Science Weekly
A weekly round up of scientific research for personal trainers. Join for free to get Science Weekly updates delivered straight to your inbox.
 A great range and variety of topics were examined in the studies published by scientists in the fitness, nutrition and sports science fields this past week. From weight loss research to bulimia nervosa, from the benefits of specific exercise methods on sleep to the effects of liquid fructose on fatty liver disease, you'll find intriguing results that your clients will appreciate. The highlights:
Study questions the role of vitamin D2 in human health but its sibling, vitamin D3, could be important for fighting infections New research has found significant differences between the two types of vitamin D, with vitamin D2 having a questionable impact on human health. However, the study found that vitamin D3 could balance people's immune systems and help strengthen defences against viral infections such as Covid-19. Source: University of Surrey Diminished activation of specific prefrontal brain region may directly contribute to binge eating in bulimia nervosa New research has revealed a key neural mechanism underlying the feeling of being unable to stop eating, the most salient aspect of binge episodes in eating disorders like bulimia nervosa. Source: The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine Weighing up: What’s the bottom line when it comes to weight loss? When it comes to weight loss, many of us have dabbled in the latest diets. But whether you're cutting carbs or keeping to keto, new research shows that diet trends can cost more than your waistline and leave a hefty hole in your hip pocket. Source: University of South Australia Resistance exercise may be superior to aerobic exercise for getting better ZZZs A new study found that resistance exercise may be superior to aerobic exercise as a way to get better sleep. A year-long resistance exercise program improved sleep quality, duration and other indicators of a good night's sleep more so than aerobic exercise, combined aerobic and resistance exercise, and no exercise. Researchers say interventions focused on resistance exercises may be a way to improve sleep and, in turn, cardiovascular health. Source: American Heart Association Meta-analysis of 15 studies reports new findings on how many daily walking steps needed for longevity benefit Spoiler alert: It’s fewer than 10,000, especially for older adults A meta-analysis of 15 studies involving nearly 50,000 people from four continents offers new insights into identifying the amount of daily walking steps that will optimally improve adults' health and longevity -- and whether the number of steps is different for people of different ages. Source: University of Massachusetts Amherst New lab model simulates effects of exercise on muscles A team of researchers has developed a simple lab-based system for growing human muscle cells that are capable of vigorously contracting. Source: Tohoku University Why exercise gets harder the less you do Doing less exercise could deactivate a vital protein in the body, causing further inactivity and making exercise more difficult, new research suggests. Deactivating the Piezo1 protein, a blood flow sensor, reduces the density of capillaries carrying blood to the muscles. This restricted blood flow means activity becomes more difficult and can lead to a reduction in how much exercise is possible. This helps to explain the biology of why exercise becomes harder the less you do. Source: University of Leeds New treatment to combat obesity and heart disease An interdisciplinary research team has successfully developed an innovative inhibitor that shows promise in fighting obesity and potentially preventing heart disease. The team developed an anti-obesity drug that blocks the effects of cytochrome P450 8B1, the enzyme linked to cholesterol absorption and obesity. Source: University of Texas at San Antonio A new study relates liquid fructose intake to fatty liver disease A high-fat diet is not enough to cause short-term fatty liver disease. However, if this diet is combined with the intake of beverages sweetened with liquid fructose, the accumulation of fats in the liver accelerates and hypertriglyceridemia -- a cardiovascular risk factor -- can appear, according to researchers. Source: University of Barcelona More alcohol, less brain: Association begins with an average of just one drink a day Even light-to-moderate drinking is associated with harm to the brain, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from more than 36,000 adults that found a link between drinking and reduced brain volume that begins at an average consumption level of less than one alcohol unit a day -- the equivalent of about half a beer -- and rises with each additional drink.
Source: University of Pennsylvania |
