Science Weekly - 11052020

​Check out this week's round-up of nutrition, fitness and sports science news! Another paper was published with COVID-19 research, as well as a few others on particular nutrients or foods related to a variety of conditions.

​Here are the highlights:
​

• ​​Viruses from feces can help combat obesity and diabetes
• ​Exercise boosts motor skill learning via changes in brain's transmitters
• ​Potato power: Spuds serve high quality protein that's good for women's muscle
• ​More berries, apples and tea may have protective benefits against Alzheimer's
• ​Certain foods common in diets of US adults with inflammatory bowel disease
• ​Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate, study finds
• Revealing links between education and a good diet

Viruses from feces can help combat obesity and diabetes

Fecal transplants are currently used to treat certain types of antibiotic-resistant diarrhea and has also been attempted to treat e.g. inflammatory bowel disease. A new study suggests that transplanted intestinal contents could also be effective against obesity and type 2 diabetes. By transplanting feces without bacteria obese mice on a high-fat diet significantly decreased weight gain and normalized their glucose tolerance.

Source: University of Copenhagen

Exercise boosts motor skill learning via changes in brain's transmitters

Researchers find switch in chemical messaging is key prelude to motor skill acquisition
​Comparing the brains of mice that exercised with those that did not, researchers found that specific neurotransmitters switched following sustained exercise, leading to improved learning for motor-skill acquisition. Underscoring the critical benefits of exercise, even in a time of a global pandemic, the researchers found that mice that exercised acquired several demanding motor skills such as staying on a rotating rod or crossing a balance beam more rapidly than a non-exercised group.

Source: University of California - San Diego

Potato power: Spuds serve high quality protein that's good for women's muscle

Researchers have found that the potato, primarily known as a starchy vegetable, can be a source of high-quality protein that helps to maintain muscle.

Source: McMaster University

More berries, apples and tea may have protective benefits against Alzheimer's

​Study shows low intake of flavonoid-rich foods linked with higher Alzheimer's risk over 20 years
​Older adults with low intake of foods and drinks containing flavonoids, such as berries, apples, and tea, were more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and related dementias over 20 years, compared with people who consumed more of those items, according to a new study.

Source: Tufts University, Health Sciences Campus

Certain foods common in diets of US adults with inflammatory bowel disease

Foods, such as French fries, cheese, cookies, soda, and sports and energy drinks, are commonly found in the diets of United States adults with inflammatory bowel disease, according to a new study.

Source: Georgia State University

Vitamin D linked to low virus death rate, study finds

New COVID-19 research finds relationship in data from 20 European countries
​A new study has found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries.

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

Revealing links between education and a good diet

Educational status appears to have positive influence on a healthy diet, particularly in low income countries, according to new research examining European nutritional data.

Source: University of Leeds