Everson A Nunes | McMaster University (original) (raw)

Everson A Nunes

I am a scientist with a background in molecular biology, physiology, and nutrition. My research focuses on the physiology of metabolism, especially on the use of nutritional and physical activity interventions in both health and disease (i.e., Cancer, Diabetes, and Obesity).

Some Professional Achievements:

Author/co-author of 80+ peer-reviewed scientific papers
Research productivity fellow in Nutritional Biochemistry by the Brazilian National Council of Research (CNPq) for two consecutive mandates
Training of +40 people in science, including completed supervisorship of 10 graduate students

My professional experience includes:
- Laboratory setup and management, biosafety procedures establishment, staff training, oversight, and compliance with local and governmental regulations
- Regulatory processes and submissions associated with clinical trials (REB applications, Clinical trial registration, amendments, and reports)
- Regulatory processes and submissions associated with non-human animal research (REB applications, amendments, and reports)
- Rodent (mice and rats) handling, drug injections, oral administration, breeding, blood and other tissue sample collection
- Primary and secondary rodent and human cell culture (2D and 3D cell culture procedures)
- In-vitro, in-vivo, and ex-vivo assays (i.e., tissue and cell-based assays)
- ELISA, Western-blotting, Flow cytometry, Bead-based-multiplex immunoassays
- Blood biochemical and cytological analysis
- High-performance liquid chromatography, Gas chromatography, and Mass spectrometry analysis
- Stable isotope-based metabolic studies in humans
- Body composition and anthropometry in humans
- Nutritional interventions, Physical exercise, and exercise training clinical trials
- Running pre-clinical studies with physical activity, diet-induced metabolic diseases, drug-induced diseases, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
- Running clinical trials in different populations: healthy, obese with metabolic diseases and cancer patients.
- Performing Evidence synthesis studies (systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and umbrella reviews)
Supervisors: Dr. Luiz Claudio Fernandes, Dr. Francisco Navarro, Dr. Phillip C Calder, Dr. Stuart M Phillips

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Papers by Everson A Nunes

Revista de Ciências Médicas e Biológicas, 2010

Journal of Functional Foods, Nov 1, 2019

Leucine is an essential amino acid that has been investigated by its participation in the regulat... more Leucine is an essential amino acid that has been investigated by its participation in the regulation of whole-body metabolism and mitochondrial function. Here, we evaluated acute leucine effects on mitochondrial respiration of skeletal muscle from male Swiss mice in vitro. Additionally, we further investigated the effects of 4-wk leucine ingestion (2.5% on drinking water) on skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration and morphology of diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. In vitro, acute leucine increased mitochondrial respiration, and these effects were abolished in the presence of rapamycin. In DIO mice, ingestion of leucine for 4-wk improved glucose tolerance and insulin responsivity. Leucine supplementation also prevented the reduction in mitochondrial respiration, size, and complexity in the soleus skeletal muscle. We conclude that the positive effects of leucine on whole-body metabolism in DIO mice are associated with improvements in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and morphology. Furthermore, leucine acute effects on mitochondrial respiration are mTORC1 dependent.

Review question / Objective: Does a whey protein supplementation maintain or increase muscle mass... more Review question / Objective: Does a whey protein supplementation maintain or increase muscle mass, strength, and function in healthy older adults? Condition being studied: Sarcopenia is a state of age-related progressive loss of muscle mass and function. This syndrome is considered an undesirable consequence of aging, contributing to various negative health outcomes including increased risk of chronic metabolic diseases, physical disabilities, falls and fractures, reduced independence, frailty, and hospitalization. Due to population ageing in recent decades, the prevalence of sarcopenia has been growing considerably worldwide. In this context, sarcopenia has globally affected more than 29% of community-dwelling and 14-33% of institutionalized older adult populations. Thus, sarcopenia has been considered to be an important health concern. Indeed, it has been estimated that 500 million older adults would suffer from sarcopenia by 2050.

Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano, 2020

Associação da atividade física e comportamento sedentário realizados na escola com fatores de ris... more Associação da atividade física e comportamento sedentário realizados na escola com fatores de risco cardiovascular em adolescentes

Sport Sciences for Health, Jul 9, 2020

Background and purpose Unusual eccentric exercise (EE) may affect muscle ability to produce rapid... more Background and purpose Unusual eccentric exercise (EE) may affect muscle ability to produce rapid force. Previous study suggested that short-term mate tea (MT) consumption may enhance muscle strength recovery from EE, but MT benefits on the rate of torque development (RTD) are unknown. This study investigated the effect of MT on RTD and muscle damage and antioxidant defence biomarkers following EE. Methods In a randomised, crossover design, 12 men drank either MT or water (control; CON) for 11 days. On the 8th day, 3 sets of 20 maximal isokinetic eccentric for elbow flexors with one arm were performed. RTD of the elbow flexor muscles at 0-50, 0-100, 50-100, 0-200, and 100-200 ms were assessed before and at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. Blood samples were obtained before and at 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise and analysed for creatine kinase (CK), aldolase (ALD), total phenols, and reduced:oxidized glutathione (GSH:GSSG) ratio. Results RTD 0-50 deficit after EE was independent of treatment. Compared with CON, MT improved RTD 0-100 at 48 h (21%,

Current developments in nutrition, Jun 1, 2022

Review question / Objective: Study Design A. Only systematic reviews and metaanalyses are conside... more Review question / Objective: Study Design A. Only systematic reviews and metaanalyses are considered. B. No narrative reviews or scoping reviews are considered. Participants Does the study involve adults aged ≥18 years? Groups that may be covered: A. Healthy older adults B. Older adults within clinical populations C. Clinical populations Intervention 1. Does the study evaluate omega-3 fatty acids interventions? 2. Does the study evaluate the mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids? INPLASY

RBPFEX - Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício, 2010

The role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 on muscle hypertrophy pathways modulation and the influenc... more The role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 on muscle hypertrophy pathways modulation and the influence of resistance exercise on this signaling

Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício, 2020

Introduction: The pre-season should be planned by technicians and physical trainers to achieve ma... more Introduction: The pre-season should be planned by technicians and physical trainers to achieve maximum physical performance and to decrease the negative effects of the training process in the handball players. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of the loads selective periodization on physical performance and hematological parameters during the pre-season in handball players. Methods: Sixteen Under-16 male handball players from the Caçador team (Brazil) participated in the study. The periodization of pre-season was composed of 3 mesocycles of training. Variables of physical performance, erythrogram and leukogram in the beginning of the pre-season and in the final pre-season were evaluated. Results: Using selective loads periodization, the body composition improved in the final pre-season compared to the beginning of the pre-season (p<0.01). Periodization increased maximum isometric strength by 6.4%, muscle endurance during sit-up and push-up tests by 9.6% and 26.2%, respec...

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2020

DNA damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is considered the main etiologic factor contrib... more DNA damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is considered the main etiologic factor contributing to the development of skin cancer. Systemic or topical application of antioxidants has been suggested as a protective measure against UV-induced skin damage. We investigated the effect of long-term oral administration of a combination of the antioxidants ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and D-a-tocopherol (vitamin E) in human volunteers on UVBinduced epidermal damage. The intake of vitamins C and E for a period of 3 mo significantly reduced the sunburn reaction to UVB irradiation. Detection of thymine dimers in the skin using a specific antibody revealed a significant increase of this type of DNA damage following UVB exposure. After 3 mo of antioxidant administration, significantly less thymine dimers were induced by the UVB challenge, suggesting that antioxidant treatment protected against DNA damage.

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2020

A progressive decrement in muscle mass and muscle function, sarcopoenia, accompanies ageing. The ... more A progressive decrement in muscle mass and muscle function, sarcopoenia, accompanies ageing. The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is the main feature of sarcopoenia. Preventing the loss of muscle mass is relevant since sarcopoenia can have a significant impact on mobility and the quality of life of older people. Dietary protein and physical activity have an essential role in slowing muscle mass loss and helping to maintain muscle function. However, the current recommendations for daily protein ingestion for older persons appear to be too low and are in need of adjustment. In this review, we discuss the skeletal muscle response to protein ingestion, and review the data examining current dietary protein recommendations in the older subjects. Furthermore, we review the concept of protein quality and the important role that nutrient-dense protein (NDP) sources play in meeting overall nutrient requirements and improving dietary quality. Overall, the current evidence endorses an ...

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN

BACKGROUND AND AIM Relative fat mass (RFM) is a new method to estimate whole-body fat percentage ... more BACKGROUND AND AIM Relative fat mass (RFM) is a new method to estimate whole-body fat percentage in adults using an anthropometric linear equation. We aimed to assess the association between RFM and body fat (BF), evaluated by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bioelectrical impedance (BIA), in young male adults. METHODS Eighty-one young males were assessed for BF fat and free fat mass (by BIA and DXA), waist circumference. BMI and RFM were then calculated from data collected from the subjects. The agreement between BMI and RFM or BIA/DXA was assessed by Pearson's Correlation and Kappa index. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were applied. RESULTS Analyzing all the participants together, the correlation between RFM and DXA (rDXA = 0.90) or RFM and BIA (rBIA = 0.88) were slightly higher than the correlation between BMI and DXA (rDXA = 0.79) or BMI and BIA (rBIA: 0.82). When analyzed by BF, low BF (LBF) individuals showed a much higher correlation with RFM (rDXA = 0.58; rBIA = 0.73) than BMI (rDXA = 0.24; rBIA: 0.46). However, subjects with excess BF (EBF) presented similar correlations when comparing RFM (rDXA = 0.80; rBIA = 0.64) and BMI (rDXA = 0.78; rBIA = 0.64). In general, RFM presented a higher strength of agreement with DXA and BIA (kDXA = 0.75; kBIA = 0.67) than BMI (kDXA = 0.63; kBIA = 0.60). Multivariable linear regression also revealed high associations between RFM and DXA or RFM and BIA (r2DXA = 0.85; r2BIA = 0.81). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that RFM shows a good correlation and association with BF measured by DXA and BIA in young male adults. Furthermore, RFM seems to be better correlated to BF in LBF individuals when compared to BMI. Therefore, further studies investigating RFM as a tool to assess BF and obesity are motivated.

Nutrition and Health, 2022

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has promoted changes in lifestyle behavio... more Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has promoted changes in lifestyle behaviors, such as food consumption, sleep, and physical activity (PA). Few longitudinal studies have investigated these changes in young adults. Aim: This study aimed to assess lifestyle behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in young adult males. Methods: 50 young adult males (18–35 years) recruited by posters and social media in Florianopolis, Brazil, provided data on food consumption, PA, and sleep in 2018–2019 (baseline) and during the pandemic in 2020 (follow-up). PA and sleep variables were assessed through self-reported questionnaires. Food records were used to evaluate food consumption. Weight was measured using Bioelectrical impedance analysis at baseline and using self-reported at follow-up. Multilevel linear regression models and generalized linear multilevel were used to test differences between baseline and follow-up. Results: The findings indicated significant changes ...

Journal of Functional Foods, Dec 1, 2015

Abstract Diet plays a key role in the aetiology of cancer. Some studies have shown that diets ric... more Abstract Diet plays a key role in the aetiology of cancer. Some studies have shown that diets rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) reduce tumour growth. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fish oil, rich in n-3 PUFA, in cell proliferation and death of cells from breast and colorectal tumours. In the presence of 1:5 (v/v) dilution of fish oil, 1.8-fold reduction in cell proliferation (p

Objetivo: A procura de material complementar para os estudos ou atualizacao em ambientes virtuais... more Objetivo: A procura de material complementar para os estudos ou atualizacao em ambientes virtuais, com enfase em videoaulas, e uma pratica frequente. Embora os estudantes relatem satisfacao e melhora na aprendizagem com o material, a duracao dos videos e falta de organizacao dos materiais parecem ser um problema recorrente. Diante disso, o objetivo foi criar um canal de divulgacao de videoaulas de curta duracao com foco em endocrinologia e metabolismo e avaliar sua utilizacao. Metodo: Foram utilizados um tablet e uma caneta digital para confeccao do material, alem de uma câmera para filmagem do condutor dos videos. Dezesseis videoaulas foram produzidas e divulgadas no site YouTube® sob custodia do Canal Metabolizando. Resultados: O Canal teve mais de 700 inscritos e somou mais de 48 mil visualizacoes. Cinco videos correspondem a 70% do tempo de reproducao e 75% das visualizacoes. As buscas pelos videos se originam predominantemente no proprio YouTube®. Alem disso, mais de 90% das vi...

Cancer chemotherapy is associated with neutropenia and impaired neutrophil function. This study a... more Cancer chemotherapy is associated with neutropenia and impaired neutrophil function. This study aimed to investigate whether supplementation with low dose fish oil (FO), providing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy after surgical tumor (mainly gastrointestinal) removal is able to improve the function of blood neutrophils. Patients (n = 38) receiving chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and leu- covorin) were randomized into two groups; one group (control) did not receive a supplement, while the other group (FO) received 2 g FO/day for 8 weeks; the FO provided 0.3 g eicosapentaenoic acid plus 0.4 g docosa- hexaenoic acid per day. Patients in the control group lost an average of 2.5 kg of weight over the 8 weeks of the study. The number of blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC), mainly neutrophils, and their functions (phagocytosis and hydrogen peroxide production) decreased in the control group (average decreases of approximately 30, 45 and 17%, respecti...

The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2021

The objective of this research was to analyze sensory evaluation quality and total lactic acid ba... more The objective of this research was to analyze sensory evaluation quality and total lactic acid bacteria of corn yogurt added with skim milk and carrageenan. This research used experimental laboratory method with completely randomized design and four replications. The treatment used were skim milk with concentration (2.5; 3; 3.5% b/v) dan carrageenan (0.5; 0.75; 1 % b/v). The result showed that the treatment gave significant different effect (p <0,05) on sensory evaluation quality from texture aspect; the addition of various concentrations of skim milk, and carrageenan concentrations, and the interaction did not give a different effect (p>0.05) on the total lactic acid bacteria, organoleptic (aroma and color). The addition of various of skim milk, and carrageenan concentrations gave total of total lactic acid bacteria, organoleptic (color, aroma and texture) was 2.83 x 10 8-4.4 x 10 8 CFU/ml; white to yellowness; acidness to acid; and thickness to thick. The best treatment of this research is the addition of skim 5% and carrageenan 0.75% with total lactic acid bacteria 4.4 x 10 8 , the aroma is acidness, the color is yellowness, the texture is thickness. It could be concluded that the addition of skim milk and carrageenan in corn yogurt production can be accepted by consumers and increase the activity of lactic acid bacteria

Neurochemical Research, 2020

Recent evidence suggests that young rodents submitted to high fructose (FRU) diet develop metabol... more Recent evidence suggests that young rodents submitted to high fructose (FRU) diet develop metabolic, and cognitive dysfunctions. However, it remains unclear whether these detrimental effects of FRU intake can also be observed in middle-aged mice. Nine months-old C57BL/6 female mice were fed with water (Control) or 10% FRU in drinking water during 12 weeks. After that, metabolic, and neurochemical alterations were evaluated, focusing on neurotransmitters, and antioxidant defenses. Behavioral parameters related to motor activity, memory, anxiety, and depression were also evaluated. Mice consuming FRU diet displayed increased water, and caloric intake, resulting in weight gain, which was partially compensated due to decreased food pellet intake. FRU fed animals displayed increased plasma glucose, and cholesterol levels, which was not observed in overnight-fasted animals. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were markedly decreased in the prefrontal cortex of animals receiving FRU diet, while glutathione peroxidase (GPx) slightly increased. Liver (lower GPx), striatum (higher SOD and lower CAT), and hippocampus (no changes) were less impacted. No changes were observed in glutathione reductase, and thioredoxin reductase activities, two ancillary enzymes for peroxide detoxification. FRU intake did not alter serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and striatum. No significant alterations were observed in working, and short-term spatial memory; and in anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors in animals treated with FRU. Increased locomotor activity was observed in FRU-fed middle-aged mice, as evaluated in the open field, elevated plus-maze, Y maze, and object location tasks. Overall, these results demonstrate that high FRU consumption can disturb antioxidant defenses, and increase locomotor activity in middle-aged mice, open the opportunity for further studies to address the underlying mechanisms related to these findings.

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2019

Background and aims: Due to its high peroxidizable characteristics, n-3 fatty acids, present in f... more Background and aims: Due to its high peroxidizable characteristics, n-3 fatty acids, present in fish oil, could increase tumor cells sensitivity to conventional cancer treatment while non-neoplastic cells remain unaffected, this may lead to an increase in cancer treatment response with no increase on adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-cancer treatment response, performance status and adverse events in gastrointestinal cancer patients supplemented with fish oil. Oxidative stress parameters were investigated in blood non-neoplastic cells as an indicator of cytotoxicity. Methods: This is a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Fish oil group (FOG) received two capsules of fish oil containing 1.55 g of EPA þ DHA a day for nine weeks, placebo group (PG) received two capsules containing olive oil. Baseline was set right before the administration of the first chemotherapy, oxidative stress parameters, adverse events presence and grading and performance status were assessed at baseline and after nine weeks of supplementation. Tumor markers, response to treatment and survival were evaluated at baseline and after one year of study inclusion. Results: 76 patients were considered eligible, 56 were randomized, and 51 remained for analysis. After nine weeks, although there were no differences between groups for treatment response and presence of adverse events, PG patients were graded with more severe diarrhea than FOG patients (p ¼ 0.03) and with higher (worse) performance status score (p ¼ 0.02). No differences in lipid peroxidation and activity of antioxidant enzymes were observed between groups. Conclusions: Fish oil may lead to a better performance status for gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy while does not seem to increase treatment-related toxicity. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT02699047, www.clinicaltrials.gov.