Research Outputs
Analysis of sleep quality and its impact on body composition on the pre-competition day in natural bodybuilders
Introduction: Bodybuildingis a sport that evaluates athletes based on their muscle mass, sym-metry, and muscle definition, unlike conventional sports that are usually based on athletic per-formance in competition. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between fat mass (FM) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM)through bioimpedancewith sleep quality in Chilean natural bodybuilders on pre-competition day. Methodology: Twenty-sixnatural bodybuilders participated in the WNBF Chilean champion-ship. The objective was to evaluate body composition toobtain data regarding SMM and FM. Additionally, thePSQI was applied. Results: significant relationships were obtained with SMM andPSQI (p= 0, 02, R = -0,38, R²= 0.14) and a moderate correlation between FM and PSQI (p= 0.04, R = 0.40, R²= 0.15). Sleep efficiency showed a negative correlation (p= 0.001, R = -0.55, R²= 0.31) with FM and a positive correlation (p = 0.002, R = 0.58, R²= 0.34) with SMM. Sleep duration showed a negative corre-lation (p = 0.024, R = -0.39, R²= 0.15) with FM and a positive correlation (p = 0.021, R = 0.45, R²= 0.20) with SMM. Discussion: A lack of sufficient sleep has been linked to adverse effects on body composition, including reduced fat loss and muscle gain. Additionally, insufficient sleep has been associated with a decline in athletic performance.Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that poor sleep quality is associated with higher body fat and better sleep quality with a higher skeletal muscle mass, underscoring the signifi-cance of sleep for achieving optimal body composition and performance in natural bodybuild-ers.
Relationship between heart rate variability, physical activity levels, and sociodemographic factors in young adults: cross-sectional study
Introduction: heart rate variability is a key indicator of cardiovascular health and autonomic balance, influenced by various factors such as age and stress. Objective: to relate heart rate variability to body composition, physical activity levels, sleep quality, and self-perceived stress in young Chilean adults with low cardiometabolic risk. Methodology: a cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 with the participation of 32 young adults (18 to 30 years old), selected based on inclusion criteria related to adequate physical activity levels and the absence of chronic diseases. The analysis considered variables such as body composition, sleep quality, stress levels, physical activity levels, and heart rate variability, with the latter measured over a 5-minute resting period. Results: age showed a significant negative relationship with RMSSD (β = -0.43, t = -2.48, p = .02), indicating a decrease in parasympathetic activity as age increases. Self-perceived stress, however, did not show a significant impact on RMSSD (β = .09, p = .60) or the RR/RMSSD ratio (β = -0.37, p = .04). Discussion: the findings highlight the importance of heart rate variability as an indicator of autonomic health, emphasizing how age and stress impact vagal modulation. These results reinforce the need to integrate autonomic monitoring into preventive strategies to improve cardiovascular health. Conclusion: heart rate variability is significantly related to age and self-perceived stress. These findings underline the importance of integrating autonomic monitoring into preventive health strategies.
Aplicaciones de la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca en el entrenamiento físico infantil: un complemento al enfoque clínico
Effects of D-Tagatose on Cariogenic Risk: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials
Dental caries remains a prevalent chronic disease driven by dysbiosis in the oral biofilm, with Streptococcus mutans playing a central role in its pathogenesis. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of D-tagatose on cariogenic risk by analyzing randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted targeting RCTs published up to 2024 in eight databases and two gray literature sources. The search strategy utilized Medical Subject Headings (MeSHs) and relevant keywords combined via Boolean operators using the query “Tagatose OR D-tagatose AND Dental Caries”. Eligible studies must evaluate the impact of D-tagatose on cariogenic risk, as indicated by reductions in colony-forming units (CFUs) and improvements in salivary pH levels in treatment groups. Results: From 1139 retrieved records, three studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies consistently demonstrated significant reductions in CFU counts and improvements in salivary pH levels in groups treated with D-tagatose compared to controls using other non-caloric sweeteners or placebos (p < 0.01). However, the quality of the evidence was heterogeneous, with certain methodological concerns. Conclusions: Although the findings suggest potential benefits of D-tagatose in reducing cariogenic risk, limitations such as small sample sizes and variability in study methodologies warrant caution. Further robust investigations are needed to substantiate these promising results and support the integration of D-tagatose into oral care formulations aimed at reducing cariogenic risk.