In the past decade, the small polyphenol resveratrol has received widespread attention as either a potential therapy or as a preventive agent for numerous diseases. Studies using purified enzymes, ...cultured cells, and laboratory animals have suggested that resveratrol has anti‐aging, anti‐carcinogenic, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐oxidant properties that might be relevant to chronic diseases and/or longevity in humans. Although the supporting research in laboratory models is quite substantial, only recently data has emerged to describe the effects of resveratrol supplementation on physiological responses in humans. The limited number of human clinical trials that are available has largely described various aspects of resveratrol's safety and bioavailability, reaching a consensus that it is generally well‐tolerated, but have poor bioavailability. Very few published human studies have explored the ability of resveratrol to achieve the physiological benefits that have been observed in laboratory models, although many clinical trials have recently been initiated. This review aims to examine the current state of knowledge on the effects of resveratrol on humans and to utilize this information to develop further guidelines for the implementation of human clinical trials.
Our meta-analysis examined the impact of exercise interventions on body image; and participant, intervention, and design features associated with larger effects. We identified 57 interventions (with ...pre-and post-data for the exercise and control groups) examining the effects of exercise on body image. A small random effect indicated that exercise intervention conditions had improved body image compared to control conditions; and that participant (age), design (year of publication), and intervention (exercise frequency and specificity) features moderated the effect size. Research examining the mechanisms and the exercise dose-response required for body image change is needed.
Aim
Polyphenols, the most abundant natural biochemicals found in fruits, vegetables seeds, red wine, cocoa, coffee and spices, may have cosmetic and health effects.
Methods
This was a 1‐month ...randomized, placebo‐controlled study, approved by the institutional review board. In total, 40 adults (mean age 44.65 years) were randomized to one of three groups: MitoHeal® 500 mg/day, MitoHeal® 1000 mg/day or placebo drink. Measurements were expert rating of professional photos of skin quality and patient self‐reported skin satisfaction at Days 0 and 30.
Results
The photographs and self‐report assessments revealed that, compared with placebo, MitoHeal supplementation resulted in improvements in skin quality and patient satisfaction from Day 0 to Day 30, with a dose–response relationship often evidenced (P < 0.05). No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion
Pilot data revealed that MitoHeal supplementation might be effective for improving skin quality and patient satisfaction. Larger sample sizes and trial durations are needed to determine the effects of MitoHeal supplementation on beauty and overall health.
The purpose was to examine the efficacy of daily use of MitoHeal® supplementation (i.e. patented redcurrant and blackcurrant extract) on adult's skin, hair and nail quality. The photo and self‐report assessments revealed that MitoHeal supplementation compared with placebo resulted in significant improvements in face, hair and nail quality from Day 0 to Day 30, with a dose–response relationship often evidenced (P < 0.05).
The red wine polyphenol, resveratrol, is highly effective in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in animal models, but there is no consensus regarding its efficacy in humans. We conducted a ...systematic review, which included searches in nine scholarly databases and six clinical trial registries, and identified randomized controlled clinical trials whereby resveratrol was used as an adjunct to pharmaceutical interventions in T2DM. Meta‐analysis on clinical parameters was performed for available data. Of 764 articles originally identified, data from six unique datasets, examining a total of 196 T2DM patients (104 resveratrol, 92 control/placebo) ultimately met inclusion criteria. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive effects, indicating that resveratrol supplementation was more effective than placebo/control, were identified for systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, and creatinine, but not for fasting glucose, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, diastolic blood pressure, insulin, triglycerides, LDL, or HDL cholesterol. No major adverse events were reported and side effects of resveratrol were not different than placebo/control. Though limitations in sample size and treatment duration preclude definitive changes in clinical practice, significant improvements in multiple cardiometabolic biomarkers and an excellent safety profile support resveratrol as a leading candidate as an adjunct to pharmacological management of T2DM.
Older meta-analyses of the effects of the media's portrayal of the ideal physique have found small effects revealing that exposure to the ideal physique increases body image concerns. These ...meta-analyses also included correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental studies, with limited examination of moderators and other relevant outcomes besides body image.
We conducted a systematic literature search and identified 33 experimental (i.e., pre and post data for both experimental and control groups) laboratory studies examining the effects of acute exposure to the media's portrayal of the ideal physique on eating disorder symptoms (i.e., body image, positive affect, negative affect, self-esteem, anger, anxiety and depression) and the mechanisms that moderate this effect.
Fourteen separate meta-analyses revealed a range of small to moderate effect sizes for change in outcomes from pre to post for both experimental and control groups. Exposure to images of the ideal physique resulted in small effect sizes for increased depression and anger and decreased self-esteem and positive affect. Moderator analyses revealed moderate effect sizes for increased depression and body dissatisfaction among high-risk participants.
This meta-analysis makes it clear that media exposure of the ideal physique results in small changes in eating disorder symptoms, particularly with participants at high risk for developing an eating disorder. Further research is needed to examine the longitudinal effects of media exposure of eating disorder symptoms.
► A meta-analysis of controlled studies of media exposure is performed. ► Small to moderate effects of media exposure on body image and eating disturbed symptoms were found. ► This study builds upon previous meta-analyses in its focus on controlled laboratory studies.
Background and aims
Despite that 93% of people indicate that a mattress plays a pivotal role in achieving high‐quality sleep, there is a scarcity of research investigating the influence of mattresses ...on sleep quality, pain, and mood in nonclinical poor sleepers. The purpose was to examine the effectiveness of a pressure‐releasing medium‐firm grid mattress on sleep and health outcomes (e.g., mood, pain, daytime fatigue) of adults with nonclinical insomnia symptoms using a quasi‐experimental design.
Methods
Participants were 39 adults (mean age = 45.29) with nonclinical insomnia (i.e., occasional sleeplessness). Following 1 week of baseline assessments on their current mattress, they slept on a pressure‐relieving grid mattress for 8 weeks. Participants completed self‐report assessments of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Berlin Questionnaire, Insomnia Severity Index, Restorative Sleep Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Profile of Mood States, Daytime Fatigue Scale, Pain and Sleep Questionnaire, and Brief Pain Inventory at Baseline and Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8. Participants continually wore an Oura Ring to objectively assess sleep and daytime activity. The data were collected from January 2022 to April 2022 and were stored electronically. Repeated‐measures analyses of variance were used to analyze mean time differences.
Results
Self‐reported sleep quality, perceived pain, perceived stress, mood, and daytime fatigue improved significantly from Baseline to Week 8, p's < 0.05. Objective Oura Ring validated the self‐reported sleep and daytime activity outcomes with improvements in sleep duration, time awake during the night, light sleep, deep sleep, and total sleep time, p's < 0.05. No significant time effects were evidenced for rapid eye movement sleep. No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion
The grid mattress is a simple, noninvasive, and nonpharmacological intervention that improved adults sleep quality and health. Controlled trials are encouraged to examine the effects of this mattress in a variety of populations and environments.
Key points
What's Known
Although numerous studies recognize that mattresses are an important environmental factor on sleep quality, limited research exists on which mattress design is optimum for improving sleep quality and overall health, especially in the natural home environment.
Medium‐firm mattresses provide the best sleep quality but their effects on nonclinical poor sleepers requires more research.
What's New
A quasi‐experiment intervention involving 39 adults with poor sleep quality examined the impact of a pressure‐relieving medium‐firm grid mattress on sleep quality and health.
Sleeping on the grid mattress led to significantly improved sleep quality, increased daytime activity, reduced daytime fatigue, improved mood, and lowered anxiety/stress.
Clinical implications.
The grid mattress may be a nonpharmacological approach for promoting sleep quality, daytime activity, and overall health in people with occasional sleeplessness.
The purpose of our study was to explore the prevalence, and the role of mood, exercise frequency, age, and gender differences of exercise dependence. Methods: Regular exercisers (N = 409) completed a ...socio-demographic questionnaire, the Exercise Dependence Scale, and the Profile of Mood States. For data analyses, the participants were stratified for sex and age (age ranges = young adults: 18–24 years, adults: 25–44 years, and middle-aged adults: 45–64 years). Results: We found that: (a) 4.4% of the participants were classified as at-risk for exercise dependence; (b) the men and the two younger groups (i.e., young adults and adults) had higher exercise dependence scores; and (c) age, gender, exercise frequency, and mood state were related to exercise dependence. Conclusions: Our results support previous research on the prevalence of exercise dependence and reveal that adulthood may be the critical age for developing exercise dependence. These findings have practical implication for identifying individuals at-risk for exercise dependence symptoms, and may aid in targeting and guiding the implementation of prevention program for adults.
Introduction
NexQuest Natural Frequency Technology® (NFT®), intended to enhance biological function using naturally occurring frequencies, may be a nonpharmacological intervention to improve stress ...and health. The study purpose was to determine the effectiveness of NFT® for improving stress, sleep quality, mood, and cognition in adults.
Methods
Using a double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover design, participants with high perceived stress (N = 42, M age = 43.8) were assessed at baseline (BL) and assigned to either the Placebo Watch (PW) or Wellness Watch (WW) condition for 2 weeks, and then 2 weeks in the alternate condition. Participants completed the following self‐report surveys of Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index, Food Craving Questionnaire, and Profile of Mood States, as well as the CNS Vital Signs neurocognitive test at BL and following each condition.
Results
The WW condition had significant improvements in sleep duration and Complex Attention compared to the PW group. Compared to BL, both conditions had significant improvements for perceived stress, food cravings, mood, sleep quality, and several cognitive tests, p's < .05.
Conclusion
Despite the placebo effect, NFT® may be a natural alterative for improving stress and health. Research is needed examining the efficacy of NFT® in a variety of populations and environments.
NexQuest Natural Frequency Technology® (NFT), intended to enhance biological function using naturally occurring frequencies, may be a nonpharmacological intervention to improve stress and overall health. Using a randomized placebo‐controlled design, we found that the NFT resulted in significant improvements in sleep quality, perceived stress, cognition (i.e., Reaction Time, Cognitive Flexibility, Processing Speed, Executive Functioning, and Neurocognition Index), food cravings, and mood for adults who report high perceived stress (N = 42). These findings indicate that NFT® may be a safe, natural alterative for reducing stress levels and improving sleep quality, mood, and cognitive performance.
The study purpose was to conduct a four-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial on adults with insomnia symptoms to examine the effectiveness of Natural Frequency Technology
...(NFT), found in Philip Stein Sleep Bracelets, on sleep quality, anxiety/stress levels, and mood.
Adults (
= 44,
age = 41.9 years) were randomized to the Placebo Bracelet (PB) or NFT Sleep Bracelet (SB) for two weeks and then the alternative bracelet for two weeks. Self-reported mood, anxiety/stress, and sleep quality were completed at Day 0 (PRE) and following each condition; POST PB and POST SB).
When the participants wore the SB, compared to the PB, they had improved sleep quality (i.e., Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), anxiety/perceived stress, and mood,
's < .05.
The SB may be simple, noninvasive, and non-pharmacological intervention to improve sleep quality and daytime mood.
Our study examined the potential mediating or moderating effect of exercise dependence on the exercise—eating pathology relationship. Female university students (N = 330) completed Internet-based ...self-report measures of exercise behavior, exercise dependence, and eating pathology. Exercise dependence served as a mediator for the relationship between exercise and eating pathology. This unidirectional causal model suggests that an individual's pathological motivation or compulsion to exercise is the critical mediating component in the exercise—eating pathology relationship. The best target for removing the link between exercise behavior and eating pathology may be reformulating exercise dependence symptoms.
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