Abstract Bonehealth is influenced by a dynamic interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors, with nutrition playing a vital role throughout life. This review consolidates the current evidence on the roles of essential micronutrients, specifically calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium, and phosphorus, in skeletal metabolism and integrity. Calcium and vitamin D, the most extensively studied, have been shown to reduce bone loss and fracture risk, particularly in institutionalized individuals or those with deficiencies, while evidence is less consistent in […]

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation, over thirty days, on the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and oxidation of free fatty acids (FFA) under rested or exercised conditions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one overweight active volunteers (40 to 58 years old) were randomized into two groups: supplemented (GS; N = 11; 1,8 g/day of L-carnitine) or placebo (GP; N = 10; maltodextrin). Caloric intake, anthropometry, RMR, VO2max, respiratory exchange ratio and plasma FFA were measured. RESULTS: No significant changes were […]

Based on presumptions that the infusion of amino acids can augment the release of human growth hormone (hGH) and that this metabolism is related with secretion of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), the purpose of this study was to verify the effect of L-arginine supplementation on GH and IGF-I in adults. Seventeen male individuals participated on the study and were randomized to receive L-arginine (n= 10) or placebo (n= 7), seven grams per day for seven days. Before and after […]

There are two major aspects focused in the present work. The first one concerns the tryptophan: a cerebral serotonin precursor aminoacid that alters serotonin and its relation to the offer of nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and aminoacids). As an essential aminoacid it can be modulated through diet, having its physiological and behavioral effects changed, as it can be learned in the present study. The second aspect is related to the precocious fatigue during sports and activities of short and long duration […]

The effect of oral zinc (Zn) supplementation was investigated in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (DM1), evaluating their metabolic control and urinary Zn concentrations. Twenty DM1 patients were compared with a control group (n=17); the metabolic control included fasting glucose levels, 24h urinary glucose levels and HbA1c. Zn concentrations were measured in 24h urine before (T1) and after (T2) supplementation. DM1 patients were given oral supplements of tasteless bis-glycine chelated Zn during a 4 month period after the […]