Background Acute capsaicinoid and capsinoid supplementation has endurance and resistance exercise benefits; however, if these short-term performance benefits translate into chronic benefits when combined with resistance training is currently unknown. This study investigated changes of chronic Capsiate supplementation on muscular adaptations, inflammatory response and performance in untrained men. Methods Twenty untrained men were randomized to ingest 12 mg Capsiate (CAP) or placebo in a parallel, double-blind design. Body composition and performance were measured at pre-training and after 6 weeks of resistance training. An acute resistance exercise session test was performed pre and post-intervention. Blood samples were collected at rest and post-resistance exercise to analyze Tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), Soluble TNF- receptor (sTNF-r), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). Results Exercise and CAP supplementation increased fat-free mass in comparison to baseline by 1.5 kg (P < 0.001), however, the majority of the increase (1.0 kg) resulted from an increase in total body water. The CAP change scores for fat-free mass were significantly greater in comparison to the placebo (CAP ∆%= 2.1 ± 1.8 %, PLA ∆%= 0.7 ± 1.3 %, P = 0.043) and there was a significant difference between groups in the bench press exercise (P = 0.034) with greater upper body strength change score for CAP (∆%= 13.4 ± 9.1 %) compared to placebo (∆%= 5.8 ± 5.2 %), P = 0.041. CAP had no effect on lower body strength and no supplementation interactions were observed for all cytokines in response to acute resistance exercise (P > 0.05). Conclusion Chronic Capsiate supplementation combined with resistance training during short period (6 weeks) increased fat-free mass and upper body strength but not inflammatory response and performance in young untrained men.

No final de 2019, surgiu em Wuhan, o novo coronavírus 2019, responsável pela doença COVID-19, causador de um quadro clínico múltiplo, variando de sintomas inespecíficos leves à pneumonia grave com danos na função orgânica. Sabendo-se que uma alimentação balanceada pode beneficiar significativamente pacientes no controle de doenças infectocontagiosas crônicas, objetivou-se com este estudo, discutir e apresentar dados recentes sobre o papel das vitaminas A, C, D e E, e os minerais zinco e selênio associados à COVID-19. Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa, sobre os aspectos da pandemia da COVID-19 e dados relacionados às vitaminas e minerais, bem como sua importância nutricional para essa doença. As alterações provocadas pela deficiência das concentrações plasmáticas de vitaminas e minerais, envolvem a redução do bom desempenho do sistema imunológico, sendo um dos fatores que levam ao estado imunitário deficiente. No entanto, são necessários mais estudos para elucidar a relação dos micronutrientes com a infecção causada pelo COVID-19.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Syzygium cumini (SC) nectar supplementation on performance, markers of oxidative stress, muscle damage, and psychological response in Handball players. Twenty-five young athletes (age = 18.6 ± 2.4 years) from an elite high school national level Brazilian Handball team were randomized into two study groups: SC/Jamelon nectar (SC, n = 12) and placebo (n = 13). The subjects ingested 10 mL/kg/day of Jamelon nectar or placebo 30 min before the training sessions and immediately after training cessation, for 28 days. Body mass index (BMI) and percentage of fat mass were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Biomarkers of oxidative stress were measured by lipid peroxidation, which was quantified by malondialdehyde (MDA). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), creatine kinase (CK) activity, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined. The 20 m shuttle run test, vertical jump, and running anaerobic sprint test were assessed to verify performance and the fatigue index was calculated. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire was used for psychological evaluation. Both groups demonstrated improved vertical jump performance and a decreased fatigue index over time but without significant differences between them regarding performance. There was statistically significance only for SC in CK, LDH, and MDA, and TAC was greater in the SC compared to placebo. Furthermore, only the SC group demonstrated improved mood disturbance and confusion after the intervention. In conclusion, the present study suggests that SC nectar supplementation reduced biomarkers of oxidative stress and muscle damage, and improved psychological response in young handball players.

The new coronavirus pandemic disease (COVID-19) pandemic was first reported in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and rapidly spread around the world. Considering its fast transmission rate, the new COVID-19 has become a threat to the public health worldwide. Thus, objective ideas based on scientific evidences must be proposed for the treatment of patients infected. Vitamin D is a hormone with important role in the regulation of the immune system functioning. The main sources of Vitamin D are food intake and synthesis process in the organism which starts in the skin through photoreaction with sun exposure. Then, the pre-Vitamin D is isomerized into pro-Vitamin D. Afterwards, it is metabolized in the liver into 25-hydroxivitamin D, and then converted into in the kidney into its active form, the 1.25-dihydroxivitamin D. Due to its pivotal role in the improvement of the immune response, Vitamin D can positively affect the treatment of several infecto-contagious diseases, such as influenza and H1N1.  This concise review aims to inform about the use of Vitamin D as a possible ally in the treatment of COVID-19. The studies included in this review point out that Vitamin D can perform immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory functions, which would significantly improve the treatment of viral infections.  Further clinical trials and large populational studies should be carried out in order to better elucidate the effective role of Vitamin D in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

This work assessed the effects of a 28-day treatment with lycopene-rich extract (LRE) from red guava fruit (Psidium guajava L.) on the lipid profile and oxidative stress in an experimental model of dyslipidemia. Male hamsters (116.5 ± 2.16 g) were fed with the AIN 93G diet containing casein (20%), coconut fat (13.5%) and cholesterol (0.1%). The animals were divided into four groups: normolipidemic control (standard feed; NC, n = 7); hypercholesterolemic control (HC, n = 7); LRE 25 mg/kg/day (LRE-25, n = 7) and LRE 50 mg/kg/day (LRE-50, n = 9). After treatment, plasma concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-c), malondialdehyde (MDA-p) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), as well as erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (SOD-e) and the atherogenic index, were determined. Malondialdehyde (MDA-h), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD-h) levels were assessed. Feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG) were also determined. The LRE-25 group presented significantly lower TG levels and atherogenic index than did the HC group (p < 0.05). Both LRE-25 and LRE-50 groups presented lower levels of MDA-p and MPO than did the HC group (p < 0.05). LRE demonstrated a promising effect against dyslipidemia and oxidative stress.