Jan 29, 2015Spanning the Sports Medicine Globe
By Dave Ellis
From preventing anemia to MRSA to sleep deficit effects, a number of hot-button stories and recent studies caught the eye of contributor Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS, a sports nutrition and recovery professional who works with a variety of professional and collegiate athletic teams.
Study Calls Skim Milk a Sports Hydration Boost
New research indicates skim milk may have a beneficial effect on preventing dehydration after a workout. Researchers found that compared to many other fluid replacement options available to the sports performer, milk contains relatively large quantities of electrolytes.
••• Responsible Marketing of DHEA?
Members of the supplement trade body Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) have pledged to follow certain guidelines when marketing products containing the naturally occurring steroid hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), in a move designed to tighten industry self-regulation. The voluntary marketing program recommends that companies do not market DHEA products as having an anabolic steroid effect, and do not market them to children under 18.
DHEA, a precursor to the hormone testosterone, occurs naturally in the blood of young people. Levels have been shown to peak between the ages of 20 and 30, but decrease progressively thereafter. The body regulates the conversion of DHEA in order to maintain normal hormone levels. As a result, there is no excess production of testosterone as the body ignores ‘surplus’ DHEA. Dietary supplements containing DHEA (derived from a plant in the wild yam family) have been available in the US for more than 20 years.
New Tool in Diagnosing Anemia of Chronic Disease
University of Utah School of Medicine researchers have developed a new tool that facilitates diagnosis of anemia related to chronic illness, as well as diseases of iron overload. The results of a study detailing the new tool are published in the August 2008 issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.
Lactoferrin May Help Prevent Iron Deficiency
A new study investigated whether intake of lactoferrin (LF) would improve or prevent anemia in female long distance runners who were training during the summer season and had a high risk of iron-deficiency anemia. The study, conducted by the Department of Sports Science at the School of Health and Sports Science at Juntendo University in Japan, divided 16 female long distance runners into a group taking LF and iron (the LF group) and a group that only took iron (the control group) for eight weeks. In the control group, the ferritin, serum iron, and red blood cell count were significantly lower than before treatment. In the LF group, the hematology data showed no significant change during the eight weeks. The red blood cell count was significantly higher in the LF group than in the control group. The blood lactate level following a 3,000-m pace run of the control group was also significantly higher than that of the LF group. These observations suggest the possibility that intake of LF increases the absorption and utilization of iron and would be useful in the prevention of iron deficiency anemia among female long distance runners.
Extra Nutrients in Dried Organic Food?
A new study from the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in Denmark has added to debate about whether organic food is healthier than conventionally grown, as it concludes there is no evidence in favor of the argument.
Students with Food Allergies Often Not Prepared
New research from the University of Michigan Health System indicates that many college students with food allergies aren’t taking the threat of a reaction seriously enough. The study also reports that many college students are often in environments where they could not be properly treated during an emergency.
REM Sleep Deficits Linked to Obesity
Children and teens who get less sleep, especially those who spend less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, may be more likely to be overweight, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. Compared with children at a normal weight, those who were overweight slept about 22 minutes less per night and had lower percentage of time in bed spent sleeping. The overweight subjects also had shorter REM sleep, less eye activity during REM sleep, and a longer wait before the first REM period.
High School Wrestler With MRSA Dies
A California high school wrestler died this week after 20 days of hospitalization for a MRSA infection. Another team member is currently being treated.
Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS, is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who has spent the last 27 years working with a large population of athletes. He specializes in team cramp prevention, recovery interventions, and body composition-frame assessment. During his career, Ellis logged 20 years in the collegiate ranks as the former Director of Performance Nutrition with the University of Nebraska Athletic Department and University of Wisconsin Athletic Department before going into private practice in 2001. He now travels the globe working with some of the most demanding coaches and athletes at the professional, Olympic, and collegiate levels.
To see a full list of consulting services provided by Ellis, visit his Web site: Fueling Tactics Consulting Services.
