NCT02050906.

OH. Mr Johnston is now at the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH.Context: Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of symptoms associated with abdominal obesity that demonstrates a high risk for cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus.Objective: To evaluate football linemen in National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I, II, and III schools for the presence of metabolic syndrome according to the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria as well as to document other related biomarkers.Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Three university locations on the first full day of football camp in early morning.Patients or Other Participants: Of 76 football linemen, 70 were able to provide blood samples.Main Outcome Measure(s): Height, mass, blood pressure, upper-body skinfolds, and waist circumference were measured at various stations. Two small venous samples of blood were collected and analyzed in a hospital laboratory for fasting insulin, glucose, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and glycosylated hemoglobin. The last station was a verbal family history for cardiovascular disease and diabetes; also, athletes filled out a nutrition attitudes questionnaire.Results: Of the 70 athletes, 34 were identified as having metabolic syndrome according to measures of blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. The mean total cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio for the group was 4.95, with 32 participants displaying values higher than 5.0. Twelve volunteers had total cholesterol levels greater than 200 mmol/L, 15 had high levels of C-reactive protein, and 9 had slightly elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin.Conclusions: Although athletes might be assumed to be protected from risks of cardiovascular disease, we found a high incidence of metabolic syndrome and other associated adverse biomarkers for heart disease in collegiate football linemen. Early screening, awareness, and intervention may have favorable effects on the overall health outcomes of football linemen.Key Words: obesity, football players, dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin, C-reactive protein Key Points N Football linemen with abdominal adiposity exhibited the clustering of symptoms associated with higher risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (metabolic syndrome).N Athletes with a waist circumference equal to or greater than 40 in (101.60 cm) should be evaluated for other risk factors (fasting blood glucose, blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and prehypertensive blood pressure levels) to determine metabolic syndrome status and risks.

Background Cancer survivors remain at increased risk for secondary malignancies, comorbidities, and all-cause mortality. Lifestyle behaviors, such as diet and physical activity, are strongly linked to a decreased risk of chronic disease and improved health outcomes, yet a paucity of research has been conducted in this vulnerable population. Methods Adult cancer survivors were recruited to participate in Growing Hope, an experimental single-group study designed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a theory-driven and evidence-based intervention. For 4 months, 22 participants received group and individual education and had access to harvesting fresh produce at an urban garden. Data on program satisfaction, compliance, diet, and physical activity were collected via surveys; anthropometrics, blood values, and skin carotenoids were objectively measured. Results The intervention resulted in significant improvements in consumption of fruits and vegetables (P = .003), decreased consumption of red and processed meats (P = .030) and sugar-sweetened beverages (P = .020). Levels of skin carotenoids, fasting blood glucose, and non–high density lipoprotein cholesterol were also significantly improved (P = .011, P = .043, and P = .05, respectively). Conclusions The results of this study support the feasibility and efficacy of a multifaceted, garden-based intervention for cancer survivors. In addition, these preliminary results demonstrate a positive impact aligning with the current lifestyle recommendations for cancer survivorship. Larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to define impact on sustained health outcomes.

Objectives To help athletic trainers promote a “food-first” philosophy to support health and performance, understand federal and sport governing body rules and regulations regarding dietary supplements and banned substances, and become familiar with reliable resources for evaluating the safety, purity, and efficacy of dietary supplements. Background The dietary supplement industry is poorly regulated and takes in billions of dollars per year. Uneducated athletes need to gain a better understanding of the safety, eligibility, and efficacy concerns associated with choosing to take dietary supplements. The athletic trainer is a valuable athletic team member who can help in the educational process. In many cases, athletic trainers are asked to help evaluate the legality, safety, and efficacy of dietary supplements. For this position statement, our mission is to provide the athletic trainer with the necessary resources for these tasks. Recommendations Proper nutrition and changes in the athlete's habitual diet should be considered first when improved performance is the goal. Athletes need to understand the level of regulation (or lack thereof) governing the dietary supplement industry at the international, federal, state, and individual sport-participation levels. Athletes should not assume a product is safe simply because it is marketed over the counter. All products athletes are considering using should be evaluated for purity (ie, truth in labeling), safety, and efficacy.

Background Exercise and dietary (EX+D) interventions could represent an optimal treatment for attenuating or reversing adverse effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. The Individualized Diet and Exercise Adherence-Pilot (IDEA-P) trial compared the effects of an EX+D intervention relative to standard-of-care (SC) treatment among PCa patients undergoing ADT. The present study evaluated the effects of the EX+D intervention on body composition (BC) obtained via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a subsample of IDEA-P patients. A secondary objective was to explore the association of adiposity and lean mass with mobility performance and strength. Methods Complete DXA data were acquired from a subsample of 22 PCa patients (EX+D: n = 13; SC: n = 9) at baseline and 3 month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analysis included data from 30 participants ( M age = 66.28; SD = 7.79) with baseline DXA assessments. Results Intention-to-treat analysis revealed EX+D resulted in significant improvements in fat mass ( P = 0.022), per cent fat mass ( P = 0.028), trunk fat mass ( P = 0.017), fat mass/lean mass ( P = 0.040), and per cent lean mass ( P = 0.026) vs. SC. EX+D also resulted in more favourable changes in appendicular lean mass/body mass ( d = 0.59). Select BC outcomes were also significantly correlated with mobility performance and strength ( P < 0.05) at 3 month follow-up. Conclusions Findings suggest the EX+D intervention resulted in superior preservation of lean tissue and improvement in adiposity relative to SC treatment. Results underscore the utility of implementing EX+D interventions for preserving muscle mass and reducing adiposity in PCa patients undergoing ADT.