Whole body vibration training (WBVT) has been identified as an alternative intervention to improve exercise capacity and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effect of WBVT on inflammatory-oxidative biomarkers remains unknown. The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of WBVT on quality of life and physical and inflammatory-oxidative parameters in patients with COPD. Twenty patients were equally divided into 1) an intervention group (IG) that performed the WBVT, and 2) a control group (CG) that did not receive any intervention. Intervention consisted in performing static squatting on a vibrating platform, in six series of 30 s, 3 days/wk, for 12 wk. Patients were evaluated for plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, soluble receptors of TNF-α; white cell count; plasma levels of oxidant and antioxidant markers; 6-min walking distance (6MWD); peak oxygen uptake (V̇o); handgrip strength; quality of life; timed 5-chair sit-to-stand (5STS); and timed get-up and go test (TUG). After WBVT, patients from IG showed a significant increase in the 6MWD, V̇o, and handgrip strength ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, patients from the IG reached minimal clinically important difference regarding quality of life. No significant differences were found in 5STS, TUG, inflammatory-oxidative biomarkers, and white cell count in the IG. The CG did not show significant improvement in all assessments ( P > 0.05). Taken together, our results demonstrated that the WBVT induced clinically significant benefits regarding exercise capacity, muscle strength, and quality of life in patients with COPD that were not related to inflammatory-oxidative biomarker changes. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Whole body vibration training is a new option for nonpharmacological treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study showed the potential of this training to improve exercise capacity, quality of life, and muscle strength in patients with COPD. Furthermore, to our knowledge this was the first study showing that vibration exercise does not modify the plasma levels of inflammatory-oxidative biomarkers, suggesting that the beneficial effects on physical measures and quality of life are independent of changes in biomarkers.

Vitamin D supplementation is widely used. However, there is no consensus on the use and dosage of this supplement and the existing recommendations arise from studies based on the benefits that this nutrient can facilitate in bones. In addition, individual genetics can influence the response to supplementation, therefore, research involving monozygotic twins aims to reduce these differences in phenotypic responses. The objective of this randomised controlled study is to examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on body composition and the expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) mRnA. An intervention was performed through supplementation with cholecalciferol at the concentration of 2000 IU in 90 healthy adult monozygotic twins (male or female pairs) for 2 months. The findings showed that serum vitamin D concentration increased by 65% and VDR gene expression sixty times (p = 0.001). Changes in body composition parameters were observed regarding body fat and lean mass. our results indicate that an increase in serum vitamin D concentration may have potential therapeutic implications. Supplementation with vitamin D (cholecalciferol) has become a widely used practice, since a relationship has been demonstrated of low levels of this nutrient with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, the recurrence of diseases, and mortality 1,2,3. However, as there is no consensus on sufficient serum levels of vitamin D, taking into account its non-skeletal functions, it is necessary to assess whether the increase in this nutrient in individuals with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 (OH) D) levels above the current cutoff point, generates any health benefits 4. Vitamin D is involved in several non-skeletal functions, such as cell regulation, differentiation, and growth 3 , and adaptive and innate immunity control 5 , as well as being associated with inflammatory markers 6 , since the vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in almost all human cells 7. The activity of this nutrient in the human organism involves its binding with VDR 8 , whose expression is modulated by the blood levels of the 1,25diidroxivitamin D (1,25 (OH) 2D) 9 and genetic variants 10. It is believed that there is a negative correlation between the concentration of 25 (OH) D with the body mass index (BMI) and percentage of fat mass 11. However, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the effect of

NIV added benefit to HOx in improving central haemodynamics and COx in O(2) 'desaturators' with COPD. The clinical relevance of such beneficial effects on exercise tolerance, however, remains to be demonstrated.

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