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Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonists induce weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Recently, the mechanism by which metformin induces weight loss could be explained by an increase in growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), which suppresses appetite. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the GLP‐1R agonist liraglutide modifies plasma GDF15 levels in patients with T2DM. GDF15 levels were measured in plasma samples obtained from Dutch Europids and Dutch South Asians with T2DM before and after 26 weeks of treatment with daily liraglutide (n = 44) or placebo (n = 50) added to standard care. At baseline, circulating GDF15 levels did not differ between South Asians and Europids with T2DM. Treatment with liraglutide, compared to placebo, decreased body weight, but did not modify plasma GDF15 levels in all patients, or when data were split by ethnicity. Also, the change in plasma GDF15 levels after treatment with liraglutide did not correlate with changes in body weight or HbA1c levels. In addition, the dose of metformin used did not correlate with baseline plasma GDF15 levels. Compared to placebo, liraglutide treatment for 26 weeks does not modify plasma GDF15 levels in Dutch Europid or South Asian patients with T2DM. Thus, the weight loss induced by liraglutide is likely explained by other mechanisms beyond the GDF15 pathway. Highlights: What is the central question of this study?Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) suppresses appetite and is increased by metformin: does the GLP‐1R agonist liraglutide modify plasma GDF15 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)?What is the main finding and its importance?Plasma GDF15 levels did not differ between South Asians and Europids with T2DM and were not modified by 26 weeks of liraglutide in either ethnicity. Moreover, there was no correlation between the changes in plasma GDF15 levels and dosage of metformin administered, changes in body weight or HbA1c levels. The appetite‐suppressing effect of liraglutide is likely exerted via pathways other than GDF15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to (1) evaluate the acute effects of different interrepetition rest full-squat protocols on countermovement jump (CMJ) height, velocity loss (VL), and skin temperature (Tsk) and (2) determine whether the VL, the changes in Tsk, or the individual strength level is associated with the change in CMJ height. Methods: Sixteen resistance-trained men randomly performed 3 squat protocols at maximal intended velocity with 60% of the 1-repetition maximum (sets × repetitions [interrepetition rest]): traditional (2 × 6 [0 s]), cluster 2 (2 × 6 [30 s every 2 repetitions]), and cluster 1 (1 × 12; [36 s every repetition]), plus a control session. CMJ height was assessed before and 2, 4, and 8 minutes after the protocols. Results: There was a significant main effect of protocol for the VL (F = 20.54, P <.001) and loss in mean power (F = 12.85, P <.001; traditional > cluster 2 > cluster 1). However, we found a comparable reduction of CMJ height after 8 minutes: traditional (−3.4% [4.2%]), cluster 2 (−5.3% [4.9%]), cluster 1 (−5.4% [2.9%]), and control (−4.2% [3.6%]). Overall, mean Tsk acutely decreased after all the protocols. Higher individual strength level (but not VL or the changes in Tsk) was associated with lower CMJ-height loss (P <.05). Conclusions: Although different interrepetition rest full-squat protocols may alter the loss in velocity and power, they result in a similar decrease in Tsk and CMJ height, which could be more influenced by individual strength level than VL or changes in Tsk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a signaling system composed of endocannabinoids (eCBs), their receptors, and the enzymes involved in their synthesis and metabolism. Alterations in the ECS are linked to the development of cardiometabolic diseases. Objective Here, we investigated the relationship between plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods The study included 133 young adults (age 22.1 ± 2.2 years, 67% women). Fasting plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Body composition, brown adipose tissue (BAT) volume, glucose uptake, and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors were measured. Results Plasma levels of eCBs and several eCB analogues were positively correlated with adiposity and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors (eg, serum insulin and triacylglyceride levels, all r ≥ 0.17 and P ≤.045). Plasma levels of 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and N-pentadecenoylethanolamine were negatively correlated with BAT volume and glucose uptake (all r ≤ −0.17 and P ≤.047). We observed that the plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues were higher in metabolically unhealthy overweight–obese participants than in metabolically healthy overweight–obese participants. Conclusion Our findings show that the plasma levels of eCBs and their analogues are related to higher levels of adiposity and worse cardiometabolic profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different exercise training programs on fasting plasma levels of oxylipins, endocannabinoids (eCBs), and eCBs-like molecules in middle-aged sedentary adults. A 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted using a parallel group design. Sixty-five middle-aged adults (40–65 years old) were randomly assigned to: (a) no exercise (control group), (b) concurrent training based on international physical activity recommendations (PAR group), (c) high-intensity interval training (HIIT group), and (d) HIIT together with whole-body electromyostimulation (HIIT + EMS group). Plasma levels of oxylipins, eCBs, and eCBs-like molecules were determined in plasma samples before and after the intervention using targeted lipidomics. Body composition was assessed through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and dietary intake through a food frequency questionnaire and three nonconsecutive 24-hr recalls. The physical activity recommendations, HIIT, and HIIT-EMS groups showed decreased plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3-derived oxylipins, and eCBs and eCBs-like molecules after 12 weeks (all Δ ≤ −0.12; all p <.05). Importantly, after Bonferroni post hoc corrections, the differences in plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins were not statistically significant compared with the control group (all p >.05). However, after post hoc corrections, plasma levels of anandamide and oleoylethanolamide were increased in the physical activity recommendations group compared with the control group (anandamide: Δ = 0.05 vs. −0.09; oleoylethanolamide: Δ = −0.12 vs. 0.013, all p ≤.049). In conclusion, this study reports that a 12-week exercise training intervention, independent of the modality applied, does not modify fasting plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins, eCBs, and eCBs-like molecules in middle-aged sedentary adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concurrent training has been postulated as an appropriate time‐efficient strategy to improve physical fitness, yet whether the exercise‐induced adaptations are similar in men and women is unknown. An unblinded randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate sex‐specific dose–response effects of a 24‐week supervised concurrent exercise training program on cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength in young adults. One hundred and forty‐four sedentary adults aged 18–25 years were assigned to either (i) a control group (n = 54), (ii) a moderate intensity exercise group (MOD‐EX, n = 46), or (iii) a vigorous intensity exercise group (VIG‐EX, n = 44) by unrestricted randomization. Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), hand grip strength, and one‐repetition maximum of leg press and bench press were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. A total of 102 participants finished the intervention (Control, n = 36; 52% women, MOD‐EX, n = 37; 70% women, and VIG‐EX, n = 36; 72% women). In men, VO2max significantly increased in the MOD‐EX (~8%) compared with the control group and in the VIG‐EX group after the intervention (~6.5%). In women, VO2max increased in the MOD‐EX and VIG‐EX groups (~5.5%) compared with the control group after the intervention. There was a significant increment of leg press in the MOD‐EX (~15.5%) and VIG‐EX (~18%) groups compared with the control group (~1%) in women. A 24‐week supervised concurrent exercise was effective at improving cardiorespiratory fitness and lower body limbs muscular strength in young women—independently of the predetermined intensity—while only at moderate intensity improved cardiorespiratory fitness in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of lifestyle behaviors on neck adipose tissue (NAT), a fat depot that appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of different cardiometabolic diseases and in inflammatory status, is unknown. In this cross-sectional and exploratory study, the authors examined the relationship between sedentary time and physical activity (PA) with neck adiposity in young adults. A total of 134 subjects (69% women, 23 ± 2 years) were enrolled. The time spent in sedentary behavior and PA of different intensity were objectively measured for 7 consecutive days (24 hr/day), using a wrist (nondominant)-worn accelerometer. The NAT volume was assessed using computed tomography, and the compartmental (subcutaneous, intermuscular, and perivertebral) and total NAT volumes were determined at the level of vertebra C5. Anthropometric indicators and body composition (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were determined. The time spent in light physical activity and moderate physical activity (MPA) and the overall PA were inversely associated with the intermuscular NAT volume in men, as were the MPA and overall PA with total NAT volume (all ps ≤.04). Sedentary time was directly related to the total NAT volume (p =.04). An opposite trend was observed in women, finding a direct relationship of MPA with the subcutaneous NAT; of light physical activity, MPA, and overall PA with the perivertebral NAT; and of light physical activity with total NAT volumes (all ps ≤.05). The observed associations were weak, and after adjusting for multiplicity, the results became nonsignificant (p >.05). These findings suggest that the specific characteristics of PA (time and intensity) might have sex-dependent implications in the accumulation of NAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]