PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Ritz

Publications and source records attributed to P Ritz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Energy and fluid metabolism in microgravity.

Astronauts lose body mass when exploring space. The mechanism was considered to be an upward fluid shift inducing diuresis and natriuresis (the Henry-Gauer mechanism) during the first few days in microgravity. However, recent space missions have shown that neither diuresis nor natriuresis occurs in space missions. In contrast, a sodium-retaining status was shown, which led to positive metabolic sodium balances without fluid retention. Energy intake was consistently reduced whereas energy needs were unchanged, resulting in a negative energy balance of 20%. The reasons for this are many, although proper studies on appetite regulation have not been carried out. Despite numerous countermeasures, bone mass is lost in microgravity situations. These are body composition changes that need to be challenged before humans can be sent to space for extra-long missions.

Body Fluids↗

Muscle fatty acid oxidative capacity is a determinant of whole body fat oxidation in elderly people.

In sedentary elderly people, a reduced muscle fatty acid oxidative capacity (MFOC) may explain a decrease in whole body fat oxidation. Eleven sedentary and seven regularly exercising subjects (65.6 +/- 4. 5 yr) were characterized for their aerobic fitness [maximal O(2) uptake (VO(2 max))/kg fat free mass (FFM)] and their habitual daily physical activity level [free-living daily energy expenditure divided by sleeping metabolic rate (DEE(FLC)/SMR)]. MFOC was determined by incubating homogenates of vastus lateralis muscle with [1-(14)C]palmitate. Whole body fat oxidation was measured by indirect calorimetry over 24 h. MFOC was 40.4 +/- 14.7 and 44.3 +/- 16.3 nmol palmitate. g wet tissue(-1). min(-1) in the sedentary and regularly exercising individuals, respectively (P = nonsignificant). MFOC was positively correlated with DEE(FLC)/SMR (r = 0.58, P < 0. 05) but not with VO(2 max)/kg FFM (r = 0.35, P = nonsignificant). MFOC was the main determinant of fat oxidation during all time periods including physical activity. Indeed, MFOC explained 19.7 and 30.5% of the variance in fat oxidation during walking and during the alert period, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, MFOC explained 23.0% of the variance in fat oxidation over 24 h (P < 0.05). It was concluded that, in elderly people, MFOC may be influenced more by overall daily physical activity than by regular exercising. MFOC is a major determinant of whole body fat oxidation during physical activities and, consequently, over 24 h.

Aged↗

Differential insulin sensitivities of glucose, amino acid, and albumin metabolism in elderly men and women.

Regulation of glucose homeostasis by insulin is modified during aging, but whether this alteration is associated with changes in protein metabolism is less defined. Insulin dose responses of whole body glucose, leucine, and albumin metabolism have been investigated using isotopic dilution of D-[6, 6-(2)H(2)]glucose and L-[1-(13)C]leucine in 14 young (Y; 24.0 +/- 0.9 yr; mean +/- SEM, 20.5 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2)) and 12 healthy elderly subjects (E; 69.4 +/- 0.6 yr; 24.6 +/- 0.8 kg/m(2)) using a euglycemic and euaminoacidemic hyperinsulinemic clamp at two insulin infusion rates of 0.2 and 0.5 mU/kg.min (CL1 and CL2, respectively). Despite significantly higher plasma insulin in E than in Y, the glucose disposal rate was lower in E than in Y at both insulin levels, whereas glucose production was normally suppressed. Whole body protein breakdown was less inhibited by insulin in E than in Y at CL1 (-13.5 +/- 1.4% vs. -8.8 +/- 1.3%, Y vs. E, P < 0.05), but not significantly at CL2 (-22.0 +/- 1.4% vs. -18.8 +/- 1.7%, Y vs. E, P = NS). The albumin synthesis rate was identical and stimulated to the same extent by insulin in groups Y and E. Gender affected basal leucine metabolism, but the response to insulin was similar in both groups. In conclusion, decreased insulin action on glucose disposal is associated with a reduced insulin sensitivity for protein breakdown in healthy elderly subjects at low insulin concentrations. Higher insulin levels compensate for a reduced insulin action on protein metabolism in elderly subjects.

Adult↗

Benefit of endurance training in elderly people over a short period is reversible.

The present study assessed daily activity, physical capacity and body composition in 11 initially sedentary healthy subjects [5 men and 6 women, mean age 62.8 (SD 2.7) years] before training (T(o)), after completion of 7 (T(7w)) and 14 (T(14w)) weeks of training, and again 6 (T(6m)) and 12 (T(12m)) months after training. The mean daily activity index decreased from T(7w) to T(12m) reaching a lower level than at T(o) [T(12m) - T(o) = -1.5 (SD 4.6) units, P = 0.18]. Mean maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) and its corresponding mean power output (Wdot(max)) were increased by 12.5 (SD 6.6)% (P = 0. 003) and 22.8 (SD 12.8)% (P = 0.003), respectively, at T(14w), and returned to their T(o) levels within 1 year. Mean body mass (m(b)) remained stable until T(6m) but increased significantly by 2.6 (SD 3. 7)% from T(6m) to T(12m) (P < 0.05). Mean fat mass (m(f), from bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements) tended to decrease [-2.0 (SD 4.2)%, P = 0.10] during the training period but increased by 7.8 (SD 10.9)% between T(6m) and T(12m) (P < 0.05). The mean fat free mass did not vary during the study period (P = 0.81) but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that mean thigh muscle volume decreased between T(7w) and T(12m) to less than at T(o) [T(12m) - T(o) = -2.3 (SD 3.6)%, P = 0.05]. Therefore, this study confirmed the favourable effects of endurance training on the physical capacity and body composition of elderly people, but demonstrated that the training programme would have to be continued to maintain the training-related benefits (i.e. increased VO(2max) and Wdot(max)) which would otherwise be lost within 1 year. After training, m(b) and m(f) were found to be increased. Furthermore, a fast and reproducible MRI protocol was validated for study of small intra-individual variations in tissue volumes in longitudinal studies.

Adipose Tissue↗

Physiology of aging with respect to gastrointestinal, circulatory and immune system changes and their significance for energy and protein metabolism.

Age-related changes in body composition can be considered the consequence of changes in energy and protein metabolism, while also having a leverage effect on protein and energy requirements. Changes in organ and systems weights obviously affect energy balance regulation. Considered at the system level, age-related changes are numerous, but it is still debated whether they are related to aging per se or to conditions (such as poor nutrition, disease, drug treatments etc.) that prevail in elderly persons. It is likely that most changes occuring in the gastrointestinal, circulatory and immune system do not affect energy and protein requirements at rest. However, aging is associated with difficulties in adapting to new environmental conditions that lead to stress. Repeated episodes of stress might lead to accumulation of deficits that can affect energy and protein balances.

Adaptation, Biological↗

Total energy expenditure in the elderly.

Chronic diseases and disabilities increase with age, affecting more than 60% of those over 75 y, and limiting activities in about half of them. Therefore, total energy expenditure (TEE) and its components are assessed separately in health and disease. An analysis of 568 doubly labelled water measurements in 'healthy' subjects (184 measurements in subjects over 65 years) suggests that there is a decrease of 0.69 and 0.43 MJ/day/decade respectively in men (standard weight 75 kg) and women (standard weight 67 kg). Physical activity (PA) accounted for 46% of the decrease in TEE, basal metabolic rate (BMR) for 44% of the decrease and thermogenesis (T) for the remaining 10%. TEE was found to be 10.79+/-2.09 and 8.62+/-1.49 MJ/day in 150 men and 100 women aged over 60 y, respectively. Of the total variance in TEE, measured with doubly labelled water over a 2 week period, 69% was considered to be due to differences between individuals, and 31% to differences within individuals. The variance due to PA plus T was threefold greater than that due to BMR. Physiological factors were far more important than methodological factors in influencing measurements of TEE, BMR and PA+T. An analysis of 136 measurements of TEE (doubly labelled water and bicarbonate-urea methods) in free-living elderly patients suffering from a variety of diseases suggests a frequent decrease in TEE, which may occur despite an increase in BMR. This is largely due to a reduction is PA (eg up to approximately 50% reduction), but in some cases it is also due to a reduction in BMR (loss of body weight). More comprehensive information is required about TEE and its components, partly because of a probable selection bias in recruitment of subjects participating in specific tracer studies, and partly because of the variable effects of different diseases and factors that operate at different times in the course of the same disease.

Aged↗

Total body water and percentage fat mass measurements using bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometry in spinal cord-injured patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Spinal cord injured patients may be adversely affected by disturbances of nutritional status, particularly malnutrition and fat mass overload. Malnutrition increases the risk for development of pressure sores, and fat mass excess increases the cardiovascular and respiratory risks of these patients, as well as predisposing to the development of diabetes mellitus, pressures sores and bony fractures. Body impedance analysis and anthopometry are easy bedside methods for body composition assessment. The aims of the study were to validate, in 20 spinal cord injured patients, body impedance analysis as a means to estimate total body water, and to validate a skinfold measurement of percentage fat independent of hydration of fat-free mass in the same population. METHODS: Total body water was measured by (18)O dilution as a reference method. Impedance and anthropometric measurements (four different skinfolds) were obtained. The results of total body water given by impedance analysis and calculated with three formulas were compared to the reference method. The fat mass percentage obtained with each of the skinfolds using the 3-compartment Siri's formula was compared to a reference value using the sum of the skinfolds. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The formula using 100 kHz resistance, height, weight and gender overestimated total body water by only 0.76 +/- 1.85 L, with an acceptable concordance with labeled water results. The formula with 50 kHz resistance was less accurate and concordant. Each skinfold may be used for assessing percentage fat mass. Based on these findings, we feel that the triceps skinfold, whose the variability is the lowest compared to the reference values, can be used alone in clinical practice.

Adipose Tissue↗

Protein feeding pattern does not affect protein retention in young women.

This study was undertaken to determine whether a pulse protein feeding pattern was more efficient than a spread pattern to improve protein anabolism in young women as was already shown in elderly women. After a 15-d adaptive period [1.2 g protein/(kg fat-free mass. d)], 16 young women (age 26 +/- 1 y) were given a 14-d diet providing 1.7 g protein/(kg fat-free mass. d), using either a pulse pattern (protein consumed mainly in one meal, n = 8), or a spread pattern (spreading daily protein intake over four meals, n = 8). Nitrogen balance was determined at the end of both the 15-d adaptive and the 14-d experimental periods. Whole-body protein turnover was determined at the end of the 14-d experimental period using [(15)N]glycine as an oral tracer. Nitrogen balance was 17 +/- 5 mg N/(kg fat-free mass. d) during the adaptive period. It was higher during the experimental period, but not significantly different in the women fed the spread or the pulse patterns [59 +/- 12 and 36 +/- 8 mg N/(kg fat-free mass. d) respectively]. No significant effects of the protein feeding pattern were detected on either whole-body protein turnover [5.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 6.1 +/- 0.3 g protein/(kg fat-free mass. d) for spread and pulse pattern, respectively] or whole-body protein synthesis and protein breakdown. Thus, in young women, these protein feeding patterns did not have significantly different effects on protein retention.

Adult↗

Body water spaces and cellular hydration during healthy aging.

Age-related changes in the proportions of intracellular or extra-cellular water to total body water and in the ratio of total body water to fat-free mass are debatable. These are important issues both for medical reasons (dehydration is a threat in the diseased elderly) and for methodological reasons (most techniques for assessing of body composition assume constant hydration of the fat-free mass). This study compared hydration in young and elderly (60 years) people. In the first part of the study, we analyzed the literature and computed the ratio of total body water over fat-free mass, Hf. Eligible studies involved independent measurements of fat-free mass and total body water. Hf did not appear to change with age. The second part of this study computed Hf in 103 individuals studied in our laboratory. The mean values were not different in young (73.2 +/- 2.4%) and elderly people (73.4 +/- 2.4%). At all ages, the proportion of intracellular or extracellular water (as measured by bromide dilution) to total body water (as measured by oxygen 18 dilution) was similar. The same finding holds for the proportion of intracellular water to fat-free mass. We conclude that hydration of fat-free mass and cellular hydration are not affected in healthy aging.

Adipose Tissue↗

Reproducibility of body composition and body water spaces measurements in healthy elderly individuals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The assessment of body composition and water spaces in elderly persons, especially in disease situations, would be a critical component of the nutritional and hydration management. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a validated bed-side technique for the estimate of total body (TBW) and extracellular (ECW) water. The aim of the present study was to address the reproducibility of estimates of TBW, ECW and fat-free mass (FFM) in healthy elderly individuals (n=24, 61 +/- 3.6 yrs). METHODS: Repeated measurements of weight, height, skinfold thickness, TBW and ECW (BIA) were obtained (in almost identical experimental conditions) on days 0, 14, 28 and 42. FFM and the hydration fraction of FFM (HF) were calculated with a three compartment model. RESULTS: Analysis of variance for repeated measurements showed that time did not explain a significant part of the variance in water spaces, FFM, and HF. Mean SDs for repeated measurements were well within 1 litre for water spaces, 1 kg for FFM and 1% for HF. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that reproducible measurements of water spaces can be obtained with BIA, which could be used to monitor hydration changes. Given the small variability in HF, FFM, can be derived from BIA with good reproducibility.

Aging↗

Age-related changes in plasma lycopene concentrations, but not in vitamin E, are associated with fat mass.

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of age on plasma concentration of alpha-tocopherol, retinol and carotenoids with a special attention paid to natural differences in body composition. Forty healthy subjects were recruited: twenty were less than 35 years old and twenty above 60 years old. Males and females were equally represented in each age group. Subjects were kept in energy balance and received controlled diets for 36 h. Fat mass and fat-free mass were determined with the (18)0-enriched water dilution technique. Plasma vitamins A and E, and carotenoid levels were determined after 12 h fasting and were shown to be similar in women and men. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration increased with age (+44 % elderly v. young), and correlated with % fat mass and plasma cholesterol. After adjustment for plasma cholesterol, the effect of age and % fat mass disappeared. In contrast, plasma lycopene level was 2-fold lower in the elderly than in the young group, and was inversely correlated with fat mass. When lycopene values were adjusted for fat mass, the effect of age disappeared. These results suggest that plasma levels of vitamin E and lycopene differed in the two age groups and that differences in plasma cholesterol and fat mass might participate in such an effect. Short-term vitamin intake did not appear to influence plasma vitamin concentrations.

Adipose Tissue↗

Lipolysis, fatness, gender and plasma leptin concentrations in healthy, normal-weight subjects.

BACKGROUND: Relationship between plasma leptin and adiposity and gender has been reported in adults. Effects of age on plasma leptin is unclear and regulation of leptin production by white adipose tissue is still poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To study if age and parameters of lipolysis are related to plasma leptin concentrations. METHODS: Seventy-seven healthy, normal-weight subjects (age range 19-82 y.) had measurements of body composition (18oxygen dilution technique) and of fasting plasma levels of leptin, glycerol, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). RESULTS: Plasma leptin was correlated to NEFA (r = 0.28) and glycerol (r = 0.48) concentrations. The relationship between %fat and plasma leptin was best fitted by an exponential (r2 = 0.82). In multiple regression %fat, body mass index, glycerol, and gender, but not fat mass, age or NEFA contributed independently to the variation in log plasma leptin. Log plasma leptin was higher in women than in men for a given glycerol concentration. CONCLUSION: Adiposity, lipolysis, and gender are related to plasma leptin in healthy humans.

Adipose Tissue↗

Treadmill running starting 3 months after orchidectomy restores femoral bone mass in rats.

The present study was designed to provide data on the effects on femoral bone of endurance training starting only 3 months after orchidectomy in rats. A total of 70 Wistar male rats were used at 8 weeks of age. On day 0 of the experiment, 10 rats were killed by cervical dislocation to be used as first controls. Among the 60 other animals, half was surgically castrated (CX) or sham operated (SH). On day 90, 10 CX and 10 SH were killed and used as intermediary controls (ICX and ISH). Among the other 20 CX and 20 SH, 10 within each group (CXE, SHE) were selected for treadmill running (60% maximal oxygen uptake, 1 h x day(-1), 5 days x week(-1) for 12 weeks). The 20 other rats were used as sedentary controls (CXR, SHR) and killed (as runners) on day 180. On day 90 femoral bone density (BMD) and mineral content (BMC) were lower in ICX than in ISH. On day 180 total femoral BMD was lower in CXR than in CXE. Simultaneously metaphyseal femoral BMD was lower in CXR than in CXE, SHR or SHE. Furthermore, at that time, no significant difference concerning BMD and BMC was observed between SHR and CXE. This would indicate that treadmill running starting only 3 months after orchidectomy is able to restore BMD and BMC to control values, mainly by inhibiting bone resorption (as shown by decreased urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion in CXE) without decreasing osteoblastic activity (evaluated by plasma osteocalcin concentration).

Amino Acids↗

Intracellular hyperhydration induced by a 7-day endurance race.

To test the hypothesis that a chronic expansion of extracellular water (ECW), usually observed during prolonged endurance exercise, is associated with an increase in intracellular water space (ICW), total body water (TBW) and ECW were estimated before (within a week, day C-7) and after (on the 1st day of recovery, R + 1) a competition lasting 7 consecutive days in nine healthy sportsmen. The competition involved running, cycling and cross-country skiing over 620 km. Between days C-7 and R + 1, the following increases occurred - mean TBW by 4.2 (SEM 1.1) l (i.e. +10%, P = 0.01, bioelectrical impedance analysis, BIA, at 100 kHz) and by 4.1 (SEM 0.7) l (P = 0.01, dilution of 18O); mean ECW by 2.2 (SEM 0.5) l (i.e. +14%, P = 0.01, BIA at 5 kHz), and mean plasma volume (PV) by 0.7 (SEM 0.1) l (i.e. +22%, Evans blue dye dilution, P = 0.008). Consequently, mean ICW had been expanded by 2.1 (SEM 0.6) l (i.e. +8%, P = 0.01). The intensity of daily exercise evaluated from recordings of heart rate varied between 49.0% to 57.8% of maximal oxygen consumption VO2max. Water retention was highly correlated with relative exercise intensity VO2max (ICW, r = 0.86; ECW, r = 0.93; TBW, r = 0.94). Total mean plasma content of sodium increased by 104 (SEM 17) mmol (P = 0.008) while albumin and total protein contents were unchanged. We concluded that prolonged and repeated exercise induced a chronic hyperhydration at both extracellular and intracellular levels, which was related to exercise intensity. Sodium retention was the major factor in the increase of PV.

Adult↗

Increased resting energy expenditure is related to plasma TNF-alpha concentration in stable COPD patients.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to test whether increased resting energy expenditure (REE) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is related to increased cost of breathing and/or to increased cytokine production. In 36 non-inflammatory (CRP: 17.6 +/- 13.1 mg.l(-1), mean +/- SD; orosomucoid: 0.71 +/- 0.18 g.l(-1)), non-malnourished (BMI: 23.6 +/- 4.3 kg.m(-2)), clinically stable, non severely hypoxic COPD patients (60.5 +/- 8.9 years) we measured REE, pulmonary function and plasma cytokine concentrations (TNF-alpha, IL1 and IL6). REE was increased by 10 +/- 11% (P< 0.001) above predicted values. Plasma TNF-alpha concentration was increased in all patients (mean value 26.3 +/- 14.3 pg.ml(-1)). Excess REE (with respect to values predicted by Harris-Benedict equations) was correlated with plasma TNF-alpha concentration (P< 0.005), but not with the degree of airway obstruction, lung overinflation, or with oxygen cost of breathing. Theophylline treatment resulted in a significant increase in REE by 15%. IN CONCLUSION: non-malnourished, clinically stable, non-severely hypoxic COPD patients display an increased REE that is related with plasma TNF-alpha concentration (without apparent systemic inflammation) and to theophylline treatment, but that is independent of parameters of respiratory function.

Basal Metabolism↗

Observations in energy and macronutrient intake during prolonged bed-rest in a head-down tilt position.

OBJECTIVE: to report observations in energy and macronutrient intakes, and body weight during prolonged bed-rest in a head down tilt (HDT) position. DESIGN: open study, each subject was his own control, and was studied during 14 days of baseline, 42 days of -6 degrees HDT bed-rest, and 12 days of recovery. SUBJECTS: eight healthy young man were recruited, one dropped out. METHODS: energy and macronutrient content of the diet were calculated from weighed amounts of food consumed and French food composition tables. RESULTS: body weight declined during HDT (74.0+/-3.2 to 71.8+/-3.2 kg, P<< 0.001) and increased during recovery (72.7+/-3.2 kg, P<< 0. 001). Energy intake decreased during HDT (by 17% after 4-5 weeks) and increased during recovery but remained lower than during baseline (P<< 0.001). During HDT fat intake, expressed by a percentage of energy, decreased (P<< 0.01) while carbohydrate increased (P= 0.04); protein intake did not change (P= 0.08). The reverse trends were observed during recovery. CONCLUSIONS: the present study reports a spontaneous reduction in energy and relative fat intake during prolonged HDT bed rest. We believe that these findings have implications for the clinical setting.

Adult↗

Time-course effects of endurance training on fat oxidation in sedentary elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate alterations in whole body fat oxidation after 7 and 14 weeks of progressive endurance training in sedentary elderly subjects. DESIGN: Longitudinal, 14 weeks of progressive endurance training on a cycle ergometer (3 training sessions per week). Full sets of measurements were performed before, and after 7 and 14 weeks of training. SUBJECTS: 13 healthy sedentary subjects (5 men, 8 women) (age 62.8 +/- 2.3 y). MEASUREMENTS: 24 h indirect calorimetric measurements under standardised conditions: light-activity programme, fixed food composition, neutral daily energy balance. Body composition (by isotope dilution and skinfold thicknesses). Maximal oxygen consumption. RESULTS: Loss of 0.7 kg fat mass in the first 7 weeks of training and a further 2.4 kg of fat in the second 7 weeks. There was a transient increase in sleeping fat oxidation after 7 weeks of training (+26.1%), associated with transient increase in daily fat oxidation (+/- 11.9%), but fat oxidation then returned to baseline values in the second 7 weeks. There was a correlation between within-subject changes in sleeping fat oxidation after 7 weeks of training and variations in FFM (r = 0.62, P = 0.02) and maximal oxygen consumption (r = -0.56, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In sedentary elderly subjects, progressive endurance training was associated with a transient increase in sleeping fat oxidation and daily fat oxidation. In free-living conditions, possible changes in daily fat oxidation may have induced a negative fat balance, as judged by fat mass loss.

Adipose Tissue↗