years, BMI: 25.7 ± 3.8 kg m(-2)) during cycle-ergometer exercise (an incremental test to exhaustion and a 12-min submaximal constant workload test). We obtained cardiorespiratory [oxygen uptake and heart rate (HR)] and EMG data (rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles). During the incremental test, the patients exhibited the expected hyperkinetic cardiovascular response shown by a marked increase in the slope of the HR:Power relationship (p < 0.001). Throughout the incremental test and at the point of fatigue, the patients produced significantly less power than the controls (peak power output: 67 ± 21 vs. 214 ± 56 watts respectively, p < 0.001), yet they demonstrated significantly higher levels of muscle activity for a given absolute power. During the constant workload test, patients displayed higher levels of EMG activity than the controls during the second half of the test, despite a lower power production (34 ± 13 vs. 94 ± 29 watts respectively, p < 0.001). In conclusion, since the McArdle patients required more motor unit recruitment for a given power output, our data suggest that the state of contractility of their muscles is reduced compared with healthy people. Excessive muscle recruitment for a given load could be one of the mechanisms explaining the exercise intolerance of these patients.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-12-2010
DOI: 10.1113/EXPPHYSIOL.2010.055442
Abstract: A functional -174 C/G polymorphism in the interleukin-6 gene (IL6) is a candidate to explain in idual variations in exercise-related phenotypes. To replicate recent findings showing an association between the G allele and GG genotype of elite power sports performance in European (Spanish) Caucasian males, we compared allelic and genotypic frequencies of the IL6 -174 C/G polymorphism among elite endurance athletes (n = 74) and power athletes (n = 81) and non-athletic control subjects (n = 205) of both sexes from Israel. All subjects were Israeli Caucasians (with an equivalent ratio of non-Ashkenazi and Ashkenazi descent in each group 2:1). We found no differences in the genotype or allele frequencies among groups (all P > 0.3). We further compared the genotype and allele frequencies between national- (n = 109) and international-level Israeli athletes (n = 46) in the endurance and power group, and found no significant genotype or allele differences after adjusting for multiple comparisons. We repeated all the analyses after pooling the Israeli and Spanish control subjects, endurance and power elite athletes, and found no genotypic and allelic differences among groups. The results did not change when the analyses were repeated including only the best Israeli athletes (i.e. the international-level group) together with the group of elite Spanish athletes (P > 0.2). In conclusion, the results of the present study did not show an association between the G allele of the IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism and power sports performance in the Israeli (Caucasian) population. Our findings support the need to replicate association results between genetic polymorphisms and athletic status in populations of different ethnic backgrounds with the largest possible population s les.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-2018
Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Date: 22-05-2013
Abstract: The aims of this study were: to compare energy expenditure (EE) estimated from the existing GT3X accelerometer equations and EE measured with indirect calorimetry to define new equations for EE estimation with the GT3X in youth, adults and older people and to define GT3X vector magnitude (VM) cut points allowing to classify PA intensity in the aforementioned age-groups. The study comprised 31 youth, 31 adults and 35 older people. Participants wore the GT3X (setup: 1-s epoch) over their right hip during 6 conditions of 10-min duration each: resting, treadmill walking/running at 3, 5, 7, and 9 km · h⁻¹, and repeated sit-stands (30 times · min⁻¹). The GT3X proved to be a good tool to predict EE in youth and adults (able to discriminate between the aforementioned conditions), but not in the elderly. We defined the following equations: for all age-groups combined, EE (METs)=2.7406+0.00056 · VM activity counts (counts · min⁻¹)-0.008542 · age (years)-0.01380 · body mass (kg) for youth, METs=1.546618+0.000658 · VM activity counts (counts · min⁻¹) for adults, METs=2.8323+0.00054 · VM activity counts (counts · min⁻¹)-0.059123 · body mass (kg)+1.4410 · gender (women=1, men=2) and for the elderly, METs=2.5878+0.00047 · VM activity counts (counts · min⁻¹)-0.6453 · gender (women=1, men=2). Activity counts derived from the VM yielded a more accurate EE estimation than those derived from the Y-axis. The GT3X represents a step forward in triaxial technology estimating EE. However, age-specific equations must be used to ensure the correct use of this device.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-02-2019
Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Date: 12-04-2012
Abstract: The NOS3-786 T/C polymorphism (rs2070744) is a candidate to explain in idual variations in sports related phenotypes. We determined the genotype and allele frequency of NOS3-786 T/C in a group of 60 male professional elite soccer players. Their results were compared with those of 100 world-class endurance athletes, 53 elite power athletes, and 100 sedentary, healthy men (controls) of the same Caucasian (Spanish) origin. There were significant differences in genotype frequencies between soccer players, controls, endurance and power elite athletes (all P ≤ 0.02). These results were confirmed when we analysed allelic frequencies (all P<0.01). The likelihood of having the C allele was higher in soccer players compared with (i) controls [odds ratio (OR), 2.165, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.362-3.441], (ii) endurance athletes (OR: 1.879, 95%CI: 1.184-2.984), and (iii) power athletes (OR: 4.032, 95%CI: 2.307-7.047). In conclusion, the -786C allele is associated with the status of being an elite soccer player, compared with non-athletic controls and also with elite endurance and power athletes. More research is needed in other groups of elite soccer players in order to replicate the results of the present study.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-07-2018
DOI: 10.1007/S00394-018-1764-4
Abstract: To assess if a healthy diet might attenuate the positive sedentary-inflammation relation, whereas an unhealthy diet may increase the effect of sedentary behaviors on inflammatory biomarkers. In 618 adolescents (13-17 years) of the European HELENA study, data were available on body composition, a set of inflammation markers, and food intake assessed by a self-administered computerized 24 h dietary recall for 2 days. A 9-point Mediterranean diet score and an antioxidant-rich diet z-score were used as dietary indices and tested as moderators. A set of low-grade inflammatory characteristics was used as outcome: several cytokines in an inflammatory ratio (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, TGFβ-1), C-reactive protein, three cell-adhesion molecules (sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, sE-selectin), three cardiovascular risk markers (GGT, ALT, homocysteine) and three immune cell types (white blood cells, lymphocytes, CD3). Sedentary behaviors were self-reported and analyzed as total screen time. Multiple linear regression analyses tested moderation by diet in the sedentary behaviors-inflammation association adjusted for age, sex, country, adiposity (sum of six skinfolds), parental education, and socio-economic status. Both diet scores, Mediterranean and antioxidant-rich diet, were significant protective moderators in the effect of sedentary behaviors on alanine-transaminase enzyme (P = 0.014 P = 0.027), and on the pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine ratio (P = 0.001 P = 0.004), but not on other inflammatory parameters. A higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet or an antioxidant-rich diet may attenuate the onset of oxidative stress signs associated by sedentary behaviors, whereas a poor diet seems to increase inflammation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.CCT.2016.02.007
Abstract: The new and recent advances in neuroelectric and neuroimaging technologies provide a new era for further exploring and understanding how brain and cognition function can be stimulated by environmental factors, such as exercise, and particularly to study whether physical exercise influences brain development in early ages. The present study, namely the ActiveBrains project, aims to examine the effects of a physical exercise programme on brain and cognition, as well as on selected physical and mental health outcomes in overweight/obese children. A total of 100 participants aged 8 to 11 years are randomized into an exercise group (N=50) or a control group (N=50). The intervention lasts 20-weeks, with 3-5 sessions per week of 90 min each, and is mainly focused on high-intensity aerobic exercise yet also includes muscle-strengthening exercises. The extent to what the intervention effect remains 8-months after the exercise programme finishes is also studied in a subs le. Brain structure and function and cognitive performance are assessed using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalographic recordings. Secondary outcomes include physical health outcomes (e.g. physical fitness, body fatness, bone mass and lipid-metabolic factors) and mental health outcomes (e.g. chronic stress indicators and overall behavioural and personality measurements such as anxiety or depression). This project will substantially contribute to the existing knowledge and will have an impact on societies, since early stimulation of brain development might have long lasting consequences on cognitive performance, academic achievement and in the prevention of behavioural problems and the promotion of psychological adjustment and mental health. Clinical trials. Gov identifier: NCT02295072.
Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Date: 25-11-2010
Abstract: We aimed to replicate the original findings by Eynon et al. showing an association between the T allele of the GNB3 C825T polymorphism and elite endurance athletic status, in larger cohorts and in other ethnicities. We compared allelic and genotypic frequencies of the GNB3 C825T polymorphism among non-athletic controls (N=340), elite endurance athletes (N=174), and power athletes (N=134). The population s le included participants from 2 different ethnic/geographic backgrounds (Israel and Spain). We observed no significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies between countries or groups (all P>0.1). The odds ratio (OR) of being an endurance athlete if the subject had a T allele was 0.841 (95%CI: 0.638-1.110) compared to the control group and 1.047 (95% CI: 0.751-1.461) compared to the power group. Our findings support the need to corroborate genotype:phenotype associations in the field of sports genetics with the largest possible population s les, including populations of different ethnic backgrounds.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.MITO.2010.07.004
Abstract: We determined the probability of in iduals having the 'optimal' mitochondrial biogenesis related endurance polygenic profile, and compared the endurance polygenic profile of Israeli (Caucasian) endurance athletes (n = 74), power athletes (n = 81), and non-athletes (n = 240). We computed a mitochondrial biogenesis related 'endurance genotype score' (EGS, scoring from 0 to 100) from the accumulated combination of six polymorphisms in the PPARGC1A-NRF-TFAM pathway. Some of the variant alleles of the polymorphisms studied were so infrequent, that the probability of possessing an 'optimal' EGS (= 100) was 0% in the entire study population. However, the EGS was significantly higher (P<0.001) in endurance athletes (38.9 ± 17.1) compared with controls (30.6 ± 12.4) or power athletes (29.0 ± 11.2). In summary, although the probability of an in idual possessing a theoretically 'optimal' genetic background for endurance sports is very low, in general endurance athletes have a polygenic profile that is more suitable for mitochondrial biogenesis.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSAMS.2010.07.003
Abstract: There is increasing evidence that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important health marker already in youth. This study aimed to determine the ability of five VO(2max) equations to discriminate between low/high Metabolic Risk in 450 Portuguese adolescents aged 10-18. We measured waist and hip circumferences, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure. For each of these variables, a Z-score was computed. The HDL-cholesterol was multiplied by -1. A metabolic risk score was constructed by summing the Z scores of all in idual risk factors. High risk was considered when the in idual had ≥1 SD of this score. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was measured with the 20-m shuttle run test. We estimated VO(2max) from the CRF tests using five equations. ROC analyses showed a significant discriminatory accuracy for the Matsuzaka and Barnett(a) equations in identifying the low/high metabolic risk in both genders (Matsuzaka girls: AUC=0.654, 95%CI: 0.591-0.713, p<0.001, VO(2max)=39.5 mL kg⁻¹min⁻¹ boys: AUC=0.648, 95%CI: 0.576-0.716, p<0.001, VO(2max)=41.8 mL kg⁻¹min⁻¹ Barnett(a) girls: AUC=0.620, 95%CI: 0.557-0.681, p<0.001, VO(2max)=46.4 mL kg⁻¹min⁻¹ boys: AUC=0.628, 95%CI: 0.555-0.697, p=0.04, VO(2max)=42.6 mL kg⁻¹min⁻¹), and the Ruiz equation in boys (AUC=0.638, 95%CI: 0.565-0.706, p<0.001, VO(2max)=47.1 mL kg⁻¹min⁻¹). The VO(2max) values found require further testing in other populations as well as in longitudinal studies the identification of adolescents who have low CRF levels can help detect youth with an increased risk of metabolic disease.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 15-04-2011
Abstract: Although there is a growing interest in the epidemiology of sedentary behaviours, it is unknown whether sedentary behaviour questionnaires are broad markers of sedentary time. The aims of this study were to determine the: (i) reliability of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) screen time-based sedentary behaviour questionnaire and (ii) its validity, i.e. the ability of the questionnaire to correctly rank adolescents according to the objectively measured sedentary time. A total of 183 adolescents (104 females aged 12.5-17.5 years) were involved in the reliability study. Participants completed the HELENA sedentary questionnaire twice (1 week apart). The validity study comprised 2048 (1212 females) adolescents (12.5-17.5 years of age) included in the HELENA cross-sectional study. Questions included television viewing, computer games, console games, Internet for study and non-study reasons and study during week and weekend days. We compared median values of sedentary time, using accelerometers, by tertiles of self-reported sedentary behaviours and their sum (composite sedentary score). Reliability study: κ-values showed a good agreement (>0.7), except for Internet for study reasons (0.46 weekdays, 0.33 weekend). The questionnaire correctly classified boys' sedentary time when analysed by specific behaviours and by a composite sedentary score. In girls, median values of objectively measured sedentary time were not different across tertiles of self-reported sedentary behaviours or the composite sedentary score. The HELENA sedentary questionnaire is reliable, yet only correctly classifies objectively measured sedentary time in boys.
No related grants have been discovered for JONATAN RUIZ.