Biomedical subjects

Angelo Tremblay

Publications and source records attributed to Angelo Tremblay.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Physical fitness in young college men and women.

This study was designed to investigate fitness characteristics of college women and men (n = 427 and 423, respectively) aged 17-20 years whose values were compared to the data of the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey (CFS). Muscular fitness as revealed by the maximal number of arm extensions (push ups) was lower in subjects of this study compared to those tested in the 1981 CFS. On the other hand, body weight, waist circumference and the sum of five skinfolds were greater in subjects of the present study. These differences between the results of this study and those of the 1981 CFS were particularly pronounced in the upper percentile ranks. The classification of subjects on the basis of the number of grades completed during a step test revealed significant differences in subcutaneous adiposity between fitness subgroups. Reported participation in vigorous physical activities was also predictive of subcutaneous adiposity in men but to a lesser extent than the number of grades completed during a step test. When the number of grades and exercise participation were combined to detect between-group morphological differences, large differences in subcutaneous adiposity were observed in both men and women. This suggests that the effect of vigorous activity and aerobic fitness on adiposity may be much greater than what is generally perceived by health professionals and agencies.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2002

Weight loss-induced rise in plasma pollutant is associated with reduced skeletal muscle oxidative capacity.

In this study, we examined whether weight loss-induced changes in plasma organochlorine compounds (OC) were associated with those in skeletal muscle markers of glycolytic and oxidative metabolism. Vastus lateralis skeletal muscle enzyme activities and plasma OC (Aroclor 1260, polychlorinated biphenyl 153, p,p'-DDE, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, and hexachlorobenzene) were measured before and after a weight loss program in 17 men and 20 women. Both sexes showed a similar reduction in body weight (approximately 11 kg) in response to treatment, although men lost significantly more fat mass than women (P < 0.05). Enzymatic markers of glycolysis, phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity, and oxidative metabolism, beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH), citrate synthase (CS), and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activities, remained unchanged after weight loss. A significant increase in plasma OC levels was observed in response to weight loss, an effect that was more pronounced in men. No relationship was observed between changes in OC and those in PFK activity in either sex [-0.31 < r < 0.12, not significant (NS)]. However, the greater the increase in plasma OC levels, the greater the reduction in oxidative enzyme (HADH, CS, COX) activities was in response to weight loss in men (-0.75 < r < -0.50, P < 0.05) but not in women (-0.33 < r < 0.33, NS). These results suggest that the weight loss-induced increase in plasma pollutant levels is likely to be associated with reduced skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism in men but not in women.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed2002

Plasma organochlorine concentrations in endurance athletes and obese individuals.

PURPOSE: Organochlorines are lipophilic compounds that are ingested with food and that accumulate in adipose tissue. Their plasma concentrations were compared in three groups of individuals with different body fatness characteristics: endurance athletes, lean sedentary subjects, and obese individuals. METHODS: The relationship between body fat mass and total plasma organochlorine concentration adjusted for age was analyzed by pooling data of sedentary lean and obese subjects. The regression equation derived from this analysis was also used to predict residual scores of total organochlorine concentrations in trained individuals, which were compared to measured values in these subjects. RESULTS: Plasma organochlorine concentrations tended to be lower in athletes in comparison with values measured among lean sedentary individuals. Their concentrations were higher in obese individuals than in lean sedentary subjects and athletes. Total plasma organochlorine concentration was positively associated to body fat mass in the sedentary group (lean and obese combined, reference population). CONCLUSION: Large adipose tissue compartment such as observed in obese individuals is associated with increased levels of circulating organochlorines, whereas leaner sedentary and trained persons have a lower plasma concentration of these compounds.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2002

Impact of moderate aerobic exercise training on insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic men treated with oral hypoglycemic agents: is insulin sensitivity enhanced only in nonobese subjects?

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the effect of aerobic physical training on insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes treated with oral hypoglycemic agents. Most studies that involved nonobese subjects showed enhanced insulin sensitivity whereas studies involving obese subjects with type 2 diabetes are inconsistent because of concomitant fat loss. MATERIAL/METHODS: Thirteen men with type 2 diabetes (6 nonobese and 7 obese) treated with oral hypoglycemic agents carried out a 12-week ergocycle program at 60% VO2 peak, one hour thrice a week. Diet and medications were maintained throughout the study. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. RESULTS: VO2 peak (ml/kg/min) increased with exercise training. There were no significant changes in fat mass, percent body fat, fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels, glycated hemoglobin levels, or insulin sensitivity. However, when the subjects were separated into two groups, they showed different insulin sensitivity adaptation to training. In fact, nonobese subjects with type 2 diabetes showed an increase in insulin sensitivity, whereas no change was observed in the obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that moderate aerobic exercise training of 3 months duration enhanced insulin sensitivity only in nonobese men with type 2 diabetes. Obese men with type 2 diabetes showed no benefit. Thus, adiposity per se may be a determining factor in the exercise-induced metabolic benefit of exercise training in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Blood Glucose↗