Why was this study done? Water-soluble fiber can play an important role in the maintenance of blood lipids (cholesterol), but not all water-soluble fibers are useful for lipid-lowering. This series of small studies were designed to understand differing effects of water-soluble fibers, combination, and concentration of fibers on blood lipid levels. What did the study…
Why was this study done? Astronauts commonly experience dehydration during long flights. It is important to understand the role of rehydration formulas and their ability to prevent dehydration (maintenance of plasma volume). This study was designed to better understand the role of differing concentrations of rehydration formulas on dehydrated subjects. What did the study find?…
Why was this study done? Athletes who engage in long exercise bouts have an interest in sparing muscle glycogen (short-term storage of glucose) because of the dramatic reduction of energy output and fatigue that occurs when glycogen is depleted (known colloquially as “hitting the wall”). This study was designed to help understand how varying exercise…
Why was this study done? Water-soluble fibers are a well-recognized tool for lowering cholesterol levels. This study was designed to understand the effects of a combination of water-soluble fibers (psyllium, pectin, guar gum, and locust bean gum) when compared to acacia gum alone. What did the study find? The mixture of fibers (psyllium, pectin, guar…
Why was this study done? The effects of differing meals (mostly protein, mostly carbohydrate, or a combination of protein and carbohydrate) following exercise on professional athletes are well known, but how these meals effect less trained people are not as well known. This study investigated the effects of differing post-exercise meals on blood parameters in…
Why was this study done? Typically, weight loss includes loss of lean body mass. This loss of lean body mass can lead to a reduction in metabolism (metabolic rate). This study was designed to determine whether a diet and exercise program was capable of providing weight loss while maintaining lean body mass and metabolic rate.…
Why was this study done? Multiple studies have shown that reducing weight has beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. This study was designed to discover the effects of a diet and exercise routine on cardiovascular disease risk factors in moderately obese postmenopausal women. What did the study find? After 24 weeks of following a diet…
Why was this study done? The role of hormones (insulin, testosterone, growth hormone) in muscle building is fairly well established. What is less understood is the role of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fats) and their impact on those hormones. This study was designed to help understand the importance of post-exercise supplementation for anabolic hormone production. Participants…
Why was this article written? There had been a concern raised about L-canavanine (an amino acid present in alfalfa seeds and sprouts) and vitamin E and their relationship to autoimmune disorders. The basis for these concerns appeared in a case study published in a journal. Alfalfa supplements, which are manufactured using mature alfalfa (and not…
Why was this study done? It can be difficult to measure the antioxidant ability of various substances. This study was designed to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of an antioxidant measurement system (MatTek EPI-100). What did the study find? The study found that the MatTek EPI-100 was a good assessment tool for determining antioxidant ability…