Nutrition
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Comparative Study
Cognition-enhancing properties of subchronic phosphatidylserine (PS) treatment in middle-aged rats: comparison of bovine cortex PS with egg PS and soybean PS.
There are various clinical and non-clinical studies that have indicated that phosphatidylserine (PS) treatment can improve cognitive functions in humans and other animals. However, treatment with PS derived from bovine cortex is not desirable because of possible transfer of infectious diseases. The present study investigated the cognition-enhancing properties of different types of PS in rats. ⋯ It appeared that the cognition-enhancing effects of S-PS were not different from those of BC-PS. The performance of rats treated with E-PS did not deviate from that of vehicle-treated rats. On the basis of the present study, it was concluded that S-PS, but not E-PS, may have comparable effects on cognition when compared with BC-PS.
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This study compares the effects of the Ramadan fast (RF) on body and plasma compositions, hematology, and responses to steady state submaximal exercise in six physically active (A, 35.5+/-1.6 y) and seven sedentary (S, 37.6+/-2.3 y) Kuwaiti men. Subjects were evaluated: 1) 1 wk before RF (pre-RF); 2) 2 wk after the start of RF (mid-RF); 3) at the 4th wk of RF (end-RF). Total body weight and body fat decreased insignificantly (<1.5%, P>0.3) in both groups. ⋯ Deficits or redistribution of specific micronutrients (iron, vitamins) may account for reductions in serum iron and platelet counts, particularly in sedentary subjects that need to limit intake to maintain body weight. The decrease in submaximal exercise heart rate indicates that during RF, cardiovascular adaptation to conditioning is adequate in the more physically active group. Body fluid balance was better maintained in active than in sedentary subjects.