Fit News Cardio and Nutrition

By JOHN FAUBER

Short bouts of intense exercise may help at-risk population

Shorter bouts of higher intensity exercise were somewhat better at reducing risk factors in people with the condition known as metabolic syndrome, compared with moderate continuous exercise, according to a new study.

The research involved 52 people with an average age of 52, all who had metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases the risk of getting heart disease. Metabolic syndrome is defined as having any three of the following conditions: low HDL cholesterol; high triglycerides; abdominal obesity; high blood pressure; or high blood sugar.

The people in the study underwent four months of either aerobic interval training or four months of moderate intensity exercise.

Both groups lost about the same amount of weight and waist circumference, but those in the interval training group had a 35% improvement in their ability to absorb oxygen, compared with 16% in the other group.

They also had more improvement in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, glucose levels, HDL cholesterol and the health of the lining of their blood vessels.

“Guidelines calling for 30 minutes of exercise of moderate intensity may be too general for this population (people with metabolic syndrome),” lead author Arnt Erik Tjonna said in a statement.

However, health experts warned that interval training can cause musculoskeletal problems and cardiovascular complications and that people who have been sedentary should first be able to exercise comfortably at a moderate level before beginning vigorous exercise.

The study was published in the journal Circulation.

MSG is linked to higher risk of being overweight in China

The food additive monosodium glutamate, or MSG, was associated with an increased risk of being overweight.

The study involved 752 people from rural villages in China ages 40 to 59. About 82% of those in the study regularly ate MSG, with an average intake of 0.33 grams a day.

Most of the people in the study prepared their food at home.

After researchers were able to determine how much MSG they consumed, it was found that higher levels of MSG intake were associated with an increasing risk of being overweight.

Those in the top third for MSG consumption were more than two times as likely to be overweight than those who did not eat MSG.

Other research suggests that MSG may affect hormone levels.

The study was published in the journal Obesity.

— John Fauber

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