Athletes regularly participating in up to 40 min of acute high-intensity exercise may require higher intakes of exogenous antioxidants to defend against increased oxidative stress during exercise, which can be met through an adequate intake of high-antioxidant foods. Thus, there seems no valid reason to recommend antioxidant supplements to athletes participating in acute high-intensity exercise events up to 40 min in duration, except in those known to be consuming a low-antioxidant diet for prolonged periods.

1. Pelleted diets, incorporating whole or ground triticale or wheat in the pellets, were fed to broiler chickens and the performance, gastro-intestinal development and health of those chickens recorded. 2. The use of whole triticale in the pelleted food produced similar bodyweight responses to when ground triticale was incorporated in the food. Food conversion efficiency was enhanced when whole triticale was used compared to ground triticale and was similar to when an exogenous enzyme was added to the ground triticale diet. The incorporation of whole wheat into the pelleted food produced similar production responses to the use of ground wheat. 3. The gastro-intestinal development of the birds was greater when they were fed the whole grain diet as gizzard weights were increased by the incorporation of whole grain into the diet. Gastro-intestinal development was thought to be related to the presence of large fibre particles in the food. 4. Proventricular dilatation and mortality due to ascites were reduced by feeding pelleted diets containing whole grain, which was possibly related to the early development of the gastro-intestinal tract relative to total body development. 5. It is suggested that the current use of exogenous enzyme additions to broiler diets may be reduced by incorporating whole grain into pelleted diets for broiler chickens.

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falls prevention exercise programmes did not influence BMD in older people. To increase bone strength, programmes may require exercise that exerts higher strains on bone or longer duration.

1. Pelleted diets, incorporating whole or ground wheat or barley in the pellets, were fed to broiler chickens and the performance, gastrointestinal development and digesta characteristics of those chickens recorded. 2. Body weight was similar with whole grain incorporation or enzyme application. Food conversion efficiency was improved by addition of enzyme to a full wheat diet. 3. Whole grain inclusion in pellets reduced proventriculus proportional mass and increased gizzard proportional mass with no apparent effects of exogenous feed enzyme addition. 4. Relative ileal mass was reduced by enzyme inclusion in a wheat diet and by inclusion of whole barley in the pellets. 5. Digesta viscosity was increased by whole wheat inclusion but reduced by enzyme inclusion irrespective of grain processing. Inclusion of 200 g/kg of barley did not alter viscosity of digesta beyond the duodenum. 6. Fresh excreta pH was higher with both cereals in the grower phase when whole grain was fed. On the barley diet, this was affected by enzyme addition, which created higher pH from a point earlier in the grower phase than when no enzyme was employed. 7. Evidence of a complex interaction between higher viscosity and pH being involved in differences in ileal relative mass was found through significant relationships being produced by enzyme use on the wheat diet alone.

Early life, including the establishment of the intestinal microbiome, represents a critical window of growth and development. Postnatal factors affecting the microbiome, including mode of delivery, feeding type, and antibiotic exposure have been widely investigated, but questions remain regarding the influence of exposures in utero on infant gut microbiome assembly. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on exposures before birth, which affect the early intestinal microbiome. Five databases were searched in August 2019 for studies exploring pre-pregnancy or pregnancy 'exposure' data in relation to the infant microbiome. Of 1,441 publications identified, 76 were included. Factors reported influencing microbiome composition and diversity included maternal antibiotic and probiotic uses, dietary intake, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), diabetes, mood, and others. Eleven studies contributed to three meta-analyses quantifying associations between maternal intrapartum antibiotic exposure (IAP), BMI and GWG, and infant microbiome alpha diversity (Shannon Index). IAP, maternal overweight/ obesity and excessive GWG were all associated with reduced diversity. Most studies were observational, few included early recruitment or longitudinal follow-up, and the timing, frequency, and methodologies related to stool sampling and analysis were variable. Standardization and collaboration are imperative to enhance understanding in this complex and rapidly evolving area.

Impact of weight management nutrition interventions on dietary outcomes in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BackgroundExcessive gestational weight gain is associated with short and long-term adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, independent of pre-pregnancy body mass index. Weighing pregnant women as a stand-alone intervention during antenatal visits is suggested to reduce pregnancy weight gain. In the absence of effective interventions to reduce excessive gestational gain within the real world setting, this study aims to test if routine weighing as a stand-alone intervention can reduce total pregnancy weight gain and, in particular, excessive gestational weight gain.MethodsA systematic review and meta–analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted between November 2014 and January 2016, and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Seven databases were searched. A priori eligibility criteria were applied to published literature by at least two independent reviewers. Studies considered methodologically rigorous, as per the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist for Primary Research, were included. Meta-analysis was conducted using fixed-effects models.ResultsA total of 5223 (non-duplicated) records were screened, resulting in two RCTs that were pooled for meta-analysis (n = 1068 randomised participants; n = 538 intervention, n = 534 control). No difference in total weight gain per week was observed between intervention and control groups (weighted mean difference (WMD) -0.00 kg/week, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.03 to 0.02). There was also no reduction in excessive gestational weight gain between intervention and control, according to pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). However, total weight gain was lower in underweight women (n = 23, BMI <18.5 kg/m2) in the intervention compared to control group (−0.12 kg/week, 95% CI −0.23 to −0.01). No significant differences were observed for other pregnancy, birth and infant outcomes.ConclusionWeighing as a stand-alone intervention is not worse nor better at reducing excessive gestational weight gain than routine antenatal care.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1207-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.