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Physical activity (PA) can be associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to assess HRQoL before and after a two-week summer program promoting PA in Italian school-aged children. Participants were recruited during the Giocampus summer 2017 (Parma, Italy),from June to July. Before (T0) and after(T1)the program, children and one of their parents answered the Kindl questionnaire. For each domain, least-square mean changes (LSmc) at T1 were derived from linear regression models stratified by responder and adjusted for child gender, age group, time spent in PAs and HRQoL score of the responder at T0.350 children (7-13 years, 52% males) and 342 parents answered the questionnaire at both T0 and T1. At T1, the HRQoL score of the children significantly improved in the emotional (LSmc 2.9, p

Introduction The aim of this study was evaluating if the presence of a humanoid robot could improve the efficacy of a game-based, nutritional education intervention. Study design This was a controlled, school-based pilot intervention carried out on fourth-grade school children (8–10 years old). A total of 112 children underwent a game-based nutritional educational lesson on the importance of carbohydrates. For one group ( n = 58), the lesson was carried out by a nutritional educator, the Master of Taste (MT), whereas for another group, ( n = 54) the Master of Taste was supported by a humanoid robot (MT + NAO). A third group of children ( n = 33) served as control not receiving any lesson. Methods The intervention efficacy was evaluated by questionnaires administered at the beginning and at the end of each intervention. The nutritional knowledge level was evaluated by the cultural-nutritional awareness factor (AF) score. Results A total of 290 questionnaires were analyzed. Both MT and MT + NAO interventions significantly increased nutritional knowledge. At the end of the study, children in the MT and MT + NAO group showed similar AF scores, and the AF scores of both intervention groups were significantly higher than the AF score of the control group. Conclusions This study showed a significant increase in the nutritional knowledge of children involved in a game-based, single-lesson, educational intervention performed by a figure that has a background in food science. However, the presence of a humanoid robot to support this figure's teaching activity did not result in any significant learning improvement.

The aim of the project was to investigate the effects of two strategies of teaching new sport actions on performance of eight-year-old children: observational-imitative method (OIM) and descriptive-directive method (DDM). The OIM group was provided with a pre-practice instruction in the form of expert modeling observation by an expert athlete. The DDM group received only verbal explanations of few selected static images. Thirty-six children (18 males and 18 females, mean age = 8,8) participated in the experiment. Subjects were randomly assigned to the OIM or DDM groups. Participants were instructed to perform four sport motor sequences never performed before (shoulder stand, soccer action, vortex howler throw, step action). Actions were videotaped and 2D kinematic analysis performed. A 10-point Likert questionnaire was administered to blind sport experts to assess the correctness and accuracy of each action. Results suggest that the OIM is the most effective instruction method when participants have no experience with the sport action to be performed. On the contrary, if the athlete needs to learn specific aspects of an exercise (such as grasping a tool) the best method is the DDM. In fact, detailed information on how to grab the vortex helped children in throwing it. We also found gender differences which might reflect cultural influences in specific sports (e.g. soccer). Finally, repetition of the exercise also improved the DDM group's performance. This has potential applications in sport teaching, suggesting that in the absence of a model performing the action to be imitated, the DDM can be as effective as the OIM if the observer repeats the sport action many times.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children has risen greatly worldwide. Diet and poor physical activity are the two risk factors usually examined, but epidemiological evidence exists suggesting a link between sleep duration and overweight/obesity in children. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship among body mass index (BMI), diet quality, physical activity level, and sleep duration in 690 children attending the 5th grade in primary schools (9–11 years old) in the city of Parma (Italy) involved in the Giocampus educational program. This was achieved through (i) measuring anthropometric data to compute body mass index; (ii) administering a food questionnaire to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (KIDMED score); and (iii) administering a lifestyle questionnaire to classify children physical activity level (PAL), sleep duration, and school achievement. A highly significant negative association was found between BMI and sleep hours. Moreover, there was a significant positive association between PAL and KIDMED scores. No evidence was found of association between BMI and PAL, nor between BMI and KIDMED score. Data from this study established that BMI is correlated to gender and sleep duration, defining sleep habits as one of the factors linked to overweight and obesity.

To improve nutritional knowledge of children, single-group educational interventions with pre/post knowledge assessment were performed in primary schools in Parma, Italy, participating to the Giocampus Program. A total of 8165 children (8–11 years old) of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades of primary school were involved in 3 hours per class nutritional lessons, with specifically designed games and activities for each school grade. To evaluate children learning, a questionnaire was administered before and after three months of educational intervention. A total of 16330 questionnaires were analysed. Children nutritional knowledge significantly increased (p< 0.001) in all school grades. The integrated "learning through playing" approach, including the educational figures, tools and games, was successful in improving children's nutritional knowledge. A stable integration of this method in primary school settings could prepare a new generation of citizens, better educated on health-promotion lifestyles.

Joint mobility is a fundamental part in physical activity program for children, but a scientific characterization of the methods to improve the articular mobility in healthy children is still poor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether joint mobility/muscular elasticity were related to a merely active lifestyle or could be significantly improved in the presence of a collective, easy-to-perform, but specifically designed and professionally guided program. Specific functional and anthropometric parameters were single-blind tested on 277 children (aged 9–11 years). 148 were randomly assigned to a physical education program specifically designed to increase elasticity and supervised by professionals (treated group), while 129 (control group) continued their usual physical activity at school, with no specific program. Specific tests were performed and showed a significant improvement of joint mobility compared to non-specific physical activity in 9- to 11-year children. As a secondary end-point, this program was effective also in children of overweight/obese BMI category. These results, building on those from this and other groups, should orientate decision-makers in the area of physical exercise for primary school children towards specifically designed programs based on demographic and anthropometric data.

The City Council of Parma and allied partners launched a programme based on professionally guided physical exercise and nutritional education in all primary schools of the metropolitan area, with a total of 7,000 children involved, ranging from 6 to 10 years of age. One scientific end-point of the programme was the definition of the parameter(s) most associated with increased physical activity and potential modification of eating habits. To this purpose we studied in a cohort of 2,151 9-year-old children the associations among BMI, fat mass (FM), breakfast eating and the amount of physical activity, the most relevant variables that characterize lifestyle. There was a consistent significant inverse correlation between FM and physical activity and a significant correlation between FM and breakfast skipping. When sorted by BMI, an inverse significant correlation was found between FM and physical activity in boys, except in those underweight. In girls, a significant correlation was found in those of normal weight, but not in those overweight or obese. The number of sports practised was related to FM only in overweight and obese boys. Breakfast skipping was significantly correlated with FM only in underweight girls. Taken together, our data show that FM can be used to accurately evaluate physical activity and eating habits in children, and suggest that, in preventive health programmes, the fundamental parameter to pay attention to is the amount rather than the type of physical activity.

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of food allergy, few studies have assessed the prevalence of perceived food-induced symptoms among school-aged children. There is also a paucity of data on how children with food reactions are managed. We investigated the frequency and characteristics of perceived food reactions in school-aged children. Methods: Children aged 5–14 years were included in this cross-sectional study. A standardized self-administered questionnaire on food reactions was handed out to 900 parents. Results: We achieved a response rate of 69%. The lifetime prevalence of parental perceived allergic reactions to food was 10.5%; the point prevalence was 1.6%. Medical care included a call to a general practitioner in 54% of cases, self-management in 37%, an emergency call in 6%, and hospitalization in 3%. Antihistamines were administered in 45% of food reactions, topical steroids in 24%, oral or parenteral steroids in 16%, and epinephrine in 1.5%. In children who reported food reactions, skin prick tests for foods were performed in 54% of cases; the oral food challenge test was performed in 7.5%. Conclusion: Parent perception of food allergic disorders is common in school-aged children. Few children have undergone diagnostic tests to ascertain clinical food hypersensitivity. This is warranted to avoid unnecessarily restricted diets. Efforts should be made to train primary care physicians to manage food-allergic children.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine activating GABAergic receptors, is involved in ACTH secretion. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • This study demonstrates a partial opioid influence in the inhibitory effect of ALP on the release of ACTH/cortisol during physical exercise. AIMS To establish the possible involvement of alprazolam (ALP) and/or opiates in the mechanism underlying the ACTH/cortisol response to physical exercise. METHODS Tests were carried out under basal conditions (exercise control test), exercise plus ALP (50 µg at time −90 min), naloxone (10 mg at time 0) or ALP plus naloxone. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations were evaluated in blood samples taken before, during and after the bicycle ergometer tests. RESULTS ACTH and cortisol concentrations rose significantly after physical exercise. Maximum peak at time 15 min (P ≤ 0.01 vs. baseline) for ACTH and at time 30 min (P ≤ 0.01 vs. baseline) for cortisol. In the presence of naloxone, the ACTH and cortisol responses were significantly increased (maximum peak at time 20 min, P ≤ 0.02 vs. control test for ACTH, and at time 30 min (P ≤ 0.01 vs. baseline) for cortisol) whereas they were abolished by ALP. When ALP and naloxone were given together, the inhibitory effect of ALP was partial. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate an inhibitory effect of ALP in the regulation of the ACTH/cortisol response to physical exercise in man and suggest that GABAergic receptor activating benzodiazepines and opioids interact in the neuroendocrine secretion of ACTH/cortisol.

Objective To evaluate whether prolonged physical activity (25 km/week running for 8 years) modifies GH decline. Design The GH response to maximal exercise on bicycle-ergometer was tested in younger (26–30 years) and older (42–46 years) healthy women. Each age group included 2 subgroups of 10 sedentary and 10 runners, which were compared. The workload was increased at 3 min intervals from time 0 until exhaustion. Subjects with a low maximal capacity (as established in a preliminary test) pedalled for 3–4 min against no workload at the beginning of the test, so that exercises lasted about 15 min in all individuals. Results At exhaustion, heart rate and systolic pressure were significantly higher in sedentary than in trained subjects, whereas V O 2 max , blood glucose and plasma lactate levels were similar in all groups. Exercise induced similar GH responses in younger sedentary and exercise-trained subjects and in older exercise-trained subjects, with mean peak levels 7.5 times higher than baseline. In contrast, in older sedentary women peak GH level was only 4.4 times higher than baseline and was significantly lower than in the other groups. Conclusion These data suggest that in women prolonged physical training exerts protective effects against age-dependent decline in GH secretion.

To establish whether ethanol and/or endogenous opioids play a role in the control of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) response to physical exercise, six healthy men underwent six bicycle-ergometer tests until exhaustion [exercise control test; exercise plus ethanol (50 of 110 ml proof whiskey orally), exercise plus naloxone (2 mg injected plus 5 mg infused or 4 mg injected plus 10 mg infused intravenously] or exercise plus ethanol plus naloxone). Plasma AVP levels, physiological and biochemical variables were measured during tests. Physiological and biochemical variables were similar in all tests. During the control test, exercise significantly increased plasma AVP levels, with a peak value five times higher than baseline. The AVP response to exercise was similar in the presence of naloxone, whereas it was abolished by ethanol. When ethanol tests were repeated in the presence of naloxone, at both lower and higher dose, ethanol inhibition on AVP secretion was only partial, with mean peak responses 2.5 times higher than basal values. Results indicate an ethanol involvement in regulation of the AVP response to physical exercise. Furthermore, naloxone-sensitive endogenous opioids appear to play a role in the mechanism underlying ethanol inhibitory action, but not in mediation of the AVP response to physical exercise.

To establish whether somatostatin (SRIH) and/or endogenous opioids play a role in the control of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) response to physical exercise, eight healthy men underwent four bicycle-ergometer tests until exhaustion: exercise control test; exercise plus SRIH, naloxone or SRIH plus naloxone. Serum AVP levels, physiological and biochemical variables were measured during tests. Physiological and biochemical variables were similar in all tests. During control test exercise significantly increased serum AVP levels, with a peak value 4.1 times higher than baseline. The AVP response to exercise was similar in the presence of naloxone, whereas it was significantly reduced by SRIH (AVP peak was only 2.8 times higher than baseline). When SRIH and naloxone were given together, the exercise-induced AVP rise was comparable to that observed in the control test. Results indicate a somatostatinergic involvement in the regulation of the AVP response to physical exercise. Furthermore, naloxone-sensitive endogenous opioids appear to play a role in the mechanism underlying SRIH inhibitory action, but not in mediation of the AVP response to physical exercise.

Physical activity in schools is declining in many countries and inactivity in childhood has become a recognized risk factor. Data from a program of professionally guided physical exercise in primary school children were collected before and after the academic year of training. Four thousand five hundred children (6-10 years) were enrolled, and conditional and coordinative motor abilities (speed, trunk flexibility, long jumping, somersault, Harre circuit test) were measured. Anthropometric measurements were focused on body mass index (BMI), weight and height. Females never showed a significant variation of BMI, whereas males in the first and fourth grades showed significant differences. On the contrary, when considering the motor abilities studied, all the comparisons were highly significant. At the end of training, both males and females did better than at the beginning, and males were constantly faster than females. Our data, generated on a large number of children, show that professionally guided programs of physical education in the primary school lead to significant progresses in the development of conditional and coordinative abilities, without altering BMI values, thus not interfering with the balanced progression of body weight and height.

Background: Alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in alcoholic patients have been reported in various experimental conditions. Methods: To establish whether alcoholism affects the HPA axis activation during physical exercise, 10 recent abstinent alcoholic patients (age range: 33–45 years; duration of alcohol dependence: range 4–6 years) were tested by exercising on a bicycle ergometer. Ten age-matched healthy nonalcoholic men participated as controls. The workload was gradually increased at 3-minute intervals until exhaustion and lasted about 15 minutes for all subjects. Alcoholic patients were tested at 3 time points, at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after alcohol withdrawal, whereas controls were tested only once. Main outcome measurements were circulating levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol and physiological variables during physical exercise [heart rate, blood pressure, ventilation, frequency of breathing, tidal volume, oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon oxide production (VCO2), and respiratory exchange ratio (R)]. Results: Similar basal and exercise-induced changes in physiological variables were observed in controls and alcoholic patients in all tests. Basal levels of ACTH and cortisol were similar in all tests performed on alcoholic patients and on normal controls. In normal subjects, exercise induced a significant increase in plasma ACTH and serum cortisol levels, with peak levels at 20 minutes for ACTH (84% higher than baseline) and at 30 minutes for cortisol (70% higher than baseline). After 4 weeks of abstinence, slight but not significant ACTH/cortisol responses to physical exercise were observed in alcoholic patients (mean peaks were 10 and 18% higher than baseline, respectively, for ACTH and cortisol). By contrast, when the exercise test was repeated after 6 weeks abstinence, ACTH/cortisol levels rose significantly versus baseline (mean peak levels of ACTH and cortisol were 48 and 38% higher than baseline, respectively, for ACTH and cortisol). However, the hormonal responses were significantly lower than in the normal controls. At 8 weeks of abstinence, ACTH/cortisol responses were significantly higher than 2 weeks previously, and were not distinguishable from the increments observed in the normal controls (76 and 68% higher than baseline, respectively, for ACTH and cortisol). Conclusions: In concurrence with previous reports showing alterations of the HPA axis in the central nervous system in alcohol-dependent subjects, these data show a defect of the neuroendocrine mechanism(s) underlying the ACTH/cortisol response to physical exercise for at least a month after alcohol withdrawal, with reconstitution of a normal hormonal response at 8 weeks.

To establish whether glucocorticoids inhibit the arginine-vasopressin (AVP) response to physical exercise, 10 healthy men underwent bicycle ergometer tests until exhaustion (exercise control test, exercise plus dexamethasone [2 or 4 mg in an intravenous bolus]). Physiological and biochemical variables were similar in all tests. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (2 or 4 mg) partially but significantly decreased the AVP response induced by physical exercise. Our results demonstrate a partial inhibition induced by glucocorticoids of AVP neurosecretion during cycle ergometer tests.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a campaign promoting breakfast in primary school-children from the city of Parma, Italy, where 22 % of peer school-children had reported in 2005 to skip breakfast. Two groups of children were interviewed by a multiple choice questionnaire on their breakfast habits. Group 1 counted only the children who underwent the intensive campaign (n. 341), and Group 2 a number of matched peers who did not attend any breakfast-promoting program (n. 291). Children who did not eat breakfast were found to be more numerous in Group 2 (17.5 %) than in Group 1 (8.0 %; p=0.0001). In the Group 2 the percentage of overweight (18.4 %) was higher compared to Group 1 patients (11.7 %; p=0.022). No significant difference in obesity percentage (8.9 vs 5.0 %; p=0.071). Seventy five percent of children in Group I and the 25% of children in Group 2 (p=0.031) had one or two parents who had reported to skip routinely breakfast. Children with one or both parents used to skip breakfast had a greater odds ratio of 3.04 and 3 respectively of skipping breakfast compared to the children with parents who had regularly breakfast (p=0.0002). Compared to the children tested in 2005, children admitted to the Giocampus program showed: a significant decrease in breakfasting (22 vs 8 %; p=0.0001), a significant decrease in overweight (18.5 vs 11.7 %; p=0.003) but not in obesity (7.5 vs 5.0 %; p=0.138) status; a significant increase in consumption of cereals (p=0.0001) and fruit (p=0.0001). In conclusion, an intensive breakfast-centred strategy seems to be effective in breakfast promotion and in overweight risk decrease.

Oxytocin (OT) effect on ghrelin-stimulated neuropeptide Y (NPY) secretion was evaluated in 12 normal men. Tests: ghrelin (1 μg/kg B.W. as an intravenous bolus); OT (2 mIU/min infusion); ghrelin plus OT; normal saline. Plasma NPY did not change during saline or OT infusions, whereas it showed a significant 29% increase vs baseline at 15 min after ghrelin injection. When OT was present, ghrelin-induced NPY increment was completely abolished. Results show that oxytocin modulates the NPY response to ghrelin, whereas it is unable to produce direct inhibitions of basal circulating NPY levels.

Aim of this study was to investigate the breakfast habits in a cohort of school ethnic minority (EM) children admitted to a summer sport school (SSS) in order to evaluate the possible differences with their Italian peers (IP). One hundred-seventy-nine children aged 6-14 years were interviewed through a questionnaire about breakfast behaviors and nutrition habits. The results were compared with those obtained in a randomized sample of 179 Italian peers (IP) attending the same SSS. EM children skip breakfast more frequently than IP (15% vs 7%; p = 0.029). The omissions are attributed to the lack of time (45% vs 54%) and not being hungry upon waking (44% vs 38%). During weekends the percentage of breakfast skippers decreased of about 3 percentage points but persisted a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.024). EM children who did not have breakfast show a mean BMI higher than breakfast consumers (p = 0.05). Bakery products and milk were the most frequently consumed food and drink in EM and IP children (68% vs 70% and 71% vs 76% respectively). EM children chose and prepared personally breakfast at home more frequently than IP (54% vs 22%). These EM children were more inclined to skip breakfast (p = 0.025) and to have an elevated BMI (p = 0.006) than IP. An educational program, for ethnic minority families, in different languages and according to their cultural, religious and socio-economic influences could be a possible means for changing their lifestyle and reducing their risk to become overweight.

• Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine activating GABAergic receptors, is involved in ACTH secretion.• This study demonstrates a partial opioid influence in the inhibitory effect of ALP on the release of ACTH/cortisol during physical exercise.To establish the possible involvement of alprazolam (ALP) and/or opiates in the mechanism underlying the ACTH/cortisol response to physical exercise.Tests were carried out under basal conditions (exercise control test), exercise plus ALP (50 µg at time -90 min), naloxone (10 mg at time 0) or ALP plus naloxone. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations were evaluated in blood samples taken before, during and after the bicycle ergometer tests.ACTH and cortisol concentrations rose significantly after physical exercise. Maximum peak at time 15 min (P ≤ 0.01 vs. baseline) for ACTH and at time 30 min (P ≤ 0.01 vs. baseline) for cortisol. In the presence of naloxone, the ACTH and cortisol responses were significantly increased (maximum peak at time 20 min, P ≤ 0.02 vs. control test for ACTH, and at time 30 min (P ≤ 0.01 vs. baseline) for cortisol) whereas they were abolished by ALP. When ALP and naloxone were given together, the inhibitory effect of ALP was partial.These data demonstrate an inhibitory effect of ALP in the regulation of the ACTH/cortisol response to physical exercise in man and suggest that GABAergic receptor activating benzodiazepines and opioids interact in the neuroendocrine secretion of ACTH/cortisol.

The effect of an i. v. infusion of somatostatin (SRIH) 4.1 μg/min×90 min on the basal secretion of NPY and on the NPY response to physical exercise was studied in normal men. Basal NPY secretion was not modified by SRIH infusion, whereas the NPY response to physical exercise was significantly lower in the presence of SRIH. These data suggest the involvement of a somatostatinergic mechanism in the regulation of NPY response to physical exercise.

Despite the increasing prevalence of food allergy, few studies have assessed the prevalence of perceived food-induced symptoms among school-aged children. There is also a paucity of data on how children with food reactions are managed. We investigated the frequency and characteristics of perceived food reactions in school-aged children.Children aged 5-14 years were included in this cross-sectional study. A standardized self-administered questionnaire on food reactions was handed out to 900 parents.We achieved a response rate of 69%. The lifetime prevalence of parental perceived allergic reactions to food was 10.5%; the point prevalence was 1.6%. Medical care included a call to a general practitioner in 54% of cases, self-management in 37%, an emergency call in 6%, and hospitalization in 3%. Antihistamines were administered in 45% of food reactions, topical steroids in 24%, oral or parenteral steroids in 16%, and epinephrine in 1.5%. In children who reported food reactions, skin prick tests for foods were performed in 54% of cases; the oral food challenge test was performed in 7.5%.Parent perception of food allergic disorders is common in school-aged children. Few children have undergone diagnostic tests to ascertain clinical food hypersensitivity. This is warranted to avoid unnecessarily restricted diets. Efforts should be made to train primary care physicians to manage food-allergic children.

Aim of this study was to investigate the sedentary patterns of school-aged active children admitted to a summer sport school. One hundred-twelve children aged 9-11 years were interviewed through a questionnaire about sedentary behaviours and nutrition habits. Seventy-one per cent of children reported they watch TV seven days a week, girls less than boys (84 +/- 45 minutes vs. 110 +/- 75 minutes) (t = 2.056; p = 0.042). The habit of TV viewing during meals was widespread (38% breakfast, 31% lunch, 62% dinner, 18% every meal). The prevalence of overweight or obesity (58.5%) was significantly higher among boys watching TV at dinner compared to the boys viewing TV only in the afternoon (35%) (chi2 = 4.976; p = 0.026). Fifty-seven per cent of children (65% boys) were accustomed to nibble snacks during TV viewing, and this habit was widespread in overweight or obese boys (chi2 = 4.546; p = 0.033). The dietary patterns of children watching TV include more snack foods and fewer fruits than the dietary patterns of the same children exercising (chi2 = 4.199 p = 0.040). Also in active children the habit to watch television is widespread and, in spite of the tendency to physical activity, 46% of them were overweight or obese; in fact the time spent looking at a TV may be associated to overweight/obesity and this relationship could be explained by the amount of high-density foods consumption during inactivity. Playing video games, read a book and listening to music are sedentary lifestyle patterns but these seem not to represent a risk factor for an increased BMI.

The present study was undertaken in order to establish the possible involvement of serotonergic receptors in the control of physical exercise-stimulated vasopressin secretion. Twenty-one healthy men (divided in three groups of seven) underwent bicycle-ergometer tests until exhaustion: exercise control test (n = 21), exercise plus ondansetron, selective 5-HT3 antagonist (n = 7), exercise plus buspirone, selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist (n = 7), exercise plus sumatriptan, selective 5-HT1D receptor agonist (n = 7). AVP levels, physiological and biochemical variables were measured and compared during tests. Results showed that exercise-induced AVP rise did not change after the administration of buspirone and sumatriptan. In contrast, the administration of ondansetron significantly reduced physical exercise-induced AVP rise. Mean peak levels during physical exercise were 4.9 times higher than basal values in the control test and 2.6 times higher than basal values in the ondansetron plus exercise test. These data demonstrate that 5-HT3 serotonergic receptors at least partially mediate the AVP response to physical exercise. On the other hand, 5-HT1A and 5-HT1D serotonergic receptors do not appear to be involved in the control of AVP secretion during exercise.

Very little is known about the differences in breakfast of children performing physical activity in the morning. This paper analyzed the breakfast habits of 747 boys and 455 girls, distributed in 2 homogeneous age groups, 6-10 and 11-14 year-old, participating in a Summer Sport School. Children were asked whether, when, where, how and with whom they consumed breakfast; who prepared meals; what they ate and drank; what they did during breakfast. Weight, height and BMI were recorded. Seventy-eight percent of children usually had breakfast, but 22% reported skipping breakfast. In the non-breakfast consumer subjects, 27.5% were overweight and 9.6% obese vs 9.1 and 4.5% respectively in breakfast eaters. Bakery products (76%) and milk (71%) were the most frequently consumed foods. Only 15% of parents encouraged their children to consume additional foods at breakfast before exercising, and 42% of children believed that this extra nutrition was unnecessary. In 80% of cases, the chief decision-maker for breakfast was the mother, the father played little part (1%). During breakfast, 48% of children ate and drank in silence, 26% played with brothers and sisters, 18% watched television and only 8% talked with parents. A high prevalence of over-weight and obesity was found among non-breakfast consumer children. Breakfast omission in children exercising conflicts with their increased energy requirements and may be connected to the trend of parents and children to under-estimate the importance of breakfast for nutritional balance and for environment promotion of physical performance.

The present study was undertaken to establish whether oxytocin (OT) is able to modify the NPY response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in man. At 8:00 AM of 2 different days at least 1 week apart, 10 normal men were tested with insulin (0.15 IU/kg) and with the administration of OT (infused from time -15-60 min, at a constant rate of 2 mIU/ml) or placebo. Plasma NPY concentrations rose significantly during insulin tolerance test (ITT). Oxytocin treatment significantly reduced the NPY response to hypoglycemia. The finding demonstrates for the first time in humans that the systemic administration of OT exerts an inhibitory effect on the NPY rise caused by insulin-induced hypoglycemia.