Our purpose was to assess muscular adaptations during 6 weeks of resistance training in 36 males randomly assigned to supplementation with whey protein (W; 1.2 g/kg/day), whey protein and creatine monohydrate (WC; 0.1 g/kg/day), or placebo (P; 1.2 g/kg/day maltodextrin). Measures included lean tissue mass by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, bench press and squat strength (1-repetition maximum), and knee extension/flexion peak torque. Lean tissue mass increased to a greater extent with training in WC compared to the other groups, and in the W compared to the P group (p < .05). Bench press strength increased to a greater extent for WC compared to W and P (p < .05). Knee extension peak torque increased with training for WC and W (p < .05), but not for P. All other measures increased to a similar extent across groups. Continued training without supplementation for an additional 6 weeks resulted in maintenance of strength and lean tissue mass in all groups. Males that supplemented with whey protein while resistance training demonstrated greater improvement in knee extension peak torque and lean tissue mass than males engaged in training alone. Males that supplemented with a combination of whey protein and creatine had greater increases in lean tissue mass and bench press than those who supplemented with only whey protein or placebo. However, not all strength measures were improved with supplementation, since subjects who supplemented with creatine and/or whey protein had similar increases in squat strength and knee flexion peak torque compared to subjects who received placebo.

BackgroundSevere Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) is an aggressive form of tooth decay in preschool children affecting quality of life and nutritional status. The purpose was to determine whether there is an association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and S-ECC.MethodsChildren with S-ECC were recruited on the day of their slated dental surgery under general anesthesia. Age-matched, caries-free controls were recruited from the community. All children were participating in a larger study on nutrition and S-ECC. Analysis was restricted to children ≥ 24 months of age. Parents completed a questionnaire and heights and weights were recorded. BMI scores and age and gender adjusted BMI z-scores and percentiles were calculated. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was significant.ResultsTwo hundred thirty-five children were included (141 with S-ECC and 94 caries-free). The mean age was 43.3 ± 12.8 months and 50.2 % were male. Overall, 34.4 % of participants were overweight or obese. Significantly more children with S-ECC were classified as overweight or obese when compared to caries-free children (p = 0.038) and had significantly higher mean BMI z-scores than caries-free children (0.78 ± 1.26 vs. 0.22 ± 1.36, p = 0.002). Those with S-ECC also had significantly higher BMI percentiles (69.0 % ± 29.2 vs. 56.8 % ± 31.7, p = 0.003). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that BMI z-scores were significantly and independently associated with S-ECC and annual household income as were BMI percentiles.ConclusionsChildren with S-ECC in our sample had significantly higher BMI z-scores than caries-free peers.

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We have previously reported that the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia is normal while the cortisol release to pituitary stimulation by corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF-41) is reduced in obesity. Impaired growth hormone (GH) secretion is also found in obesity which may result from altered central levels of somatostatin (SMS). We have investigated, by giving a simultaneous infusion of SMS to six volunteer normal weight men during a CRF test, whether it is possible for SMS to modify pituitary-adrenal function. Each subject received intravenous CRF-41 (0.5 micrograms/kg) on two occasions during an infusion of isotonic saline or SMS (4 micrograms/min) in a randomized double-blind study. Plasma GH, cortisol, ACTH and SMS were measured. Three subjects demonstrated GH peaks during saline infusion but no peaks were seen in any subject during SMS infusion. No significant difference was found between peak cortisol responses during saline or SMS infusion (SMS cortisol 443 +/- 61 nmol/l, saline cortisol 485 +/- 52 nmol/l); neither was there any difference in the ACTH responses. We conclude that SMS does not alter the pituitary response to CRF in normal weight men and is thus less likely to be responsible for the altered pituitary-adrenal function seen in obesity. Further studies of alternative mechanisms are required to explain the cause of this abnormality.