Search Results (337)

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition is an imbalance of nutrients required for growth, development, and organ function. Its impact on bone development is known, but its effects on cartilage remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the femoral cartilage thickness in children with primary malnutrition. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 83 children with primary malnutrition and 62 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Patients with primary malnutrition were classified as mild, moderate and severe. Femoral cartilage thickness measurements of all children were taken by ultrasound from the femoral lateral condyle, femoral medial condyle and intercondylar area for both knees with the patient in a supine position with the knees flexed 90 degrees. Results: The right lateral, right medial, left lateral, and left medial femoral cartilages were significantly thicker in patients with malnutrition compared to those without malnutrition (p = 0.002, 0.004, <0.001, and 0.001, respectively). A significant negative correlation was found between age, weight Z-score, and height Z-score and triceps skinfold thickness. Conclusions: Distal femoral cartilage thickness is significantly greater in children with primary malnutrition. This demonstrates the effect of nutritional factors on cartilage tissue and suggests that children with chronic malnutrition are at risk for both knee joint problems and short stature later in life. Full article

Tennis is a demanding sport that requires physical abilities and optimal body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate the anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and somatotype development of young Slovenian tennis players (754 boys and 514 girls aged 12 to 18 years) over the last two decades. Using standardised anthropometric measurements and the Heath-Carter method, somatotypes were calculated and analysed by age and gender. The results showed clear age- and gender-specific trends and differences in both somatotype profiles and detailed anthropometric characteristics. Significant differences were found in height, body mass, BMI, skinfolds, girths, and limb lengths, with gender differences becoming more pronounced in the older age groups. In boys, mesomorphy increased with age, reflecting an increase in musculature, while in girls, a shift from ectomorphic to endomorphic profiles was observed during adolescence, probably influenced by pubertal and hormonal changes. Significant sex-specific differences were observed in all three somatotype components in most age groups, especially in fat mass and muscle. The longitudinal design provides valuable data and insights into the evolving physical profiles of adolescent tennis players that support more effective talent identification and training. Despite the changes that have taken place in tennis over time, standardised measurement protocols ensured comparability, making the results relevant for practitioners working with adolescents in tennis development. Full article

Maintaining body symmetry in sports characterized by high lateralization is crucial for optimizing long-term athletic performance and mitigating injury risk. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of morphological asymmetry in anthropometric features among elite professional fencers. Additionally, the presence of functional asymmetry and its associations with morphological asymmetry were assessed. Thirty-two Polish adult female fencers, aged 18–33 yrs, were examined. Data collection involved a questionnaire survey, anthropometric measurements, calculation of anthropological indices, and assessment of functional asymmetry. For the 24 bilateral anthropometric features, small differences were found in seven characteristics: foot length, subscapular skinfold thickness, upper arm circumference, minimum and maximum forearm circumference, upper limb length, and arm circumference in tension. Morphological asymmetry index did not exceed 5%. Left-sided lateralization of either the upper or lower limbs was associated with significantly high asymmetry, specifically indicating larger minimum forearm circumferences in the right limb. Continuous, individualized monitoring of morphological asymmetry and its direction in athletes is essential, demanding concurrent consideration of functional lateralization. This ongoing assessment establishes a critical baseline for evaluating training adaptations, reducing injury susceptibility, and optimizing rehabilitation strategies. Deeper investigation of symmetry within non-dominant limbs is warranted to enhance our understanding. Full article

Background: Metabolic bariatric surgery is a highly effective and long-lasting treatment for obesity and related chronic conditions. Women of reproductive age represent the largest group undergoing these procedures. Observational studies suggest an increased risk of preterm birth and impaired foetal growth in this population, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. A key hypothesis is that altered glucose metabolism, characterised by frequent hypoglycaemia and glycaemic fluctuations, may contribute to these adverse outcomes. While glycaemic variability following metabolic bariatric surgery has been documented, its pattern during pregnancy and impact on pregnancy outcomes are still underexplored. Methods: In this Belgian multicentre prospective cohort study, we will investigate glycaemic patterns during pregnancy in women who have undergone metabolic bariatric surgery. Women aged 18–45 years with a confirmed singleton pregnancy up to 11 weeks and 6 days and a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy will be eligible for inclusion. Women with pregestational diabetes or those taking medication known to interfere with glucose metabolism will be excluded. All participants will receive blinded continuous glucose monitoring (Dexcom^® G6) for a 10-day period at four time points throughout the pregnancy. Foetal body composition and growth will be measured during routine ultrasound; skinfolds will be measured in the neonate. The primary outcome is the association between mean glycemia and glycaemic variability on continuous glucose monitoring and birth weight. The planned sample size is ninety-five women. Linear mixed models for repeated measurements will be used for analysis. Confounders such as smoking, micronutrient deficiency, and surgery-to-conception interval will be added to the model as covariates. In a second exploratory phase, each participant in the surgical group will be matched with a control participant—without a history of metabolic bariatric surgery—based on pre-pregnancy BMI and age. Control participants will undergo the same study procedures, allowing for exploratory comparison of glycaemic patterns and other study outcomes. Discussion: This prospective longitudinal study will be the largest study using continuous glucose monitoring to investigate glucose metabolism during pregnancy after metabolic bariatric surgery and its impact on foetal growth and newborn body composition. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05084339. Registration date: 15 October 2021. Full article

Background: Childhood and adolescent obesity often coexist with micronutrient deficiencies and metabolic alterations, particularly in marginalized communities. Objectives: This cross-sectional study evaluated the biochemical, anthropometric, and dietary characteristics of 55 children and adolescents (ages 4–13) from Tlaltizapán, Mexico, to identify the early metabolic risk factors associated with excess weight. Methods: Nutritional intake was assessed through six-day dietary recalls and analyzed for adequacy against the national reference values. Anthropometric and biochemical indicators—including the BMI-for-age Z-score, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), lipid profile, and plasma amino acid levels—were stratified by age and weight status. Results: Overall, 36.4% of participants were overweight or obese. Alarmingly, 89.4% of children and 94.1% of adolescents had low HDL levels, regardless of their BMIs. Several participants with a normal BMI showed elevated WHtR, triceps skinfold, and plasma branched-chain amino acids, suggesting hidden metabolic risks. The dietary analysis revealed an excess intake of sugars, proteins, and fats, alongside insufficient fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The adolescents had poorer adherence to dietary recommendations than children. Conclusions: These findings underscore the limitations of BMI alone and support the use of WHtR, skinfolds, and biochemical markers to detect preclinical obesity. Urgent, targeted nutritional strategies are needed in semi-rural areas to address the double burden of obesity and undernutrition. Full article

Wheelchair tennis (WT) is a Paralympic sport designed for athletes with physical impairments. Assessing physical fitness characteristics using appropriate field-based tests and standardized protocols is essential for individualized training, injury prevention, and performance monitoring. However, there is currently limited information on which field-based tests are most suitable and how they should be applied in WT athletes, resulting in inconsistency across studies and practical use. Establishing a standard operating procedure (SOP) enables replicable, cost-effective testing routines that improve data consistency and comparability. We conducted a scoping review to synthesize the existing evidence on field-based physical fitness assessment in WT athletes and to propose a structured SOP for these tests. A comprehensive search was conducted in three electronic databases—NLM PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus—using predefined keywords and Boolean operators. The inclusion criteria were limited to peer-reviewed, English-language original articles focusing exclusively on field tests in WT athletes. Studies with other populations, reviews, and abstracts were excluded. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria. This scoping review identified various field tests assessing key fitness components, including cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, agility, and body composition. The most frequently employed tests were the 20 m sprint test, isometric handgrip test, spider test, Illinois Agility Test, and skinfold thickness. These findings highlight the lack of standardized fitness assessments in WT. The proposed SOP offers a practical step toward consistent, replicable, and relevant evaluation in these athletes. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations of anthropometric characteristics with performance and potential biomarker changes resulting from a continuous 10 h ultra-marathon swimming effort in regional-level swimmers. Methods: Nine adult male swimmers (age: 43 ± 6 years) participated in a 10 h swim in a 50 m outdoor pool, self-managing their nutrition and hydration breaks. Pre- and post-swim measurements included body weight (BW), body fat percentage (BF%), limb lengths (LL), circumferences (C), lean mass (LM), body mass index (BMI), skinfold thicknesses, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). Results: A significant reduction was observed in bicep skinfold thickness (Fb) (p = 0.022), while both HR and systolic BP increased post-effort (p = 0.030 and p = 0.045, respectively). Also, most anthropometric parameters, such as BMI, LM, and some C, remained unchanged (p ≥ 0.05). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between post-swim hip circumference (Ph) and total swimming distance (r = –0.682, p = 0.043). Conclusions: While most anthropometric traits remained stable and unrelated to performance, isolated changes in specific biomarkers indicate a physiological response to prolonged exertion. Although pacing and nutritional strategies were not directly examined, observational data—such as consistent swimming rhythm, time allocation for active recovery (AR), and structured carbohydrate intake—suggest these factors may have contributed to performance maintenance and probably the lack of body composition differences after the ultra-marathon effort. These insights are interpretive and align with the existing literature, highlighting the need for future studies with targeted experimental designs. Full article

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) deficiency has been linked to reduced physical performance, as seen in hypophosphatasia (HPP). However, its potential role in muscle function has not been fully explored. This was a cross-sectional study in 34 HPP adults and 34 matched healthy controls. Muscle strength was assessed using handgrip strength (HGS), considering values below the 10th percentile of the Spanish population as low strength. Muscle mass was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and morphometric ultrasound. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip. The prevalence of low muscle strength was significantly higher in the HPP group compared to controls (30% vs. 6%; p = 0.009), with decreased HGS in the HPP group (p = 0.039). Positive associations were observed between ALP and femoral neck BMD, leg circumference, and fat-free mass and an inverse association with tricipital skinfold. Subjects with serum ALP activity below the sex-adjusted median had a significantly higher risk of low muscle strength independently of HPP diagnosis. ALP remained independently associated with HGS (p = 0.005), and a predictive model using ALP values showed strong capability to predict low-muscle-strength risk. Based on these results, we conclude circulating ALP levels are independently associated with muscle strength and may represent a useful biomarker for the early detection of muscle dysfunction. Future longitudinal or interventional studies are needed to assess whether ALP plays a causal role in muscle strength. Full article

Setting up anthropometric profiles for elite athletes in each sport, sport discipline, or specific sport positions could be a key element of sport selection processes. The main purpose of this study was to determine the anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and somatotype profiles of elite international ILCA 7 class sailors and to determine the differences contributing to different levels of competitive success. The subject sample included 97 elite ILCA 7 class sailors. A set of 25 anthropometric variables was applied. The sailors were divided into three groups according to their level of general competitive success according to the World Sailing Rankings. Differences between elite ILCA 7 sailors, separated into Higher, Medium, and Lower groups based on their success, were found in terms of age, body mass, muscle mass, trunk muscle mass, leg muscle mass, biepicondilar humerus width, sum of skinfolds, triceps skinfold, supraspinale skinfold, medial calf skinfold, and endomorphy rating. The most successful group of sailors was, on average, 4.9 years older than the least successful group. More highly successful sailors were also found to have an average of 2.73 kg more muscle mass but an 8.81 mm lower sum of skinfolds than those in the lower success group. Considering the average values of somatotype categories, ILCA 7 sailors fit the endomorphic–mesomorph somatotype category (3.23 ± 0.99–4.81 ± 0.90–2.25 ± 0.86). This research clearly identifies the anthropometric profile of elite ILCA 7 sailors, which can significantly contribute to a more informed choice of sailing class. Given the results of this research, current ILCA 7 sailors can easily compare their own anthropometric parameters with elite ILCA 7 sailors and eventually adjust their training process to obtain a more desirable anthropometric profile. Full article

Background: The evaluation of body composition is considered a key factor for assessing nutritional status. In several settings, ultrasound (US) has been used as a useful tool in nutritional practice by estimating body composition parameters, such as the whole-body fat mass (FM). The estimation of FM can be carried out by using predictive equations that generally require measurements of skinfold thickness, which can be measured directly via US imaging. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of US-derived skinfolds within anthropometric equations for estimating whole-body FM. Methods: Skinfold thickness was measured in 37 active individuals (19 males, age 24.2 ± 4.3 years, and 18 females, age 25.3 ± 4.2 years) using both anthropometry and US. The skinfolds obtained from anthropometry and US were entered into Evans’ equation to estimate the FM and were validated against a four-component model (4C) as a reference. Results: The use of US-derived skinfolds within anthropometric equations resulted in an overestimation of FM (4.8%, p < 0.01). An agreement analysis between the FMs estimated with US-derived skinfolds and the 4C model revealed a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.33, 95% limits of agreements ranging from −3.4% to 0.6%, and a positive trend (r = 0.8; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The practice of doubling the US thickness to approximate skinfold thickness leads to an overestimation of FM by ~5%, and it should be avoided. This results in a lack of agreement with the 4C model at both the group and individual levels. New equations based on US measurements should be developed to enhance the accuracy of body composition evaluation and help optimize nutritional strategies. Full article

Heat preconditioning has been shown to promote nutritive perfusion and tissue survival in autologous fat grafting as well as in flap and breast surgery. However, its impact on the vascularization properties of nanofat has not been investigated so far. Therefore, we exposed nanofat from donor mice to a temperature of 43 °C for 1 h and assessed the effects of this heat stress on cell viability and the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and angiogenesis-related factors. Moreover, dermal substitutes seeded with heat-preconditioned and non-preconditioned control nanofat were implanted into dorsal skinfold chambers of recipient mice to study their vascularization and tissue integration in vivo by means of repeated intravital fluorescence microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry. Heat preconditioning upregulated the expression of HSPs in nanofat without affecting cell viability. Moreover, it resulted in the downregulation of many pro-angiogenic factors and the increased expression of anti-angiogenic factors, indicating a shift towards an anti-angiogenic phenotype. Accordingly, implanted dermal substitutes seeded with heat-preconditioned nanofat exhibited a reduced vascularization and were not better integrated into the host tissue when compared to controls. These findings indicate that heat preconditioning cannot be recommended for enhancing the vascularization capacity of nanofat. Full article

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent disease influenced by dietary factors. While high sugar and fat consumption are associated with weight gain, their specific impact on liver fat accumulation remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sugar and saturated fat intake and liver and body fat composition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to February 2023 in workers from a tertiary care center in Mexico City. Anthropometric measurements, body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis and skinfold assessment), physical activity, and liver fat (vibration-controlled transient elastography) were measured. Dietary intake was assessed with a 24-h recall questionnaire and analyzed with specialized software. Linear and logistic regression models were fitted to study the relationship between nutrient intake and liver/body fat. Results: A total of 534 healthcare workers (median age: 41.5 years, 61.4% female) were included. Hepatic steatosis was present in 42.5% of participants. Higher carbohydrate intake was associated with increased liver fat (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.02–0.45), with each additional 15 g of carbohydrates increasing the odds of steatosis by 5% (OR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.006–1.102). Fat and sugar intake were associated with higher body fat but not liver fat. Conclusions: Carbohydrate intake was linked to liver fat accumulation, whereas fat and sugar intake were primarily associated with body fat. Tailored dietary recommendations could be informed by these findings. Prospective dietary assessment methods and a nutritional geometry approach could be applied in future studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and paralysis. Treatment focuses on symptom management, using medication, physiotherapy, and nutritional support. In this context, endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) can provide adequate feeding, hopefully improving nutrition and preventing complications. Methods: We studied ALS patients undergoing PEG over three months post-procedure, using anthropometry ((BMI)—body mass index; (MUAC)—mid-upper arm circumference; (TSF)—tricipital skinfold; (MAMC)—mid-arm muscle circumference) and laboratory data (Albumin; Transferrin; total cholesterol and hemoglobin), evaluating survival, complications, and nutritional/clinical status. Statistical analysis included Kaplan–Meier survival estimation and Cox regression to assess nutritional markers associated with survival. Results: 150 ALS patients underwent gastrostomy, mostly older adults (mean age: 66.1 years; median: 67). Mean survival was 527 [95% CI: 432–622] days, median 318 [95% CI: 236–400]. ALS bulbar subtype, MUAC and MAMC positively impacted PEG-feeding survival time (p < 0.05, Wald test). During the first three months of PEG feeding, each unit increase (cm) in MUAC and MAMC lowered death risk by 10% and 11%, respectively, highlighting the importance of nutrition care for survival. The bulbar subtype showed higher PEG feeding survival, with a 55.3% lower death hazard than the spinal subtype. There were no major PEG complications. Conclusions: ALS patients present a high risk of malnutrition. Patients that improved MAMC and MUAC in the first three PEG-fed months presented longer survival. Early PEG nutrition, even when some oral feeding is still possible, may reinforce the preventative role of enteral feeding in maintaining nutrition and potentially improving survival. Full article