Open Access
Heart rate and its variability are associated with resting metabolic rate and substrate oxidation in young women but not in men
(Wiley, 2024-09-20) Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; González-Acedo, Anabel; Amaro Gahete, Francisco J.; Plaza Florido, Abel
Background: This study aims to examine the relationship between resting vagal-related heart rate variability (HRV) parameters and heart rate (HR) with resting metabolic rate (RMR) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in young adults. Methods: A total of 74 young adults (22 ± 2 years old, 51 women) were included in this cross-sectional study. HRV was assessed using a HR monitor, whereas RMR and RER were determined by indirect calorimetry. Results: Linear regression analyses showed a positive association between HR and RER in women (standardized β = 0.384, p = 0.008), while negative associations were observed between vagal-related HRV parameters and RER in women (β ranged from -0.262 to ¿0.254, all p≤ 0.042). No significant association was found between the abovementioned physiological parameters in men. Conclusion: Here, we show that HR is positively associated with RER in young women but not in men, while vagal-related HRV parameters are inversely related to RMR, therefore suggesting a potential sexual dimorphism between cardiac rhythm and its relationship with markers of cardiometabolic health status. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02365129.
Open Access
Energy expenditure and macronutrient oxidation in response to an individualized nonshivering cooling protocol
(Wiley, 2020) Sánchez Delgado, Guillermo; Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Acosta, Francisco M.; Martínez Téllez, Borja; Amaro Gahete, Francisco J.; Merchán Ramírez, Elisa; Löf, M.; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ravussin, Eric; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Objective This study aimed to describe the energy expenditure (EE) and macronutrient oxidation response to an individualized nonshivering cold exposure in young healthy adults. Methods Two different groups of 44 (study 1: 22.1 [SD 2.1] years old, 25.6 [SD 5.2] kg/m(2), 34% men) and 13 young healthy adults (study 2: 25.6 [SD 3.0] years old, 23.6 [SD 2.4] kg/m(2), 54% men) participated in this study. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and macronutrient oxidation rates were measured by indirect calorimetry under fasting conditions in a warm environment (for 30 minutes) and in mild cold conditions (for 65 minutes, with the individual wearing a water-perfused cooling vest set at an individualized temperature adjusted to the individual's shivering threshold). Results In study 1, EE increased in the initial stage of cold exposure and remained stable for the whole cold exposure (P < 0.001). Mean cold-induced thermogenesis (9.56 +/- 7.9 kcal/h) was 13.9% +/- 11.6% of the RMR (range: -14.8% to 39.9% of the RMR). Carbohydrate oxidation decreased during the first 30 minutes of the cold exposure and later recovered up to the baseline values (P < 0.01) in parallel to opposite changes in fat oxidation (P < 0.01). Results were replicated in study 2. Conclusions A 1-hour mild cold exposure individually adjusted to elicit maximum nonshivering thermogenesis induces a very modest increase in EE and a shift of macronutrient oxidation that may underlie a shift in thermogenic tissue activity.
Open Access
Effect of gas exchange data selection methods on resting metabolic rate estimation in young athletes
(Public Library of Science, 2023) Bittencourt, Victor Zaban; Freire, Raul; Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Loureiro, Luiz Lannes; Oliveira, Taillan Martins de; Cahuê, Fábio Luiz Candido; Itaborahy, Alex; Pierucci, Anna Paola Trindade Rocha; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
This cross-sectional study analysed the effect of the gas exchange data selection methods on the resting metabolic rate (RMR) estimation and proposed a protocol shortening providing a suitable RMR estimation for young athletes. Sixty-six healthy young Brazilian athletes performed a 30-minute RMR assessment. Different methods of gas exchange data selection were applied: short and long-time intervals, steady-state (SSt), and filtering. A mixed one-way ANOVA was used to analyse the mean differences in gas exchange, RMR, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and coefficients of variation across all methods. Additionally, paired Student’s t-test were used to compare the first and best SSt RMR values for each SSt method (3, 4, and 5-min). The 5-min SSt method provided the lowest RMR estimate (1454 kcal.day-1). There was a statistical difference between methods (F = 2.607, p = 0.04), but they presented a clinically irrelevant absolute difference (~36 kcal.day-1). There were no differences in RER among methods. In addition, using the SSt method, 12 minutes of assessment were enough to obtain a valid estimation of RMR. The 5-min SSt method should be employed for assessing the RMR among young athletes, considering the possibility of obtaining a shortened assessment (~12 min) with an acceptable and low coefficient of variation.
Open Access
Resting heart rate but not heart rate variability is associated with the normal-weight obesity phenotype
(Wiley, 2024) Plaza Florido, Abel; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objective: To determine differences in resting heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR) between young adults with normal-weight obesity (NWO) and normal-weight lean (NWL). Methods: A total of 65 normal-weight individuals (18-25 years old, 50 women, body mass index 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2) were included in this cross-sectional study. Body fat percentage was determined using a whole-body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scanner. Resting HRV and HR were assessed with the Polar RS800CX. Forty-one participants were classified as NWO and 24 NWL using cutoff points for body fat percentage (33.3% for women and 23.1% for men). Results: There were no differences in HRV between NWO and NWL groups (all p >.05). HR was higher in NWO (mean 70 beats per minute [bpm], standard deviation [SD] 8) than in NWL adults (mean 65 bpm, SD 10), the adjusted mean difference 5 bpm (95% CI, 0 to 10 bpm). Conclusion: HR is a noninvasive biomarker and relatively cheap, fast, and easy to measure that could detect 'apparently healthy' young individuals with an adverse cardiovascular disease risk profile despite presenting a normal body weight.
Open Access
Effects of exercise on bone marrow adipose tissue in children with overweight/obesity: role of liver fat
(Oxford University Press, 2024-08-07) Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Cadenas-Sánchez, Cristina; Idoate, Fernando; Gracia-Marco, Luis; Medrano Echeverría, María; Alfaro-Magallanes, Víctor Manuel; Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Rodríguez Vigil, Beatriz; Osés Recalde, Maddi; Ortega, Francisco B.; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Cabeza Laguna, Rafael; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Context: Exercise reduces adiposity, but its influence on bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF) is unknown; nor is it known whether a reduction in liver fat content mediates this reduction. Objectives: This work aimed to determine whether incorporating exercise into a lifestyle program reduces the lumbar spine (LS) BMFF and to investigate whether changes in liver fat mediate any such effect.Methods Ancillary analysis of a 2-arm, parallel, nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted at primary care centers in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. A total of 116 children with overweight/obesity were assigned to a 22-week family-based lifestyle program (control group [n = 57]) or the same program plus an exercise intervention (exercise group [n = 59]). The compared interventions consisted of a family-based lifestyle program (two 90-minute sessions/month) and the same program plus supervised exercise (three 90-minute sessions/week). The primary outcome examined was the change in LS-BMFF between baseline and 22 weeks, as estimated by magnetic resonance imaging. The effect of changes in hepatic fat on LS-BMFF were also recorded.Results Mean weight loss difference between groups was 1.4 +/- 0.5 kg in favor of the exercise group. Only the children in the exercise group experienced a reduction in LS-BMFF (effect size [Cohen d] -0.42; CI, -0.86 to -0.01). Importantly, 40.9% of the reductions in LS-BMFF were mediated by changes in percentage hepatic fat (indirect effect: beta=-0.104; 95% CI, -0.213 to -0.019). The effect of changes in hepatic fat on LS-BMFF was independent of weight loss.Conclusion The addition of exercise to a family-based lifestyle program designed to reduce cardiometabolic risk improves bone health by reducing LS-BMFF in children with overweight or obesity. This beneficial effect on bone marrow appears to be mediated by reductions in liver fat.
Open Access
Sex-specific dose-response effects of a 24-week supervised concurrent exercise intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength in young adults: The ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial
(Wiley, 2024) Camacho-Cardenosa, Alba; Amaro Gahete, Francisco J.; Martínez Téllez, Borja; Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Ortega, Francisco B.; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Concurrent training has been postulated as an appropriate time-efficient strategy to improve physical fitness, yet whether the exercise-induced adaptations are similar in men and women is unknown. An unblinded randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate sex-specific dose–response effects of a 24-week supervised concurrent exercise training program on cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength in young adults. One hundred and forty-four sedentary adults aged 18–25 years were assigned to either (i) a control group (n = 54), (ii) a moderate intensity exercise group (MOD-EX, n = 46), or (iii) a vigorous intensity exercise group (VIG-EX, n = 44) by unrestricted randomization. Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), hand grip strength, and one-repetition maximum of leg press and bench press were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. A total of 102 participants finished the intervention (Control, n = 36; 52% women, MOD-EX, n = 37; 70% women, and VIG-EX, n = 36; 72% women). In men, VO2max significantly increased in the MOD-EX (~8%) compared with the control group and in the VIG-EX group after the intervention (~6.5%). In women, VO2max increased in the MOD-EX and VIG-EX groups (~5.5%) compared with the control group after the intervention. There was a significant increment of leg press in the MOD-EX (~15.5%) and VIG-EX (~18%) groups compared with the control group (~1%) in women. A 24-week supervised concurrent exercise was effective at improving cardiorespiratory fitness and lower body limbs muscular strength in young women—independently of the predetermined intensity—while only at moderate intensity improved cardiorespiratory fitness in men.
Open Access
Reproducibility of the energy metabolism response to an oral glucose tolerance test: influence of a postcalorimetric correction procedure
(Springer, 2022) Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Sánchez Delgado, Guillermo; Jurado Fasoli, Lucas; Galgani, José E.; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Purpose Metabolic fexibility (MetF), which is a surrogate of metabolic health, can be assessed by the change in the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We aimed to determine the day-to-day reproducibility of the energy expenditure (EE) and RER response to an OGTT, and whether a simulation-based postcalorimetric correction of metabolic cart readouts improves day-to-day reproducibility. Methods The EE was assessed (12 young adults, 6 women, 27±2 years old) using an Omnical metabolic cart (Maastricht Instruments, Maastricht, The Netherlands) after an overnight fast (12 h) and after a 75-g oral glucose dose on 2 separate days (48 h). On both days, we assessed EE in 7 periods (one 30-min baseline and six 15-min postprandial). The ICcE was performed immediately after each recording period, and capillary glucose concentration (using a digital glucometer) was determined. Results We observed a high day-to-day reproducibility for the assessed RER (coefcients of variation [CV]<4%) and EE (CVs<9%) in the 7 diferent periods. In contrast, the RER and EE areas under the curve showed a low day-to-day reproducibility (CV=22% and 56%, respectively). Contrary to our expectations, the postcalorimetric correction procedure did not infuence the day-to-day reproducibility of the energy metabolism response, possibly because the Omnical’s accuracy was~100%. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the energy metabolism response to an OGTT is poorly reproducible (CVs>20%) even using a very accurate metabolic cart. Furthermore, the postcalorimetric correction procedure did not infuence the day-to-day reproducibility. Trial registration NCT04320433; March 25, 2020.
Open Access
Adults with metabolically healthy overweight or obesity present more brown adipose tissue and higher thermogenesis than their metabolically unhealthy counterparts
(Elsevier, 2024) Jurado Fasoli, Lucas; Sánchez Delgado, Guillermo; Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Acosta, Francisco M.; Sánchez Sánchez, Rocío; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ortega, Francisco B.; Martínez Téllez, Borja; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Background: There is a subset of individuals with overweight/obesity characterized by a lower risk of cardiometabolic complications, the so-called metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO) phenotype. Despite the relatively higher levels of subcutaneous adipose tissue and lower visceral adipose tissue observed in individuals with MHOO than individuals with metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO), little is known about the differences in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Methods: This study included 53 young adults (28 women) with a body mass index (BMI) ¿25 kg/m2 which were classified as MHOO (n = 34) or MUOO (n = 19). BAT was assessed through a static 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan after a 2-h personalized cooling protocol. Energy expenditure, skin temperature, and thermal perception were assessed during a standardized mixed meal test (3.5 h) and a 1-h personalized cold exposure. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, energy intake was determined during an ad libitum meal test and dietary recalls, and physical activity levels were determined by a wrist-worn accelerometer. Findings: Participants with MHOO presented higher BAT volume (+124%, P = 0.008), SUVmean (+63%, P = 0.001), and SUVpeak (+133%, P = 0.003) than MUOO, despite having similar BAT mean radiodensity (P = 0.354). In addition, individuals with MHOO exhibited marginally higher meal-induced thermogenesis (P = 0.096) and cold-induced thermogenesis (+158%, P = 0.050). Moreover, MHOO participants showed higher supraclavicular skin temperature than MUOO during the first hour of the postprandial period and during the cold exposure, while no statistically significant differences were observed in other skin temperature parameters. We observed no statistically significant differences between MHOO and MUOO in thermal perception, body composition, outdoor ambient temperature exposure, resting metabolic rate, energy intake, or physical activity levels. Interpretation: Adults with MHOO present higher BAT volume and activity than MUOO. The higher meal- and cold-induced thermogenesis and cold-induced supraclavicular skin temperature are compatible with a higher BAT activity. Overall, these results suggest that BAT presence and activity might be linked to a healthier phenotype in young adults with overweight or obesity.
Open Access
Impact of methods for data selection on the day-to-day reproducibility of resting metabolic rate assessed with four different metabolic carts
(Elsevier, 2023) Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Jurado Fasoli, Lucas; Dote-Montero, Manuel; Merchán Ramírez, Elisa; Amaro Gahete, Francisco J.; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Sánchez Delgado, Guillermo; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Background and aims: Accomplishing a high day-to-day reproducibility is important to detect changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) that may be produced after an intervention or for monitoring patients’ metabolism over time. We aimed to analyze: (i) the influence of different methods for selecting indirect calorimetry data on RMR and RER assessments; and, (ii) whether these methods influence RMR and RER day-to-day reproducibility. Methods and results: Twenty-eight young adults accomplished 4 consecutive RMR assessments (30-min each), using the Q-NRG (Cosmed, Rome, Italy), the Vyntus CPX (Jaeger-CareFusion, Höchberg, Germany), the Omnical (Maastricht Instruments, Maastricht, The Netherlands), and the Ultima CardiO2 (Medgraphics Corporation, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA) carts, on 2 consecutive mornings. Three types of methods were used: (i) short (periods of 5 consecutive minutes; 6e10, 11e15, 16e20, 21e25, and 26e30 min) and long time intervals (TI) methods (6e25 and 6 e30 min); (ii) steady state (SSt methods); and, (iii) methods filtering the data by thresholding from the mean RMR (filtering methods). RMR and RER were similar when using different methods (except RMR for the Vyntus and RER for the Q-NRG). Conversely, using different methods impacted RMR (all P 0.037) and/or RER (P 0.009) day-to-day reproducibility in all carts. The 6e25 min and the 6e30 min long TI methods yielded more reproducible measurements for all metabolic carts. Conclusion: The 6e25 min and 6e30 min should be the preferred methods for selecting data, as they result in the highest day-to-day reproducibility of RMR and RER assessments.
Open Access
Impact of lifestyle moderate-to-vigorous physical activity timing on glycemic control in sedentary adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic impairments
(Wiley, 2024-06-10) Clavero-Jimeno, Antonio; Dote-Montero, Manuel; Migueles, Jairo H.; Camacho-Cardenosa, Alba; Osés Recalde, Maddi; Echarte Medina, Jon; Alcántara Alcántara, Juan Manuel; Muñoz Torres, Manuel; Labayen Goñi, Idoia; Ruiz, Jonatan R.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Objective: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) improves glucose levels; however, whether its timing affects daily glycemic control remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of lifestyle MVPA timing on daily glycemic control in sedentary adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic impairments. Methods: A total of 186 adults (50% women; age, 46.8 [SD 6.2] years) with overweight/obesity (BMI, 32.9 [SD 3.5] kg/m2) and at least one metabolic impairment participated in this cross-sectional study. MVPA and glucose patterns were simultaneously monitored over a 14-day period using a triaxial accelerometer worn on the nondominant wrist and a continuous glucose-monitoring device, respectively. Each day was classified as “inactive” if no MVPA was accumulated; as “morning,” “afternoon,” or “evening” if >50% of the MVPA minutes for that day were accumulated between 0600 and 1200, 1200 and 1800, or 1800 and 0000 hours, respectively; or as “mixed” if none of the defined time windows accounted for >50% of the MVPA for that day. Results: Accumulating >50% of total MVPA during the evening was associated with lower 24-h (mean difference [95% CI], −1.26 mg/dL [95% CI: −2.2 to −0.4]), diurnal (−1.10 mg/dL [95% CI: −2.0 to −0.2]), and nocturnal mean glucose levels (−2.16 mg/dL [95% CI: −3.5 to −0.8]) compared with being inactive. This association was stronger in those participants with impaired glucose regulation. The pattern of these associations was similar in both men and women. Conclusions: These findings suggest that timing of lifestyle MVPA is significant. Specifically, accumulating more MVPA during the evening appears to have a beneficial effect on glucose homeostasis in sedentary adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic impairments.