BackgroundLimited data have indicated that body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) of athletes and young adults provide misleading results concerning body fat content. This study was aimed at the evaluation of the relationship between different surrogate indices of fatness (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR and body adiposity index (BAI)) with the percentage of body fat in Polish students with respect to their sex and physical activity.MethodsA total of 272 students volunteered to participate in the study. Of these students, 177 physical education students (90 males and 87 females) were accepted as active (physical activity of 7 to 9 hours/week); and 95 students of other specializations (49 males and 46 females) were accepted as sedentary (physical activity of 1.5 hours/week). Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured, and BMI, WHR, WHtR and BAI were calculated. Body fat percentage was assessed using four skinfold measurements.ResultsClassification of fatness according to the BMI and the percentage of body fat have indicated that BMI overestimates fatness in lean subjects (active men and women, sedentary men), but underestimates body fat in obese subjects (sedentary women). In all groups, BMI, WHR, WHtR and BAI were significantly correlated with the percentage of body fat (with the exception of WHR and hip circumference in active and sedentary women, respectively). However, coefficients of determination not exceeding 50% and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficients lower than 0.9 indicated no relationship between measured and calculated body fat.ConclusionThe findings in the present study support the concept that irrespective of physical activity and sex none of the calculated indices of fatness are useful in the determination of body fat in young adults. Thus, it seems that easily calculated indices may contribute to distorted body image and unhealthy dietary habits observed in many young adults in Western countries, but also in female athletes.

Recently a new simply calculated index of body composition -a body shape index (ABSI) has been introduced as an index more reliable than BMI of association between body composition and all-cause mortality. However, until now associations between ABSI and metabolic risk factors have not been evaluated. A total of 114 male university students not engaged in any planned physical activity participated in the present study. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from weight and height, body shape index (ABSI) was calculated from waist circumference, weight, height and BMI. Blood was withdrawn after an overnight fast from the antecubital vein. Triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels in plasma were determined using colorimetric methods and Randox commercial kits. Plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations were calculated according to the Friedewald formula. Circulating insulin was assayed using a standard radioimmunological method with monoclonal antibodies against insulin and BioSource commercial kits. BMI was slightly, but significantly correlated only with circulating TG (r=0.330, p < 0.001) In contrast, ABSI was slightly, but significantly correlated with plasma levels of insulin (r=0.360, p<0.001), TC (r=0.270, p<0.002), LDL-C and non-HDL-C (r=0.300, p<0.001). In participants at the upper quartile of BMI circulating TG was higher (by 50%, p<0.05) than in their counterparts at the lower BMI quartile. Subjects representing the upper quartile of ABSI were characterized by higher plasma levels of insulin, TC, LDL-C and non-HDL in comparison with subjects at the lower ABSI quartile. (by 92 %, 11. %, 29 % and 21 % respectively, p<0.001). ABSI, a new simply calculated index of body fat seems to more accurately depict the variability in circulating insulin and lipoproteins than BMI at least in young, healthy male subjects.

Kratak sadr`aj: Cilj studije bio je da se odredi antioksidantni kapacitet u krvi kod mu{karaca i `ena u odnosu na njihovu starost. Ispitano je 19 mu{karaca (YM) i 19 `ena (YW) starosti 25-32 godine, kao i 11 mu{karaca (OM) i 11 ena (OW) starosti 63-71 godine, koji su svi bili neaktivni. Odre|eni su slede}i faktori: aktivnost superoksid dismutaze (SOD), glutation-reduktaze (GR), glutation-peroksidaze (GPX), katalaze (CAT), ukupni antioksidantni status (TAS) u eritrocitima, kao i retinol, alfa-tokoferol, mokra}na kiseli na i ukupne koncentracije proteina u plazmi. Izra~unat je zbir standardizovanih aktivnosti antioksidantnih enzima ka ko bi se uporedile promene u ukupnom kapacitetu anti oksi dantne odbrane u eritrocitima vezane za starosno doba. Nisu uo~e -ne zna~ajne promene vezane za starosno doba u aktivnosti SOD; srednja aktivnost CAT bila je vi{a kod starijih `ena i mu{karaca nego kod mla|ih ispitanika. Srednja aktivnost GPX bila je vi{a a aktivnost GR ni`a kod starijih ispitanika u pore|enju s mla|ima. Izra ~u nati ukupni antioksidantni enzimski kapacitet u eritrocitima dao je sli~ne vrednosti kod mla|ih i kod starijih ispitanika. Nisu uo~ene zna~ajne razlike u koncentracijama retinola i alfa-tokoferola u plazmi u odnosu na pol ili starosno doba. Ukupni nivo proteina u plazmi bio je zna~ajno ni`i kod mladih `ena i mu{karaca u pore|enju sa starijim ispitani cima. Zaklju~eno je da se ukupni enzimski antio ksidantni kapacitet u eritrocitima ne menja s godinama. Dobijeni rezultati jasno pokazuju da u procesu starenja u~estvuje vi{e faktora.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the nutritional status of vitamin B1, B2, and B6 in respect to dietary intake of these vitamins and activity coefficients of the erythrocyte enzymes transketolase, glutathione reductase, and aspartic aminotransferase in young men and women with different physical activity levels. The participants of this study were 20 women and 20 men with high physical activity (groups HAW and HAM, respectively), and 20 women and 20 men with low physical activity (groups LAW and LAM, respectively). The intake of vitamins B1, B2, B6, proteins, and calorie content of the diet was based on the average of the 4-day dietary recalls. To assess nutritional status of vitamin B1, B2, and B6, the activity coefficients (α) of erythrocyte transketolase (ETK), erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR), and erythrocyte aspartic aminotransferase (EAST) were estimated in blood hemolysates. The intake of the studied vitamins in the diet was statistically significantly lower in the female groups compared with the respective male groups. Deficiency of vitamin B6 in the diet was present more often in women than in men (in terms of the recommended dietary allowances [RDA]). Values of the activity coefficient αETK indicated that none of the groups in this study suffered the risk of vitamin B1 deficiency. The value of the activity coefficient αEGR indicated that the groups of women and men with low physical activity were more prone to vitamin B2 deficiency compared with the high physical activity groups. The risk of vitamin B6 deficiency (αEAST) in both male groups was higher than in both female groups. The obtained results do not allow for unequivocal determination of the impact of sex and the level of physical activity on intake and nutritional status of vitamin B1, B2, and B6. Independently of sex and the level of physical activity, the women and men consumed insufficient quantities of vitamins B1 and B6, although this was not always related to increased values of corresponding activity coefficients.

Effects of age, gender and physical activity on plasma lipid profile Study aim: To assess the effects of gender, age and engagement in physical activities of elderly subjects on their plasma lipid profiles. Material and methods: Four groups of subjects, n = 11 each, participated in the study: young men (YM) and women (YW), aged 25 - 32 years, and sedentary, elderly men (EM) and women (EW), aged 58 - 66 years; additionally, a group of 7 women (AW), aged 60 - 65 years, who trained twice weekly (45-min sessions) for 8 months, was studied. The following concentrations of lipids in plasma were recorded: triacylglycerols (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and its fractions: HDLC and LDLC (computed), as well as the TC/HDLC ratio. Results: Lipid profiles were, generally, less favourable in elderly than in younger subjects, high HDLC values noted in active, elderly women being an exception. In elderly subjects, men's profiles were closer to those of younger subjects than in elderly women and differed significantly (p<0.001) lower for TC and LDLC compared with EW group. Triacylglycerols were within normal limits in all groups except EW; LDLC values were mostly abnormally high, the percentages of subjects having normal values ranging from 0 (YM and EW) to 27% (YW). Conclusions: The age-dependent worsening of lipid profiles increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases in sedentary elderly subjects. On the other hand, the beneficial effects of motor activities on lipid profile observed in elderly women evidence the indispensability recommending of physical exercises to the elderly.

Study design: A cross-sectional study with comparison group. Objectives: To examine the effect of rugby training on the blood antioxidant capacity in able-bodied and wheelchair rugby players with tetraplegia. Setting: Poland. Methods: Four groups of subjects participated in the study: sedentary able-bodied males (group SA, n¼19), sedentary males with tetraplegia (group ST, n¼10), able-bodied rugby players (group RA, n¼22) and wheelchair rugby players with tetraplegia (group RT, n¼14). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) were determined in erythrocyte hemolysates, whereas glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity was determined in whole-blood hemolysates. Concentrations of total antioxidant status (TAS) was determined in plasma. Results: SOD activity was significantly higher in the group SA compared with group ST and group RA. No significant differences occurred within the tetraplegic groups: RT and ST. Resting CAT and GPX activities were significantly higher in both the groups of rugby players than in the respective group of sedentary males. There were no differences in GR activity among all the studied groups. Plasma TAS concentration was higher in both the groups of able-bodied males compared with the respective groups of tetraplegics. The present study is the first to conduct an evaluation of wheelchair rugby training-induced adaptations to oxidative stress in individuals with tetraplegia. Conclusion: Adaptive response to training was similar in both able-bodied and wheelchair rugby players, and it was characterized by increased erythrocyte CAT and GPX activities in resting conditions improving resistance to oxidative stress.

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SummaryStudy aim: To evaluate energy, macronutrient, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate daily intake in young healthy Polish male students. Material and methods: Two hundred and sixteen participants were physical education students engaged in regular physical activity (about 9 h/week) and were recognized as physically active. One hundred and fourteen students were from other specializations participating in 1.5 h/week gymnastics classes and were recognized as sedentary. Body mass and height were measured using standard medical equipment. Body fat was evaluated from four skinfold measurements. In all subjects daily intake of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium and phosphate was briefly assessed from 24-hour food records taken over 4 days. Results: The active students' diet was characterized by significantly higher energy, macronutrient and mineral daily intake. Moreover, calcium to phosphorus and calcium to magnesium ratios in active subjects were higher than in sedentary ones. There was no significant difference between groups in protein or magnesium intake expressed per 1000 kcal. In contrast, daily intake of fat and phosphate expressed per 1000 kcal was significantly lower in the active students vs. sedentary ones (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 for fat and phosphate, respectively). Active students were characterized by significantly higher carbohydrate and calcium intake per 1000 kcal in comparison with their sedentary counterparts (p < 0.001 for both variables). Conclusions:The dietary pattern of active students was found to be slightly but significantly better than that of their sedentary counterparts. However, in both groups it was far from being a healthy one.