Fitness Factoids: Volume #47
Melatonin 
May Lower Prostate Cancer Risk
Melatonin is a vital hormone that plays a critical role in helping to regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycles, also known as circadian rhythms. According to new research conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology, men with low melatonin levels may be at an increased risk for developing advanced stage prostate cancer. The study tracked 928 participants from 2002-2006. Prior to beginning the study samples were taken from each participant to determine melatonin levels and questionnaires were completed that provided greater detail of sleep habits. According to the data men who reported sleep disturbances and had low levels of melatonin were at increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The study found having even median melatonin levels decreased the risk of developing prostate cancer by 75% compared to those with lower levels. Scientists note that further investigation is needed to provide greater insight, but it is reasonable to suspect that melatonin plays a much more important role in regulating health than previously thought.
Drinki
ng Diet Beverages Associated With Increased Caloric Intake
New information being released by the American Journal of Public Health has found overweight and obese adults who consume diet beverages are more likely to consume more whole food calories than normal weight individuals who drink diet beverages. According to the data 19% of overweight, and 22% of obese individuals regularly consume diet beverages in the United States. Although these beverages do not contain sugar, artificial sweeteners used to flavor the beverages have been previously shown to cause the body to release insulin despite the absence of glucose. The study found that overweight individuals who consume diet beverages typically consume up to 88kcal per day more than normal weight individuals, and obese adults consumed as much as 194kcal per day than normal weight individuals. Given the recent findings you may want to reconsider guzzling that two liter of diet Coke everyday while dieting to avoid insatiable cravings.
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301556
“Placeb
o Sleep” Improves Cognition
The importance of proper sleep on metabolic function and cognition have been well documented, but new research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology has presented intriguing evidence that how well we sleep may not be as important as how well we think we sleep. Researchers from Colorado College tested something they coined with the term “placebo sleep”. For the study researcher asked participants to self-report the quality of their sleep from the previous night, and then gave them a brief report about sleeps effects on cognitive function. Researchers told participants that less REM sleep causes lower performance on cognitive tests. Participants were then hooked up to monitoring equipment overnight that measured brainwave frequency as they slept. After waking experiments told participants that they either had 16.2% REM sleep or 28.7% REM sleep, or then asked them to perform tests that measured cognitive function of which baselines had previously been established. Researchers found that each participant in the lower REM sleep group scored more poorly on the tests, while participants in the higher REM group improved their performance. Researchers note that more data is needed in order to gain further insight into how this method will impact cognition long-term.
DHA M
itigates Damage from Metabolic Syndrome
The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is one of the primary components in fish oil, and has been linked to a wide array of health benefits. However, researchers at Oregon State University have found that the power of DHA to improve health may be greater than previously thought. Researchers set out to determine whether DHA supplementation had the ability to decrease inflammation from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – a condition that can lead to liver failure if issues persist. Researchers gave mice with a genetic predisposition for liver disease the human equivalent of 2-4g of DHA per day. According to the study DHA showed the ability to reduce damaging metabolites known to liver fibrosis by nearly 65% in addition to unexpected improvements in carbohydrate metabolism, protein and amino acid function, and lipid metabolism. This study helps to reinforce the importance of including healthy doses of omega-3 fatty acids in our daily diet, and opens up the discussion about possible therapeutic uses for fish oil as an adjunct or replacement for traditional prescription medicine.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/271675.php
Flavonoid
s Protect Against Diabetes
Flavonoids are a class of polyphenols that are derived from natural sources such as fruits, vegetables, and coffee. Flavonoids have been known to have significant health benefits that have been mainly attributed to their potent antioxidant properties. However, new research published by the Journal of Nutrition suggests that flavonoids may also have the ability to help improve insulin resistance and improve blood glucose regulation. For the study researchers tracked 2,000 health women who completed food questionnaires in addition to submitting blood samples for analysis of blood glucose levels and inflammatory markers. The data showed that women who consumed the highest amounts of specific flavonoids known as anthocyanin’s that are found in fruits and berries had lower levels of insulin resistance. They also found that women who had high levels of anthocyanin consumption were least like to suffer from chronic inflammation which is known as one of the hallmarks of disease in the body.
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