A. Pons - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by A. Pons
Public Health Nutrition, 2007
ObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status of the Andean population of Puna and Quebrada of Humahu... more ObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status of the Andean population of Puna and Quebrada of Humahuaca, Jujuy, using anthropometric measurements.Design and subjectsA cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in a representative sample (n = 1236) of individuals from these regions. Children aged 2–9 years, adolescents (10–17 years) and adults (≥18 years; pregnant and lactating women excluded) were considered. Height-for-age, weight-for-height and body mass index (BMI) were calculated in children and adolescents and compared with World Health Organization/National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference standards using Z-scores or percentiles, in order to assess the prevalence of stunting, wasting/thinness and excess weight. In adults, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip (WHR) ratio were used to identify obesity and central adiposity.ResultsStunting (height-for-age Z-score <–2 standard deviations) and obesity (BMI ≥ 95th pe...
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2000
We determined the participation of the cellular compartment in the changes of plasma amino acid c... more We determined the participation of the cellular compartment in the changes of plasma amino acid concentrations during maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Following an overnight fast, male athletes were submitted to a maximal exercise test until fatigue (for 25 min approximately) to determine maximal oxygen uptake. The amino acid concentrations in total blood, plasma, and blood cells were determined before and after the maximal exercise test. Most essential amino acids were decreased significantly in the total blood concentration as a result of the maximal exercise test. However, the concentrations of most nonessential amino acids tended to be significantly increased. Amino acid concentration was increased most in plasma. Concentrations of blood cell alanine and proline were significantly increased by 26% and 15%, respectively, after the maximal exercise test. No significant differences in blood cell concentrations of other amino acids induced by the exercise test were found, although the amount of tryptophan in blood cells was increased after exhaustive exercise.
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2009
Objective: Physical exercise is capable of enhancing or suppressing the immune response depending... more Objective: Physical exercise is capable of enhancing or suppressing the immune response depending on the intensity and duration of exercise. This study investigated how exercise intensity influences the lymphocyte antioxidant response and the induction of cellular oxidative damage. Design: Eighteen voluntary male pre-professional soccer players participated in this study. Sportsmen played a 60 min training match, and were divided into three groups depending on the intensity degree during the match: low, medium and high intensities. Measurements: Malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamins C and E and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression were measured in lymphocytes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined in lymphocytes and neutrophils. Results: Lymphocyte MDA levels and H 2 O 2 production were significantly increased in the group which performed the most intense exercise. Neutrophil counts and ROS production increased progressively with the exercise intensity. Vitamin C significantly decreased after exercise in the highest-intensity group in comparison with initial values, whereas vitamin E levels significantly increased in the medium and high-intensity groups. HO-1 gene expression significantly increased in the medium and highintensity groups. Conclusions: Exercise intensity affects the lymphocyte and neutrophil oxidant/antioxidant balance, but only exercise of high intensity induces lymphocyte oxidative damage.
Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2006
Aims: To describe the nutritional status and dietary practices of patients affected by porphyria ... more Aims: To describe the nutritional status and dietary practices of patients affected by porphyria variegata, paying special attention to the consumption of nutrients that may help or hinder the condition, and to assess the compliance with prevalent nutritional recommendations. Methods: Cross-sectional study. 24 individuals affected by porphyria variegata (16 females and 8 males; mean age 46.8 (SD 19.5) years) from the Balearic Islands (Spain) recruited through the Balearic Porphyria Association. Dietary questionnaires (7-day dietary record and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire), socio-demographic, lifestyle and health status interviews and anthropometric measurements were carried out. Results: According to current recommendations for the Spanish population and to specific recommendations for porphyria patients, the daily intake of saturated fat (13.2% of total energy), sugars (16.9% of total E), cholesterol (387 mg) and alcoholic beverages (1.1 servings per day) were t...
Cytokine, 2014
Exercise induces changes in circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The aim was to inve... more Exercise induces changes in circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The aim was to investigate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) diet supplementation on the plasma cytokine levels and on the peripheral mononuclear (PBMCs) cells cytokine production after a training season or an acute bout of exercise. Fifteen male soccer players were randomly assigned to a placebo or an experimental group. The experimental group consumed an almond-based beverage enriched with DHA, whereas the placebo group consumed the same beverage without DHA. Three blood samples were taken: in basal conditions at the beginning of the nutritional intervention and after eight weeks of training season in basal and post-exercise conditions. The DHA content increased in erythrocytes after 8weeks of training and supplementation. Neither diet supplementation with DHA nor training season altered the basal plasma cytokines and growth factors. Only acute exercise significantly increased plasma IL6 in experimental and placebo groups. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation induced the inflammatory response in PBMCs, with a significant production rate of TNFα, IL6 and IL8 mainly after acute exercise. DHA supplementation significantly reduced the rate of TNFα and IL6 production by stimulated PBMCs. Acute exercise increased the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein levels in PBMCs, although the increase was only statistically significant in the placebo group. In conclusion, a training season does not induce significant changes in the circulating cytokine profile in well-trained soccer players. Exercise increases the PBMCs cell capabilities to produce cytokines after TLR4 stimulation with LPS and this rate of cytokine production is attenuated by diet DHA supplementation.
espanolIntroduccion: El modelo de Restriccion Calorica (RC) pretende reducir el total de calorias... more espanolIntroduccion: El modelo de Restriccion Calorica (RC) pretende reducir el total de calorias ingeridas por semana. Las dos formas mas usuales de alcanzar el deficit calorico deseado (% RC) son reducir la ingesta cada dia o establecer unos dias intermitentes de ayuno o restriccion severa, donde el impacto de la restriccion es mas importante, tiene menor repercusion sobre la perdida de masa muscular, y esta mas facilitada la adherencia al modelo de dieta. Se propone trabajar sobre un modelo de RC cercana al 40% del contenido calorico ordinario, intercalando 3 dias de restriccion severa (600-800Kcal) por semana con los restantes de ingesta habitual, durante un periodo de 6 semanas. Contenido de la investigacion: Dieciocho sujetos sanos y fisicamente activos, siguieron una pauta de restriccion calorica (34,3 ± 15,4%) durante 6 semanas, en las que mantuvieron su actividad fisica regular. Al inicio y al final del experimento se determino la composicion corporal por densitometria (DEX...
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 1995
Amino acids adsorbed onto blood cell membranes represent about 8% of the total amino acids in blo... more Amino acids adsorbed onto blood cell membranes represent about 8% of the total amino acids in blood. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro adsorption kinetics of different amino acids (L-alanine, glycine, L-glutamate, L-glutamine, L-phenylalanine and L-leucine) onto rat erythrocyte membranes and to assess the effect of 24-hr starvation on these adsorption kinetics. Isolated red cell membranes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 10 sec in the presence of 14C-amino acids--with different specific radioactivity--the radioactivity retained in the membrane fraction measured and kinetic parameters of amino acid adsorption determined. With the exception of glutamate, where the adsorption was negligible, all amino acids studied were adsorbed onto isolated red cell membranes, adhering to simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Km' values of glycine, phenylalanine and leucine adsorption in control rats (14.7 +/- 3.8 mM, 8.41 +/- 0.95 mM and 4.65 +/- 0.46 mM respectively, SEM, n = 6-8) decreased in response to 24-hr starvation, giving the following values: 0.792 +/- 0.122 mM, 5.32 +/- 0.82 mM and 3.53 +/- 0.31 mM respectively (SEM, n = 6-8), Vmax' value of glycine adsorption of control rats decreased (from 61.0 +/- 15.5 mmol/mol P/sec to 4.25 +/- 0.70 mmol/mol P/sec, SEM, n = 7) and that of leucine increased (from 13.5 +/- 1.0 mmol/mol P/sec to 18.9 +/- 2.0 mmol/mol P/sec, SEM, n = 7) as an effect of 24-hr starvation. This study shows that alanine, glycine, glutamine, phenylalanine and leucine, but not glutamate, adsorbed onto erythrocyte membranes according to Michaelis-Menten-like kinetics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
British Journal of Nutrition, 2007
The aim of this study was to assess whether the recently developed Diet Quality Index-Internation... more The aim of this study was to assess whether the recently developed Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) was useful to evaluate the diet quality of a young Mediterranean population. A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in southern Spain (Granada-Andalucia) from 2002 to 2005. Dietary information (24 h recall and FFQ) and socio-demographic and lifestyle data were collected from a representative sample of the population (n 288, 44·1 % females and 55·9 % males) aged 6–18 years (mean 12·88 (sd 2·78) years). DQI-I was designed according to the method of Kim et al. modified by Tur et al. for Mediterranean populations. It focused on four main characteristics of a high-quality diet (variety, adequacy, moderation and overall balance). This young population from southern Spain obtained 56·31 % of the total DQI-I score, indicating a poor-quality diet. A higher score was associated with a longer breakfast and greater physical activity. The DQI-I may require further modificatio...
Archives Of Physiology And Biochemistry, 1993
The kinetic parameters of the L-phenylalanine and L-leucine uptake by isolated erythrocytes in fe... more The kinetic parameters of the L-phenylalanine and L-leucine uptake by isolated erythrocytes in fed and 24 hour starved rats have been determined. In addition, the in vivo compartmentation between blood cells and plasma of the above amino acids in arterial and venous blood vessels has also been studied under the above physiological situations. Both the L-phenylalanine and L-leucine uptake by erythrocytes was saturable and non concentrative. Starvation increased the Km value for the leucine uptake and did not significantly affect that of phenylalanine uptake. The in vivo blood cell/plasma (C/P) concentration ratio of both amino acids was higher than the unit. The starvation-induced changes in the relative distribution of these amino acids between the blood cell and the plasma compartments were significant for the phenylalanine in the aortic artery but not in venous blood. The transport system capabilities measured in vitro can not account for the maintenance of both the leucine and phenylalanine gradient between blood cells and plasma, and the starvation-induced changes in the blood amino acids compartmentation are not directly related entirely to the transport system capabilities.
Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2003
To describe alcohol consumption of adolescent boys and girls in Palma de Mallorca, and its relati... more To describe alcohol consumption of adolescent boys and girls in Palma de Mallorca, and its relationship with physical activity and socio-demographic factors. Four hundred and forty five adolescents (171 boys, 274 girls; 14-18 years old) selected from the school census (participation 96%), using two-stage probability sampling were studied. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered and alcohol intake was analysed. Physical activity was computed as a ratio of energy expended in basal metabolic rate. Socio-demographic data were collected, and categorized as gender, mother's level of education, parental occupational status, and mother's region of origin. About 60% of adolescents, 53% of boys and 65% of girls, reported alcohol consumption, which increased with age in boys (91% when they were 18 years old), but remained constant in girls. The adolescents consumed alcohol mainly on weekends; average consumption was four drinks per drinking day, and the most consumed drinks were mild distilled spirits. The mother's educational level and adolescents' physical activity were negatively and significantly related to alcohol consumption, whereas the adolescents from occupational upper-class parents and non Majorcan/Balearic mothers were positively and significantly related to alcohol consumption. The increased penetration of alcohol into the adolescents' environment may result in misuse of consumption. To give more information to parents and adolescents on considering alcohol to be a drug, and to promote physical activity among adolescents may be contributing factors towards decreased alcohol consumption among the latter age group.
Bioscience Reports, 1991
It is well known that the amino acids in the blood are distributed between the plasma and inside ... more It is well known that the amino acids in the blood are distributed between the plasma and inside the cells. This study was conducted to determine whether amino acids can be located adsorbed on blood cell membranes. The amino acid concentration in the deproteinized haemolysed blood was higher than that in the fraction of blood after removal of the blood cell membranes by centrifugation. These results showed that a pool of amino acids representing 21.1% of the whole blood cell amino acids was adsorbed on the blood cell membranes of adult Wistar rats. The non-polar amino acids showed high adsorption on the membrane, whereas out of the polar amino acid group, only the non-ionic amino acids did adsorb.
Nutrients
Sarcopenia is a process associated to aging. Persistent inflammation and oxidative stress in musc... more Sarcopenia is a process associated to aging. Persistent inflammation and oxidative stress in muscle favour muscle wasting and decreased ability to perform physical activity. Controlled exercise can optimize blood flux and moderate the production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, supplements that can work as a vasodilators and control oxidative stress, might be beneficial for active elders. In this context, we have tested citrulline supplementation in a group of 44 participants aged from 60–73 years that followed a physical activity program adapted to their age and capacities. Volunteers were divided in two groups: placebo (n = 22) and citrullline supplemented (n = 22). Different physical tests and blood extractions were performed at the beginning and at the end of intervention (six weeks). Strength and endurance showed a tendency to increase in the citrulline supplemented group, with no significant differences respect to placebo. However, walking speed in the citrulline supplem...
Antioxidants
The aim of the present report was to evaluate the inflammatory response to a 2000-m running test ... more The aim of the present report was to evaluate the inflammatory response to a 2000-m running test considering neutrophil myeloperoxidase as an inflammatory marker, and to verify if supplements rich in antioxidants could modulate Post-test antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. To this end, a 21-day homogenization period was carried out with three groups: a control group, a supplemented group taking an almond beverage enriched with vitamins C and E and a third group consuming the same beverage but enriched with Lippia citriodora extract. At the end of this period, participants performed a 2000-m run, and blood samples were obtained the day before and immediately after the running test. Plasma and neutrophils were isolated. As a result, plasma creatine kinase and myoglobin increased, indicating Post-test muscle damage. Plasma oxidative markers were increased in all groups, except in the group supplemented with the almond beverage. Neutrophil antioxidant enzymes were significantly...
Antioxidants
The beneficial effects of exercise for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome patholo... more The beneficial effects of exercise for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome pathologies have been related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Dietary nitrate supplementation is an emerging treatment strategy to alleviate the symptoms of metabolic syndrome affections and to improve vascular function. In this double-blind crossover trial, metabolic syndrome patients performed two exercise tests for 30 min at 60–70% maximal heart rate after the intake of a placebo or a nitrate-enriched beverage. Acute exercise increased the plasma concentration of TNFα, intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM1, PGE1, PGE2 and the newly detected 16-hydroxypalmitic acid (16-HPAL) in metabolic syndrome patients. The cytokine and oxylipin production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and neutrophils could be responsible for the plasma concentrations of TNFα and IL6, but not for the plasma concentration of oxylipins nor its post-exercise increase. The intake of sodium nit...
Nutrients
The paper seeks to describe beverage consumption and examine the association between beverage con... more The paper seeks to describe beverage consumption and examine the association between beverage consumption and total water intake and total energy intake of the adult population in the Balearic Islands. Beverage consumption, total water intake, and total energy intake were obtained by using two 24-h diet recalls from a cross-sectional nutritional survey carried out in the Balearic Islands (n = 1386). The contribution of beverages to total water intake and total energy intake were also assessed. Beverages accounted for 65–71% of total water intake and 29–35% of it provided by drinking water. Food moisture contributed 31–37% of total water intake. The mean daily total water intake from all sources was around 2.2 L for men and 1.9 L for women and slightly lower than the proposed adequate intake (AI) recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The mean total energy intake was 2222 kcal/day and beverages contributed 10.3% of total energy intake for men and 9.5% for women...
Antioxidants
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovasc... more Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. MetS is also characterized by an increase of oxidative stress which contributes to impaired inflammation, vascular function, and atherosclerosis. The aim was to assess the oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in plasma and PBMCs in adults with or without MetS. Antioxidant and inflammatory parameters were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 80 men and 80 women over 55 to 80-years-old residing in the Balearic Islands without previously documented cardiovascular disease. Circulating leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes were higher in MetS subjects with respect to those without MetS. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were higher in MetS subjects in both genders, but the superoxide dismutase activity was lower. The myeloperoxidase plasma activity was higher in th...
Nutrients
Our aim was to characterize the effects of calorie restriction on the anthropometric characterist... more Our aim was to characterize the effects of calorie restriction on the anthropometric characteristics and physical performance of sportsmen and to evaluate the effects of calorie restriction and acute exercise on mitochondria energetics, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Twenty volunteer taekwondo practitioners undertook a calorie restriction of 30–40% on three alternate days a week for one month. Eleven volunteer sportsmen participated as controls. Both groups performed an energy efficiency test to evaluate physical performance, and samples were taken before and after exercise. The total weight of participants significantly decreased (5.9%) after calorie restriction, while the efficiency of work and the contributions of fat to obtain energy were enhanced by calorie restriction. No significant differences induced by acute exercise were observed in individual non-esterified fatty acid percentage or oxidative stress markers. Calorie restriction downregulated the basal gene expression...
Nutrients
The aim of this study was to assess free fatty acids’ (FAs) ex vivo anti-/proinflammatory capabil... more The aim of this study was to assess free fatty acids’ (FAs) ex vivo anti-/proinflammatory capabilities and their influence on inflammatory gene expression and H2O2 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Anthropometric and clinical measurements were performed in 26 participants with metabolic syndrome. Isolated PBMCs were incubated ex vivo for 2 h with several free fatty acids—palmitic, oleic, α-linolenic, γ-linolenic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic at 50 μM, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or in combination. H2O2 production and IL6, NFκB, TLR2, TNFα, and COX-2 gene expressions were determined. Palmitic, γ-linolenic, and arachidonic acids showed minor effects on inflammatory gene expression, whereas oleic, α-linolenic, and docosahexaenoic acids reduced proinflammatory gene expression in LPS-stimulated PBMCs. Arachidonic and α-linolenic acids treatment enhanced LPS-stimulated H2O2 production by PBMCs, while palmitic, oleic, γ-linolenic, and docosahexaenoic...
Nutrients, Jan 20, 2018
Regular physical activity prescription is a key point for healthy aging and chronic disease manag... more Regular physical activity prescription is a key point for healthy aging and chronic disease management and prevention. Our aim was to evaluate the antioxidant defense system and the mitochondrial status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the level of oxidative damage in plasma in active, intermediate and inactive elderly. In total, 127 healthy men and women >55 years old participated in the study and were classified according on their level of declared physical activity. A more active lifestyle was accompanied by lower weight, fat mass and body mass index when compared to a more sedentary life-style. Active participants exhibited lower circulating PBMCs than inactive peers. Participants who reported higher levels of exercise had increased antioxidant protein levels when compared to more sedentary partakers. Carbonylated protein levels exhibited similar behavior, accompanied by a significant raise in expression of cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV in PBMCs. No signifi...
Public Health Nutrition, 2007
ObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status of the Andean population of Puna and Quebrada of Humahu... more ObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status of the Andean population of Puna and Quebrada of Humahuaca, Jujuy, using anthropometric measurements.Design and subjectsA cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in a representative sample (n = 1236) of individuals from these regions. Children aged 2–9 years, adolescents (10–17 years) and adults (≥18 years; pregnant and lactating women excluded) were considered. Height-for-age, weight-for-height and body mass index (BMI) were calculated in children and adolescents and compared with World Health Organization/National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference standards using Z-scores or percentiles, in order to assess the prevalence of stunting, wasting/thinness and excess weight. In adults, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip (WHR) ratio were used to identify obesity and central adiposity.ResultsStunting (height-for-age Z-score <–2 standard deviations) and obesity (BMI ≥ 95th pe...
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2000
We determined the participation of the cellular compartment in the changes of plasma amino acid c... more We determined the participation of the cellular compartment in the changes of plasma amino acid concentrations during maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Following an overnight fast, male athletes were submitted to a maximal exercise test until fatigue (for 25 min approximately) to determine maximal oxygen uptake. The amino acid concentrations in total blood, plasma, and blood cells were determined before and after the maximal exercise test. Most essential amino acids were decreased significantly in the total blood concentration as a result of the maximal exercise test. However, the concentrations of most nonessential amino acids tended to be significantly increased. Amino acid concentration was increased most in plasma. Concentrations of blood cell alanine and proline were significantly increased by 26% and 15%, respectively, after the maximal exercise test. No significant differences in blood cell concentrations of other amino acids induced by the exercise test were found, although the amount of tryptophan in blood cells was increased after exhaustive exercise.
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2009
Objective: Physical exercise is capable of enhancing or suppressing the immune response depending... more Objective: Physical exercise is capable of enhancing or suppressing the immune response depending on the intensity and duration of exercise. This study investigated how exercise intensity influences the lymphocyte antioxidant response and the induction of cellular oxidative damage. Design: Eighteen voluntary male pre-professional soccer players participated in this study. Sportsmen played a 60 min training match, and were divided into three groups depending on the intensity degree during the match: low, medium and high intensities. Measurements: Malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamins C and E and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression were measured in lymphocytes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined in lymphocytes and neutrophils. Results: Lymphocyte MDA levels and H 2 O 2 production were significantly increased in the group which performed the most intense exercise. Neutrophil counts and ROS production increased progressively with the exercise intensity. Vitamin C significantly decreased after exercise in the highest-intensity group in comparison with initial values, whereas vitamin E levels significantly increased in the medium and high-intensity groups. HO-1 gene expression significantly increased in the medium and highintensity groups. Conclusions: Exercise intensity affects the lymphocyte and neutrophil oxidant/antioxidant balance, but only exercise of high intensity induces lymphocyte oxidative damage.
Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2006
Aims: To describe the nutritional status and dietary practices of patients affected by porphyria ... more Aims: To describe the nutritional status and dietary practices of patients affected by porphyria variegata, paying special attention to the consumption of nutrients that may help or hinder the condition, and to assess the compliance with prevalent nutritional recommendations. Methods: Cross-sectional study. 24 individuals affected by porphyria variegata (16 females and 8 males; mean age 46.8 (SD 19.5) years) from the Balearic Islands (Spain) recruited through the Balearic Porphyria Association. Dietary questionnaires (7-day dietary record and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire), socio-demographic, lifestyle and health status interviews and anthropometric measurements were carried out. Results: According to current recommendations for the Spanish population and to specific recommendations for porphyria patients, the daily intake of saturated fat (13.2% of total energy), sugars (16.9% of total E), cholesterol (387 mg) and alcoholic beverages (1.1 servings per day) were t...
Cytokine, 2014
Exercise induces changes in circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The aim was to inve... more Exercise induces changes in circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The aim was to investigate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) diet supplementation on the plasma cytokine levels and on the peripheral mononuclear (PBMCs) cells cytokine production after a training season or an acute bout of exercise. Fifteen male soccer players were randomly assigned to a placebo or an experimental group. The experimental group consumed an almond-based beverage enriched with DHA, whereas the placebo group consumed the same beverage without DHA. Three blood samples were taken: in basal conditions at the beginning of the nutritional intervention and after eight weeks of training season in basal and post-exercise conditions. The DHA content increased in erythrocytes after 8weeks of training and supplementation. Neither diet supplementation with DHA nor training season altered the basal plasma cytokines and growth factors. Only acute exercise significantly increased plasma IL6 in experimental and placebo groups. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation induced the inflammatory response in PBMCs, with a significant production rate of TNFα, IL6 and IL8 mainly after acute exercise. DHA supplementation significantly reduced the rate of TNFα and IL6 production by stimulated PBMCs. Acute exercise increased the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein levels in PBMCs, although the increase was only statistically significant in the placebo group. In conclusion, a training season does not induce significant changes in the circulating cytokine profile in well-trained soccer players. Exercise increases the PBMCs cell capabilities to produce cytokines after TLR4 stimulation with LPS and this rate of cytokine production is attenuated by diet DHA supplementation.
espanolIntroduccion: El modelo de Restriccion Calorica (RC) pretende reducir el total de calorias... more espanolIntroduccion: El modelo de Restriccion Calorica (RC) pretende reducir el total de calorias ingeridas por semana. Las dos formas mas usuales de alcanzar el deficit calorico deseado (% RC) son reducir la ingesta cada dia o establecer unos dias intermitentes de ayuno o restriccion severa, donde el impacto de la restriccion es mas importante, tiene menor repercusion sobre la perdida de masa muscular, y esta mas facilitada la adherencia al modelo de dieta. Se propone trabajar sobre un modelo de RC cercana al 40% del contenido calorico ordinario, intercalando 3 dias de restriccion severa (600-800Kcal) por semana con los restantes de ingesta habitual, durante un periodo de 6 semanas. Contenido de la investigacion: Dieciocho sujetos sanos y fisicamente activos, siguieron una pauta de restriccion calorica (34,3 ± 15,4%) durante 6 semanas, en las que mantuvieron su actividad fisica regular. Al inicio y al final del experimento se determino la composicion corporal por densitometria (DEX...
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 1995
Amino acids adsorbed onto blood cell membranes represent about 8% of the total amino acids in blo... more Amino acids adsorbed onto blood cell membranes represent about 8% of the total amino acids in blood. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro adsorption kinetics of different amino acids (L-alanine, glycine, L-glutamate, L-glutamine, L-phenylalanine and L-leucine) onto rat erythrocyte membranes and to assess the effect of 24-hr starvation on these adsorption kinetics. Isolated red cell membranes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 10 sec in the presence of 14C-amino acids--with different specific radioactivity--the radioactivity retained in the membrane fraction measured and kinetic parameters of amino acid adsorption determined. With the exception of glutamate, where the adsorption was negligible, all amino acids studied were adsorbed onto isolated red cell membranes, adhering to simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Km' values of glycine, phenylalanine and leucine adsorption in control rats (14.7 +/- 3.8 mM, 8.41 +/- 0.95 mM and 4.65 +/- 0.46 mM respectively, SEM, n = 6-8) decreased in response to 24-hr starvation, giving the following values: 0.792 +/- 0.122 mM, 5.32 +/- 0.82 mM and 3.53 +/- 0.31 mM respectively (SEM, n = 6-8), Vmax' value of glycine adsorption of control rats decreased (from 61.0 +/- 15.5 mmol/mol P/sec to 4.25 +/- 0.70 mmol/mol P/sec, SEM, n = 7) and that of leucine increased (from 13.5 +/- 1.0 mmol/mol P/sec to 18.9 +/- 2.0 mmol/mol P/sec, SEM, n = 7) as an effect of 24-hr starvation. This study shows that alanine, glycine, glutamine, phenylalanine and leucine, but not glutamate, adsorbed onto erythrocyte membranes according to Michaelis-Menten-like kinetics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
British Journal of Nutrition, 2007
The aim of this study was to assess whether the recently developed Diet Quality Index-Internation... more The aim of this study was to assess whether the recently developed Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) was useful to evaluate the diet quality of a young Mediterranean population. A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in southern Spain (Granada-Andalucia) from 2002 to 2005. Dietary information (24 h recall and FFQ) and socio-demographic and lifestyle data were collected from a representative sample of the population (n 288, 44·1 % females and 55·9 % males) aged 6–18 years (mean 12·88 (sd 2·78) years). DQI-I was designed according to the method of Kim et al. modified by Tur et al. for Mediterranean populations. It focused on four main characteristics of a high-quality diet (variety, adequacy, moderation and overall balance). This young population from southern Spain obtained 56·31 % of the total DQI-I score, indicating a poor-quality diet. A higher score was associated with a longer breakfast and greater physical activity. The DQI-I may require further modificatio...
Archives Of Physiology And Biochemistry, 1993
The kinetic parameters of the L-phenylalanine and L-leucine uptake by isolated erythrocytes in fe... more The kinetic parameters of the L-phenylalanine and L-leucine uptake by isolated erythrocytes in fed and 24 hour starved rats have been determined. In addition, the in vivo compartmentation between blood cells and plasma of the above amino acids in arterial and venous blood vessels has also been studied under the above physiological situations. Both the L-phenylalanine and L-leucine uptake by erythrocytes was saturable and non concentrative. Starvation increased the Km value for the leucine uptake and did not significantly affect that of phenylalanine uptake. The in vivo blood cell/plasma (C/P) concentration ratio of both amino acids was higher than the unit. The starvation-induced changes in the relative distribution of these amino acids between the blood cell and the plasma compartments were significant for the phenylalanine in the aortic artery but not in venous blood. The transport system capabilities measured in vitro can not account for the maintenance of both the leucine and phenylalanine gradient between blood cells and plasma, and the starvation-induced changes in the blood amino acids compartmentation are not directly related entirely to the transport system capabilities.
Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2003
To describe alcohol consumption of adolescent boys and girls in Palma de Mallorca, and its relati... more To describe alcohol consumption of adolescent boys and girls in Palma de Mallorca, and its relationship with physical activity and socio-demographic factors. Four hundred and forty five adolescents (171 boys, 274 girls; 14-18 years old) selected from the school census (participation 96%), using two-stage probability sampling were studied. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered and alcohol intake was analysed. Physical activity was computed as a ratio of energy expended in basal metabolic rate. Socio-demographic data were collected, and categorized as gender, mother's level of education, parental occupational status, and mother's region of origin. About 60% of adolescents, 53% of boys and 65% of girls, reported alcohol consumption, which increased with age in boys (91% when they were 18 years old), but remained constant in girls. The adolescents consumed alcohol mainly on weekends; average consumption was four drinks per drinking day, and the most consumed drinks were mild distilled spirits. The mother's educational level and adolescents' physical activity were negatively and significantly related to alcohol consumption, whereas the adolescents from occupational upper-class parents and non Majorcan/Balearic mothers were positively and significantly related to alcohol consumption. The increased penetration of alcohol into the adolescents' environment may result in misuse of consumption. To give more information to parents and adolescents on considering alcohol to be a drug, and to promote physical activity among adolescents may be contributing factors towards decreased alcohol consumption among the latter age group.
Bioscience Reports, 1991
It is well known that the amino acids in the blood are distributed between the plasma and inside ... more It is well known that the amino acids in the blood are distributed between the plasma and inside the cells. This study was conducted to determine whether amino acids can be located adsorbed on blood cell membranes. The amino acid concentration in the deproteinized haemolysed blood was higher than that in the fraction of blood after removal of the blood cell membranes by centrifugation. These results showed that a pool of amino acids representing 21.1% of the whole blood cell amino acids was adsorbed on the blood cell membranes of adult Wistar rats. The non-polar amino acids showed high adsorption on the membrane, whereas out of the polar amino acid group, only the non-ionic amino acids did adsorb.
Nutrients
Sarcopenia is a process associated to aging. Persistent inflammation and oxidative stress in musc... more Sarcopenia is a process associated to aging. Persistent inflammation and oxidative stress in muscle favour muscle wasting and decreased ability to perform physical activity. Controlled exercise can optimize blood flux and moderate the production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, supplements that can work as a vasodilators and control oxidative stress, might be beneficial for active elders. In this context, we have tested citrulline supplementation in a group of 44 participants aged from 60–73 years that followed a physical activity program adapted to their age and capacities. Volunteers were divided in two groups: placebo (n = 22) and citrullline supplemented (n = 22). Different physical tests and blood extractions were performed at the beginning and at the end of intervention (six weeks). Strength and endurance showed a tendency to increase in the citrulline supplemented group, with no significant differences respect to placebo. However, walking speed in the citrulline supplem...
Antioxidants
The aim of the present report was to evaluate the inflammatory response to a 2000-m running test ... more The aim of the present report was to evaluate the inflammatory response to a 2000-m running test considering neutrophil myeloperoxidase as an inflammatory marker, and to verify if supplements rich in antioxidants could modulate Post-test antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. To this end, a 21-day homogenization period was carried out with three groups: a control group, a supplemented group taking an almond beverage enriched with vitamins C and E and a third group consuming the same beverage but enriched with Lippia citriodora extract. At the end of this period, participants performed a 2000-m run, and blood samples were obtained the day before and immediately after the running test. Plasma and neutrophils were isolated. As a result, plasma creatine kinase and myoglobin increased, indicating Post-test muscle damage. Plasma oxidative markers were increased in all groups, except in the group supplemented with the almond beverage. Neutrophil antioxidant enzymes were significantly...
Antioxidants
The beneficial effects of exercise for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome patholo... more The beneficial effects of exercise for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome pathologies have been related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Dietary nitrate supplementation is an emerging treatment strategy to alleviate the symptoms of metabolic syndrome affections and to improve vascular function. In this double-blind crossover trial, metabolic syndrome patients performed two exercise tests for 30 min at 60–70% maximal heart rate after the intake of a placebo or a nitrate-enriched beverage. Acute exercise increased the plasma concentration of TNFα, intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM1, PGE1, PGE2 and the newly detected 16-hydroxypalmitic acid (16-HPAL) in metabolic syndrome patients. The cytokine and oxylipin production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and neutrophils could be responsible for the plasma concentrations of TNFα and IL6, but not for the plasma concentration of oxylipins nor its post-exercise increase. The intake of sodium nit...
Nutrients
The paper seeks to describe beverage consumption and examine the association between beverage con... more The paper seeks to describe beverage consumption and examine the association between beverage consumption and total water intake and total energy intake of the adult population in the Balearic Islands. Beverage consumption, total water intake, and total energy intake were obtained by using two 24-h diet recalls from a cross-sectional nutritional survey carried out in the Balearic Islands (n = 1386). The contribution of beverages to total water intake and total energy intake were also assessed. Beverages accounted for 65–71% of total water intake and 29–35% of it provided by drinking water. Food moisture contributed 31–37% of total water intake. The mean daily total water intake from all sources was around 2.2 L for men and 1.9 L for women and slightly lower than the proposed adequate intake (AI) recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The mean total energy intake was 2222 kcal/day and beverages contributed 10.3% of total energy intake for men and 9.5% for women...
Antioxidants
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovasc... more Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. MetS is also characterized by an increase of oxidative stress which contributes to impaired inflammation, vascular function, and atherosclerosis. The aim was to assess the oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in plasma and PBMCs in adults with or without MetS. Antioxidant and inflammatory parameters were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 80 men and 80 women over 55 to 80-years-old residing in the Balearic Islands without previously documented cardiovascular disease. Circulating leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes were higher in MetS subjects with respect to those without MetS. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were higher in MetS subjects in both genders, but the superoxide dismutase activity was lower. The myeloperoxidase plasma activity was higher in th...
Nutrients
Our aim was to characterize the effects of calorie restriction on the anthropometric characterist... more Our aim was to characterize the effects of calorie restriction on the anthropometric characteristics and physical performance of sportsmen and to evaluate the effects of calorie restriction and acute exercise on mitochondria energetics, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Twenty volunteer taekwondo practitioners undertook a calorie restriction of 30–40% on three alternate days a week for one month. Eleven volunteer sportsmen participated as controls. Both groups performed an energy efficiency test to evaluate physical performance, and samples were taken before and after exercise. The total weight of participants significantly decreased (5.9%) after calorie restriction, while the efficiency of work and the contributions of fat to obtain energy were enhanced by calorie restriction. No significant differences induced by acute exercise were observed in individual non-esterified fatty acid percentage or oxidative stress markers. Calorie restriction downregulated the basal gene expression...
Nutrients
The aim of this study was to assess free fatty acids’ (FAs) ex vivo anti-/proinflammatory capabil... more The aim of this study was to assess free fatty acids’ (FAs) ex vivo anti-/proinflammatory capabilities and their influence on inflammatory gene expression and H2O2 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Anthropometric and clinical measurements were performed in 26 participants with metabolic syndrome. Isolated PBMCs were incubated ex vivo for 2 h with several free fatty acids—palmitic, oleic, α-linolenic, γ-linolenic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic at 50 μM, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or in combination. H2O2 production and IL6, NFκB, TLR2, TNFα, and COX-2 gene expressions were determined. Palmitic, γ-linolenic, and arachidonic acids showed minor effects on inflammatory gene expression, whereas oleic, α-linolenic, and docosahexaenoic acids reduced proinflammatory gene expression in LPS-stimulated PBMCs. Arachidonic and α-linolenic acids treatment enhanced LPS-stimulated H2O2 production by PBMCs, while palmitic, oleic, γ-linolenic, and docosahexaenoic...
Nutrients, Jan 20, 2018
Regular physical activity prescription is a key point for healthy aging and chronic disease manag... more Regular physical activity prescription is a key point for healthy aging and chronic disease management and prevention. Our aim was to evaluate the antioxidant defense system and the mitochondrial status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the level of oxidative damage in plasma in active, intermediate and inactive elderly. In total, 127 healthy men and women >55 years old participated in the study and were classified according on their level of declared physical activity. A more active lifestyle was accompanied by lower weight, fat mass and body mass index when compared to a more sedentary life-style. Active participants exhibited lower circulating PBMCs than inactive peers. Participants who reported higher levels of exercise had increased antioxidant protein levels when compared to more sedentary partakers. Carbonylated protein levels exhibited similar behavior, accompanied by a significant raise in expression of cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV in PBMCs. No signifi...