Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

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Contributions of mean and shape of blood pressure distribution to worldwide trends and variations in raised blood pressure: A pooled analysis of 1018 population-based measurement studies with 88.6 million participants

Background: Change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure could be due to both shifts in the entire distribution of blood pressure (representing the combined effects of public health interventions and secular trends) and changes in its high-blood-pressure tail (representing successful clinical interventions to control blood pressure in the hypertensive population). Our aim was to quantify the contributions of these two phenomena to the worldwide trends in the prevalence of raised blood pressure. Methods: We pooled 1018 population-based studies with blood pressure measurements on 88.6 million participants from 1985 to 2016. We first calculated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean dia…

Additional file 1 of Medium-chain triglycerides may improve memory in non-demented older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Additional file 1: Table S1. Search terms employed in the literature search.

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia…

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities(.)(1,2) This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity(3-6). Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55% of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017-and more than 80% in some low- and middle-income regions…

Effects of acute b-alanine supplementation on countermovement jump performance after a 4x400 m fatigue protocol: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

This study aimed to examine the effect of acute beta-alanine (β-alanine) supplementation on jump performance after a strenuous fatigue protocol. Twelve healthy young men (age 21.4±0.5 years, body height 180.2±5.8 cm, body mass 76.6±9.2 kg) volunteered to participate in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The experimental group ingested 3.2 g of β-alanine (separated into two 1.6 g dosages) mixed with 23 g of glucose, whereas the placebo group ingested two dosages containing 23 g of glucose. Following the supplementation intake, participants completed a jump protocol involving countermovement jump (CMJ) and four consecutive countermovement jumps (CMJ-4). Subsequently, a 4…

Author response: Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

Effects of Rapid Weight Loss on Kidney Function in Combat Sport Athletes

Even though scientific literature shows numerous heath complications and performance decrements associated with rapid weight loss (RWL), its prevalence remains exceedingly high across various combat sports. The aim of this study was to thoroughly search the existing literature to explore the influence of RWL on kidney function in Olympic and non-Olympic combat sport athletes. PubMed and Web of Science were searched for the relevant studies. Only original articles published from 2005 onwards, written in English, that included healthy males and females who prompted ~5% weight loss within a week or less, were included in the study. Retrieved studies showed that creatinine, blood urea nitrogen …

Guanidinoacetate-creatine in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a case report.

Acute secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) is characterized by escalating neurological disability, with limited disease-modifying therapeutic options. A 48-year-old woman with acute SPMS being treated with interferon beta-1a and oral corticosteroids presented as a clinical outpatient with no disease-modifying effects after treatment. A decision was made to treat her with a combination of guanidinoacetate and creatine for 21 days. She had made clinical progress at follow-up, with the intensity of fatigue dropping from severe to mild. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed increased brain choline, creatine, N-acetylaspartate, and glutathione. Patients with SPMS may benefit from …

Guanidinoacetic Acid as a Nutritional Adjuvant to Multiple Sclerosis Therapy

Tackling impaired bioenergetics in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been recently recognized as an innovative approach with therapeutic potential. Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is an experimental nutrient that plays a significant role in high-energy phosphate metabolism. The preliminary trials suggest beneficial effects of supplemental GAA in MS, with GAA augments biomarkers of brain energy metabolism and improves patient-reported features of the disease. GAA can also impact other metabolic footprints of MS, including demyelination, oxidative stress, and GABA-glutamate imbalance. In this mini-review article, we summarize studies evaluating GAA effectiveness in MS, explore mechanisms of GAA action, …

Creatine as a Promising Component of Paternal Preconception Diet

Male fertility has been declining globally over the past several decades, advancing from a personal issue to a public health problem. Beyond any doubt, a reduction in fertility (often characterized by low sperm count or motility) can severely threaten reproductive health and lifecourse framework in a long-term fashion. Aside from uncovering the currently unknown etiology of modern-day male infertility, the scientific and medical community faces a double burden: finding an efficient biomarker of impaired fertility and exploring any intervention that can act to enhance fertility. A plethora of nutritional compounds have been recognized as possible modulators of semen quality, and specific die…

Medium-chain triglycerides may improve memory in non-demented older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background Ketosis has been exploited for its neuroprotective impact and treatment of neurological conditions via ketone production. Exogenous medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation may induce nutritional ketosis. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the effects of MCTs on memory function in older adults without cognitive impairment. Methods A systematic literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was employed from inception until April 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, investigating the impact of MCT oils on com…

Effects of Rapid Weight Loss on Judo Athletes: A Systematic Review

Rapid weight loss (RWL) is commonly practiced among judo athletes. Although it helps them to gain the advantage over their lighter opponents, previous studies have shown that RWL can have a negative impact on the athlete’s performance and overall well-being. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence that examines the influence of rapid weight loss on physiological parameters, biomarkers, and psychological well-being in judo athletes. We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. We searched for studies on Web of Science and PubMed that elaborate on the influence of ≥5% RWL achieved over ≤7-day period in judokas. Out of 52 studie…

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

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A century of trends in adult human height

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Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014: a pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19.2 million participants

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Behind the mask: Rethinking the use of face masks while exercising

there is an ongoing global effort against COVID-19 pan-demic. As vaccination is applied globally (predominantly onat-risk populations), various measures such as temporaryself-quarantine, social distancing, increased hand hygiene,and wearing a face mask (FM) proposed by the World HealthOrganization (WHO) and various governments worldwide arestill in place as primary means of preventing further dissemi-nation. In many instances, wearing a FM became mandatorywhen a person is in a closed space while being accompa-nied by others. Many individuals are therefore apprehensivein terms of maintaining their usual physical activity rout-ines and staying safe in the midst of the outbreak. Asa result, it…

Improving Brain Creatine Uptake by Klotho Protein Stimulation: Can Diet Hit the Big Time?

Creatine plays a pivotal role in cellular bioenergetics, acting as a temporal and spatial energy buffer in cells with high and fluctuating energy requirements (1). Jeopardizing delicate creatine homeostasis can be detrimental to many energy-demanding tissues, including the brain. For instance, cerebral creatine hypometabolism accompanies various neurological conditions, including a number of developmental disorders (2, 3), neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases (4, 5), and brain cancer (6). A reduced creatine availability in the brain has been thus recognized as an apposite therapeutic target, and supplying exogenous creatine to compensate for a disease-driven shortfall emerged as a…

Low Tissue Creatine: A Therapeutic Target in Clinical Nutrition

Low tissue creatine characterizes many conditions, including neurodegenerative, cardiopulmonary, and metabolic diseases, with a magnitude of creatine shortfall often corresponds well to a disorder’s severity. A non-invasive monitoring of tissue metabolism with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) might be a feasible tool to evaluate suboptimal levels of creatine for both predictive, diagnostic, and therapeutic purposes. This mini review paper summarizes disorders with deficient creatine levels and provides arguments for assessing and employing tissue creatine as a relevant target in clinical nutrition.

Additional file 2 of Medium-chain triglycerides may improve memory in non-demented older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Additional file 2: Table S2. Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Study (PICOS) criteria for the inclusion of studies in the systematic review.

Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990-2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019.Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)…

Cardiorespiratory fitness in volleyball athletes following a covid-19 infection: A cross-sectional study

Athletes’ lifestyles have been dramatically affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system and to a lesser degree the cardiovascular system, the goal of this study was to examine the effects of COVID-19-caused detraining on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of recently recovered volleyball athletes. Sixteen experienced volleyball athletes (age 24 ± 4.5 years) who were recently diagnosed and recovered from a COVID-19 infection volunteered to participate in this study and were tested for CRF and spirometry. Given that participants had only mild symptoms of infection, the primary focus of this study was on the effects of detr…

Creatine consumption and liver disease manifestations in individuals aged 12 years and over

Despite the overwhelming safety evidence concerning creatine intake in various settings, there is still incomplete information whether dietary creatine affects liver health at the population level. The main aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to evaluate the association between creatine intake through regular diet and liver disease manifestations, including liver fibrosis and hepatic steatosis, among individuals aged 12 years and over, using open-source data from the 2017–2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 9254 male and female participants of all ages were included in the 2017–2018 NHANES round. We extracted data from the total…

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Brain Function and Health

While the vast majority of research involving creatine supplementation has focused on skeletal muscle, there is a small body of accumulating research which has focused on creatine and the brain. Preliminary studies indicate that creatine supplementation (and guanidinoacetic acid; GAA) has the ability to increase brain creatine content in humans. Further, creatine has shown some promise for attenuating symptoms of concussion, mild traumatic brain injury and depression but its effect on neurodegenerative diseases appears lacking. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the current body of research pertaining to creatine supplementation on total creatine and phophorylcreatine cont…

Exercise-Driven Increase in Gut Microbial Hydrogen Production as a Possible Factor of Metabolic Health

sj-pdf-1-imr-10.1177_03000605211073305 - Supplemental material for Guanidinoacetate���creatine in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a case report

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-imr-10.1177_03000605211073305 for Guanidinoacetate���creatine in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a case report by Sergej M. Ostojic, Jelena Ostojic, Dragana Zanini, Tatjana Jezdimirovic and Valdemar Stajer in Journal of International Medical Research