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Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Health and Disease

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2023) | Viewed by 13224

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Prof. Dr. Uwe Tegtbur

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Guest Editor

Institute of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Interests: sports medicine; exercise and metabolic syndrome; exercise physiology, physical activities in health and disease
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Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity and nutrition have significant influences on the risk and manifestation of chronic diseases. Cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system, metabolism and aging can be influenced positively or delayed considerably by a healthy lifestyle. These complementary measures are also now established in most guidelines for the treatment of these diseases. Between 30 and 50% of the population, including children, no longer reach the WHO’s recommendations for physical activity, and there is a clear upward trend. Very problematic is that more and more children and adolescents show signs of diabetes mellitus or arteriosclerosis already at a young age due to unhealthy nutrition and too little physical activity. Telomeres as an indicator of cell aging may also already be shortened in obese, inactive young people.

People benefit differently from more physical activity or a healthy diet, or from a combination of both. In terms of personalized medicine, it is therefore of great interest to define the ideal composition of exercise and diet for the individual.

The objective of this proposed Special Issue on “Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness” is to publish special papers investigating the effects of diets, increasing physical activities or both on physical fitness in combination with their effects on health status. Papers with clinical or experimental studies dealing with the effects of diet and/or exercise in health and disease status or with high metabolic or cardiovascular risks will be included.

Prof. Dr. Uwe Tegtbur
Guest Editor

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Keywords

diet
nutrition
exercise
oxygen consumption
cardiorespiratory fitness
metabolic syndrome
cardiovascular diseases

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 4153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exercise Capacity, Iron Status, Body Composition, and Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

by Pauline Bayerle, Sebastian Beyer, Uwe Tegtbur, Momme Kück, John Adel, Stefan Kwast, Christoph Pökel, Arno Kerling and Martin Busse

Nutrients 2023, 15(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15010036 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2501

Abstract

In addition to drug therapy, lifestyle modification, including physical activity, and nutrition management are an integral part of current guidelines for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, evidence on which clinical parameters are most influenced by nutritional behaviour, exercise capacity, or iron status is scarce. For a multicenter intervention study, we included participants with diagnosed CHF (n = 165) as well as participants with elevated NT-proBNP values and risk factors for CHF (n = 74). Cardiorespiratory fitness was tested with a bicycle test, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was assessed with the MDS questionnaire. Our data strengthened previous results confirming that the higher a person’s adherence to MedDiet, the higher the cardiorespiratory fitness and the lower the body fat. Furthermore, our results showed that anemia in patients with CHF has an impact in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness, and functional outcomes by questionnaire. Since our data revealed gaps in iron supply (37.9% with iron deficiency), malnutrition (only 7.8% with high adherence to MedDiet), and both symptomatic and non-symptomatic study participants failed to meet reference values for physical performance, we encourage the enforcement of the guidelines in the treatment of CHF more strongly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Health and Disease)

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9 pages, 945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students

by Lukas Walnik, Momme Kück, Uwe Tegtbur, Volkhard Fischer and Arno Kerling

Nutrients 2022, 14(24), 5375; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245375 - 17 Dec 2022

Viewed by 2060

Abstract

Background: Medical students are exposed to high cognitive demands as well as to a high learning effort, which as a consequence can lead to a limited quality of life (Qol) with reduced physical performance and unhealthy eating behaviors. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the abovementioned factors and their relationship to each other. Methods: We included 380 medical students (167 men, 213 women, age 22.2 ± 3.9 yrs) who participated in the sports medicine elective subject. Qol was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, and endurance capacity was measured by using an incremental running test. Daily dietary intake was measured using a 7-day diary protocol. Depending on sex and the maximum speed achieved, students were divided into three performance groups. Results: Men achieved higher maximal speed, heart rate, and lactate. Carbohydrates and fat intake did not meet recommendations in either group. Dietary fibre intake differed significantly between the performance groups in men and women, with the better groups having higher intakes. Conclusions: Our data do not suggest increased risk or health-damaging behaviors in medical students compared with the general population. Irrespective of this, incentives should be set to enable a healthy life even during complex studies with a high learning effort. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Health and Disease)

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14 pages, 939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Adherence to Mediterranean Diet between Spanish and German School-Children and Influence of Gender, Overweight, and Physical Activity

by Lena Grams, Anne-Katrin Nelius, Guadalupe Garrido Pastor, Manuel Sillero-Quintana, Óscar L. Veiga, Denise Homeyer and Momme Kück

Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4697; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214697 - 07 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2008

Abstract

Background: Poor dietary habits and low levels of physical activity (PA) have a strong tendency to track from childhood into adulthood. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is known to be extremely healthy, associated with lower BMI and a lower risk of obesity in children and adolescents. Therefore, adherence to the MD was compared between Spanish (n = 182) and German (n = 152) children aged 10 to 13 years to examine a possible more “westernized” diet in Spain with a non-Mediterranean country, that traditionally prefers a “Western diet” and to determine the association between adherence to the MD and gender, body composition, and PA levels. Methods: In the German observational longitudinal cohort study and the Spanish cohort study, body composition and questionnaires (KIDMED, Diet Quality (IAES)) were obtained, and accelerometers (Actigraph) were applied to detect PA. Results: Girls had higher BMI-standard deviation score (SDS) than boys and Spanish girls were less active than boys. Differences were detected in MD habits, such as favorable fruit-, vegetables-, fish-intakes, and dairy products in Spanish children and unfavorable consumptions of fast food, processed bakery goods, candies, and sweet beverages in German children. Independently of country, girls, children with lower BMI-SDS and children with higher PA level were related with better diet quality. Conclusion: Spanish children showed higher adherence to MD and diet quality (IAES) compared to German children, but there was a trend toward a more “westernized” diet. Gender, body composition, and PA influenced nutrition regardless of country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Health and Disease)

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12 pages, 1431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Body Weight Changes versus Exercise Capacity Changes on Health-Related Factors following a Lifestyle Intervention in Employees with Metabolic Syndrome

by Pauline Bayerle, Sven Haufe, Momme Kück, Gudrun Protte, Arno Kerling, Simone Ewers, Hedwig Theda Boeck, Thorben Sundermeier, Ralf Ensslen, Kai G. Kahl, Axel Haverich, Uwe Tegtbur and Lars Nachbar

Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4560; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214560 - 29 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1344

Abstract

Background: Lifestyle changes are a cornerstone in the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, evidence as to which components of the MetS and associated aspects of quality of life are driven by weight loss or improvements in exercise capacity are scarce. Methods: Company employees (n = 302, 48.2 ± 8.2 years, BMI 33.2 ± 5.4 kg/m²) with diagnosed MetS were evaluated after a 6-month telemonitoring-supported intervention (counselling in nutrition and physical activity) or wait-list control (delayed start of the same intervention). Results: Exercise capacity, body mass index (BMI), and MetS severity were improved after the intervention. Multivariable regression models revealed that changes in BMI were associated with changes in three components of MetS (waist circumference, triglycerides, blood glucose), whereas changes in exercise capacity only were associated to one MetS component change (systolic blood pressure) but also improvements in anxiety severity, aspects of quality of life, and work ability. Conclusions: Both physical activity promotion and diet should be part of a holistic treatment of patients with MetS. However, our data suggest that dietary-induced weight loss might be more successful when aiming at improving MetS risk factors, whereas focusing more on physical activity promotion might be preferred when targeting aspects in quality of life and mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Health and Disease)

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10 pages, 411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Iron Deficiency in Adolescent and Young Adult German Athletes—A Retrospective Study

by Rubina Roy, Momme Kück, Lukas Radziwolek and Arno Kerling

Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4511; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214511 - 27 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2836

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency is a common phenomenon in sports and may lead to impaired physical performance. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of iron deficiency in competitive athletes and to discuss the resulting consequences. Methods: The data of 629 athletes (339 male, 290 female) who presented for their annual basic sports medicine examination were investigated. Depending on age (<14 years, 15–17 years, ≥18–30 years), four groups ((I.) normal hemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin level (≥30 ng/mL for adults and 15–18-year-olds; ≥20 ng/mL, respectively, ≥15 ng/mL for adolescents and children), (II.) prelatent iron deficiency (ID) (normal Hb, low ferritin), (III.) latent ID (additionally elevated soluble transferrin receptor or decreased transferrin saturation) and (IV.) manifest anemia) were distinguished. In addition, the iron status and exercise capacity of different types of sports were compared. Results: Overall we found an iron deficiency of 10.9% in male (mainly in adolescence) and 35.9% in female athletes (emphasized in adolescence and young adulthood). There were no significant differences in iron status in regard to the different sport types or in maximum performance for the different groups of iron deficiency. Conclusions: Adolescent and female athletes are more likely to have an iron deficiency. Therapy concepts for athletes therefore should pay attention to iron-rich diets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Health and Disease)

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11 pages, 1570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ideal Life’s Simple 7 Score Relates to Macrovascular Structure and Function in the Healthy Population

by Gilles Nève, Jonathan Wagner, Raphael Knaier, Denis Infanger, Christopher Klenk, Justin Carrard, Timo Hinrichs, Henner Hanssen, Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss and Karsten Königstein

Nutrients 2022, 14(17), 3616; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14173616 - 01 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1763

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular health scores, such as Life’s Simple 7 from the American Heart Association, and the assessment of arterial properties are independently used to determine cardiovascular risk. However, evidence of their association remains scarce, especially in healthy, middle-aged to older populations. Methods: A healthy sample of the Swiss population aged 50–91 years as part of the COmPLETE cohort study was included. Carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT), carotid lumen diameter (cLD), carotid distensibility coefficient (DC), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were used to determine arterial properties. The Life’s Simple 7 cardiovascular health score was calculated using seven categories (body-mass index, cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, smoking status, physical activity, and diet). In accordance with the American Heart Association, for each category, two points were given for an ideal health metric level, intermediate scores one point, and poor scores zero points. Intermediate and ideal health scores corresponded to a total of 5–9 and 10–14 points, respectively. Results: A total of 280 participants (50.7% male) were included. After adjusting for age and sex, an ideal health score was associated with lower cIMT (−0.038 mm, 95% CI: −0.069 mm–−0.007 mm, p = 0.017), lower cLD (−0.28 mm, 95% CI: −0.46 mm–−0.11 mm, p = 0.002), and lower baPWV (−0.05 m/s, 95% CI: −0.08 m/s–−0.02 m/s, p = 0.003). No differences were found for FMD and DC. Conclusions: Even in a healthy sample of middle-aged and older adults, individuals with an ideal cardiovascular health score showed more favorable biomarkers of vascular aging than those with an intermediate score. This stresses the relevance of promoting an optimal lifestyle, even among the healthy population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Diet Quality and Physical Activity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Health and Disease)

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