Medical Bulletin 04/ May/ 2024

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Time-restricted eating and high-intensity exercise may synergistically enhance health

Researchers from the University of Sfax in Tunisia discovered that combining time-restricted eating with high-intensity functional training may improve body composition and cardiometabolic parameters more than either practice alone.

The study published in the journal PLOS ONE explained that time-restricted eating limits when individuals eat but not what individuals eat. High-intensity functional training combines intense aerobic and resistance exercise.

Time-restricted eating involves limiting food intake to specific windows of time, promoting metabolic flexibility and weight management. High-intensity exercise, characterized by short bursts of intense activity, enhances cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and metabolic rate. When integrated, these approaches may optimize insulin sensitivity, blood sugar control, and lipid metabolism. Additionally, the combination may promote fat loss, muscle growth, and cellular repair mechanisms.

In the study, researchers assigned 64 women with obesity to one of three groups: time-restricted eating (diet only), high-intensity functional training (exercise only), or time-restricted eating plus high-intensity functional training (diet and exercise).The participants following only the time-restricted eating regimen ate only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Subjects in the functional training groups worked out three days a week with an instructor.

The results showed that all three groups experienced significant weight loss and decreases in waist and hip circumference after 12 weeks. All three groups also showed positive changes in glucose and lipid levels.

Researchers also observed improvementsin fat-free mass and blood pressure among those in the diet and exercise group as well as the exercise groups. However, those improvements weren’t seen in the diet-only group.Subjects in the diet and exercise group generally saw more pronounced changes in body composition and cardiometabolic parameters than either diet or exercise alone groups.

“Periods of fasting force the body to burn calorie reserves – fat, after immediate reserves are consumed – and intense physical activity also burns fat. Time of eating can affect a person’s weight. Consuming a larger number of calories later in the day can leave less time for a body to metabolize calories, as there is less calorie consumption when you sleep. Although more research is needed, it’s believed that eating in alignment with circadian rhythms might enhance metabolism, although the ideal timing for meals can vary based on individual lifestyle and metabolic differences,” said the study authors.

Reference:Ranya Ameur ,Rami Maaloul ,SémahTagougui,FadouaNeffati,Faten Hadj Kacem,Mohamed Fadhel Najjar,AchrafAmmar,Omar Hammouda; Unlocking the power of synergy: High-intensity functional training and early time-restricted eating for transformative changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in inactive women with obesity; PLOS ONE; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301369

Study suggest staying active to boost quality of life in middle-aged women

According to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine, consistent adherence to physical activity guidelines throughout middle-age is associated with a higher health-related quality of life in women.

Staying active during middle age offers numerous benefits that significantly enhance the quality of life for women. Regular physical activity during this life stage helps maintain cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke. It also supports healthy weight management, which is crucial for overall well-being and reducing the risk of obesity-related health issues. Additionally, staying active improves muscle strength, flexibility, and bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and age-related muscle loss.

In the study, researchers used data collected at three-year intervals beginning in 1996 from 11,336 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Participants were classified as either meeting WHO physical activity guidelines — of 150 minutes of activity a week — consistently throughout the fifteen-year exposure period. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the physical health composite score (PCS) and mental health composite score (MCS), which included questions about functional health and well-being.

The results revealed that on average, people who consistently met physical activity guidelines and those who first started to meet guidelines at age 55 had a three-point higher PCS compared to those that did not meet physical activity guidelines. The effect of physical activity on the PSC was significant even after controlling for socioeconomic factors and pre-existing health diagnoses. However, there was no significant association between physical activity and MCS.

“Combined with existing evidence, this study contributes to growing evidence of the benefits of maintaining or adopting an active lifestyle in mid-age,” the authors say. “An important public health message is that being active for as many years as possible, even if women start to meet physical activity guidelines in their mid-50s, could have important health benefits in terms of physical health, especially in physical functioning.Our study shows that it’s important for women to be active throughout mid-age to gain the most benefits for physical health in later life. Ideally, women should increase their activity levels to meet the guidelines by age 55,” said the study authors.

Reference:Binh Nguyen ,PhilipClare,Gregore I. Mielke,Wendy J. Brown,Ding Ding; Physical activity across midlife and health-related quality of life in Australian women: A target trial emulation using a longitudinal cohort; PLOS Medicine; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004384

Children with hypertension at higher risk for heart conditions, finds study

According to a study being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, youth with high blood pressure are nearly four times more likely to be at long-term risk of serious heart conditions including stroke and heart attack.

Hypertension affects one of every 15 children and adolescents worldwide and is a growing concern, according to previous researches. A child is diagnosed with hypertension when their average blood pressure is at or above the 95th percentile for their age, sex and height. While the reason for the increase in pediatric hypertension is not entirely clear, it is considered to be due to obesity.

High blood pressure can cause many heart conditions, including:

1. Coronary artery disease where the arteries that supply blood to the heart are narrowed and damaged. Too little blood flow to the heart can lead to chest pain, called angina and cause irregular heart rhythms.

2.Heart failure where the heart muscle weakens or becomes stiff and functions poorly.

3. Metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of health conditions that can lead to stroke or diabetes.

The study found that during an average follow-up of 13 years, youth with hypertension were at two to four times higher risk of experiencing heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or cardiac surgery compared to youth without hypertension. Experts said that improved blood pressure screening and treatment during childhood may reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular disease as an adult.

“Devoting more resources to pediatric blood pressure screening and control could lower the risks of long-term heart conditions in children with hypertension. More awareness about the importance of regular screening and follow-up for pediatric hypertension may prevent children from developing significant adverse heart outcomes later in life”said Cal H. Robinson, MD, pediatric nephrology fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and presenting author.

Reference:Cal H. Robinson, MD et al.; Long-term cardiovascular outcomes in children and adolescents with hypertension: A population-based, propensity-matched cohort study; Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meetingheld May 3-6 in Toronto.