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Scottish Sun
19 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The 50p supplement that ‘mimics the benefits of exercise WITHOUT moving – boosting your heart and metabolism'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A CHEAP supplement could mimic the benefits of exercise, boosting your heart health and metabolism, a new study suggests. It's no secret that breaking a sweat can bolster your health. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A supplement called betaine could mimic the effects of exercise without the need to break a sweat Credit: Getty According to Chinese scientists, sticking to a long-term workout plan can boost the immune system and brain function while "reducing cardiovascular and metabolic disease risks" and even slowing ageing. A study led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University looked into what happens in the body on a molecular level after exercise. They found that sustained exercise prompted a surge of a compound called betaine. "We identified betaine as an endogenous molecule triggered by sustained exercise and revealed its anti-inflammatory and geroprotective [protecting against the effect of ageing] characteristics," researchers wrote in Cell. They also found that giving betaine supplements to mice replicated many of exercise's benefits, without the need to break a sweat. 'This redefines 'exercise as medicine',' said co-corresponding author Dr Liu Guang-Hui. Betaine is a natural compound found in foods like beets, spinach, and whole grains. It's also sold as a supplement for as little as £14.99 - amounting to less than 50p per capsule - and is popular with fitness buffs. Thirteen young and healthy men participated in the study, which looked at the short and long-term impacts exercise can have on the human body. "We conducted a rigorously controlled investigation in young males to examine the immediate physiological response to a single bout of exercise and the adaptive changes following multiple trainings," researchers explained. How to get rid of love handles without giving up chocolate in 5 simple steps They analysed biological samples taken from participants "to decode key cellular and molecular changes associated with acute and chronic exercise". The study began with a 45-day period of minimal exercise. Participants were then asked to go on a 5km run so researchers could probe how their bodies responded to it. Afterwards, they were asked to do daily 5km runs. 2 Exercise boosted levels of betain in the body Credit: Alamy Researchers collected blood and samples of their poop before, immediately after, and post-training. They found that the first 5km run - which they described as "acute exercise" - lead to a surge of inflammation across the body. As researchers put it, it prompted "metabolic chaos". But as men continued to train over several weeks, their bodies displayed fewer signs of cellular exhaustion. It seemed to boost their gut microbiomes and immune system and reverse markers of ageing. Researchers observed signs of improved metabolic function and lower levels of inflammation. Repeated exercising also seemed to boost production of betaine in men's kidneys. They discovered that betaine, a metabolic byproduct, acts as a molecular messenger that helps slow down ageing. It prevents inflammation and organ ageing by targeting an enzyme called TBK1. How much exercise should you do and when? There are guidelines issued by the NHS and the Government regarding how much exercise people should do each day. People should be active daily, and avoid sitting for long periods. The NHS recommends an adults – those aged 19 to 64 – should aim for 150 minutes of 'moderate intensity activity' a week. This works out to 21 minutes a day, or 30 minutes five days a week. Or, they could do 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, which could be less than 11 minutes per day or 25 minutes three days a week. Adults should also aim to do strength exercises twice a week, at least. Examples of moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, water aerobics, riding a bike, dancing, doubles tennis, pushing a lawn mower, hiking or rollerblading. Examples of vigorous activities include running, swimming, riding a bike fast or on hills, walking up the stairs, sports, like football, rugby, netball and hockey, skipping, aerobics, gymnastics or martial arts. Things like lifting heavy weights, sprinting up hills, spin classes or circuit training are considered very vigorous. What time should you exercise? Getting exercise into your day, no matter what time is a good idea. But you may want to be more selective depending on your goal. A 2023 US study on 5,285 middle-aged adults showed exercising between 7 and 9 am was the best time if you're looking to lose weight. Researchers found that early-bird gym goers had a lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than those working out later. A 2022 study led by Prof Paul J Arciero, Skidmore College, New York, found that the optimal time of day to get your kit on might differ according to your gender. Prof Arciero said women wanting to lose fat around their belly and hips would do better to hit the gym in the morning, but those seeking to gain upper body strength or simply improve their mood might see more results from evening exercise. The results were the opposite for men. If you struggle to get to sleep, it's been found that exercise in the morning may help, but exercise in the evening may help you to stay asleep. Exercise, generally, can improve sleep quality. Experts tested this finding on mice and found that getting the rodents to run on a treadmill drove betaine accumulation in their kidneys. They then gave mice betaine supplements, finding that they replicated many of exercise's benefits. They said it appeared to slash inflammation, reduced cellular ageing, enhanced mice's metabolisms, kidney function, coordination, and cognition, and reduced depressive-like behaviours in older mice. 'This study gives us a fresh way to turn how our body works into something we can target with chemicals," Dr Guang-Hui said. "It opens the door to geroprotective treatments that can tweak how multiple organs work together.' Researchers suggested that betaine supplements could be given to people who find it difficult to exercise. But because of the small study pool, they noted that more research into the topic is needed, to confirm that betaine is safe for older adults and diverse populations to take.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Experts identify speech pattern that could hint at cognitive decline
Hiyah Zaidi Published July 2, 2025 11:53am Updated July 2, 2025 11:53am Link is copied Comments Most of us often forget the word we're looking for — but is this a normal thing or a sign that your brain is ageing? Researchers from the University of Toronto set out to figure out what's going on, and they found it's the speed of your speech that could be a more accurate indicator of your brain's health rather than forgetting words (Picture: Getty) Speaking to 125 healthy adults, aged between 18 to 90, the researchers asked their participants to describe a scene in detail. They then analysed the recordings using AI, to look details such as the speed of talking, the duration of pauses between words and the range of words used. The participants also had to complete tests to measure their concentration, thinking speed and their ability to plan and carry out tasks (Picture: Getty) The researchers also used a picture-word interference task, designed to separate the two steps to name an object – finding the right word and instructing the mouth on how to say it. The participants were shown pictures of everyday objects while the researchers played an audio clip of a word either related in meaning or which sounds similar (Picture: Getty) They found that the natural speech speed of older adults was related to their quickness in naming pictures. They say that this could indicate a general slowdown in processing could couple with broader cognitive and linguistic changes with age, rather than a specific issue of recalling words. Further findings revealed that people who spoke more slowly also scored lower on tasks requiring planning and focus, even when word-finding errors were rare (Picture: Getty) The researchers said in The Conversation: 'While the findings from this study are interesting, finding words in response to picture-based cues may not reflect the complexity of vocabulary in unconstrained everyday conversation. Verbal fluency tasks, which require participants to generate as many words as possible from a given category (for example, animals or fruits) or starting with a specific letter within a time limit, may be used with picture-naming to better capture the 'tip-of-the-tongue' phenomenon' (Picture: Getty) The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is when someone has a temporary inability to retrieve a word from memory, despite the feeling that the word is known. However, the researchers say that the verbal fluency tasks are considered a better test of everyday conversations than the picture-word interference task because they involve the active retrieval and production of words from your own vocabulary. So, poor performance on these tasks can indicate neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's (Picture: Getty) Everyday habits are important. Keeping your brain sharp with conversations, word games, and even learning new languages can help keep neural pathways exercised. It is also important to maintain a healthy sleep schedule, as well as a healthy diet with a lower intake of alcohol which can help prevent cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia (Picture: Getty) Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Health Rounds: 3D printed insulin-producing cells show promise for type 1 diabetes in lab tests
July 2 (Reuters) - Insulin-producing human pancreas cells can be manufactured with 3D printers, researchers reported at the International Transplant Congress, opens new tab underway in London. Using a bio-ink made from human pancreatic tissue from which all cellular components had been removed, and alginate - a substance derived from seaweed - they printed human pancreatic islet cells. The printed cells remained alive and functional in test tubes for up to three weeks, maintaining strong insulin responses to glucose and showing real potential for future clinical use, the researchers said. While current methods of isolating islet cells for transplantation strip away the structural scaffold that supports the cells, the bio-ink retains key components of that extracellular matrix, thereby improving the cells' survival and function, the researchers said. The printed cells were more efficient than standard islet cell preparations at releasing insulin when exposed to glucose. By day 21, the bio-printed islets showed a stronger ability to sense and react to blood sugar levels, and they maintained their structure without clumping or breaking down. In traditional islet-cell transplants, done in patients with type 1 diabetes who experience dangerous and unpredictable low blood sugar episodes, islet cells from human donors are infused into the liver. The 3D-printed islets would be implanted under the skin using local anesthesia and a small incision, which could be safer and more comfortable option for patients, the researchers said. The team is now testing the bio-printed cells in animals and exploring long-term storage options that could make the therapy widely available. 'This is one of the first studies to use real human islets instead of animal cells in bio-printing, and the results are incredibly promising,' study leader Quentin Perrier of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina said in a statement. 'It means we're getting closer to creating an off-the-shelf treatment for diabetes that could one day eliminate the need for insulin injections.' GENE EDITING BREAKTHROUGH IN CELLS' ENERGY FACTORIES Incurable disorders of mitochondria, the energy-producing 'factories' inside of cells, may one day be addressed by gene therapies, lab experiments suggest. Mitochondria – specialized structures within cells - have their own DNA, separate from the DNA in the cell's nucleus. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause a variety of debilitating conditions affecting multiple organs, particularly those that require high energy, such as the brain, liver, heart, muscles, and kidneys. Existing gene editing tools like CRISPR have not been useful for these disorders because they can't efficiently pass through the mitochondrial membranes. 'Using a new kind of gene editing tool, we were able to fix DNA mistakes that cause mitochondrial disease,' said study leader Dr. Martijn Koppens from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. To cut and paste pieces of DNA, the new tool uses different mechanisms and components than CRISPR. For example, instead of the Cas protein, the new tool, called DdCBE, uses an inactive version of a bacterial toxin as its molecular scissors. To deliver the 'scissors' to the mitochondria, the tool uses mRNA encapsulated in tiny lipid particles, a transport method also used to deliver COVID-19 vaccines. As reported in PLoS Biology, opens new tab, Koppens' team successfully used their tool to introduce a mutation into a gene in liver cell mitochondria, thereby disrupting energy production in the cells. They were also able to correct a mutation in mitochondria from a patient with a genetic kidney disorder. 'I envision that in the near future, mitochondrial gene editing will be used to generate accurate mitochondrial disease models, which will transform basic research as well as therapy development,' Koppens said. Blood thinner therapy need not be delayed in most patients with a recent stroke attributable to an irregular heartbeat, according to a new analysis. Pooling data from four randomized trials involving nearly 5,500 patients with atrial fibrillation and a recent stroke, researchers found that starting direct oral anticoagulants - which prevent formation of blood clots - within four days was safe and effective. These drugs include Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N), opens new tab Xarelto or Eliquis from Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY.N), opens new tab and Pfizer (PFE.N), opens new tab. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots in the heart that dislodge and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Blood thinners can prevent clots, but they also increase the risk of bleeding in the brain, so it has been common practice to hold off for a while after a stroke before starting them. Based on the safety observed in the current analysis, 'the benefits of early initiation of blood-thinning treatment are clear," study leader Nick Freemantle of University College London said in a statement. "This approach ensures that crucial treatments are not delayed or missed, particularly for patients who are discharged from the hospital." Patients were split into two groups, with 2,691 receiving the blood thinners within 4 days and 2,750 starting the pills on day 5 or later. The incidence of either recurrent strokes from blood clots or strokes from bleeding in the brain was 2.1% with early anti-coagulation administration and 3.0% with delayed treatment, researchers reported in The Lancet, opens new tab. There was no increase in brain bleeding in the early-treatment group. However, few patients in the trial had experienced strokes that extensively damaged the brain, which would have increased the bleeding risks associated with starting the blood thinners right away. An editorial, opens new tab published with the study concludes that overall, the findings favor early initiation of oral anticoagulation in patients with strokes related to atrial fibrillation, especially those with smaller amounts of brain damage. However, the editorial noted some additional factors for providers to consider. 'Adherence to strict predefined early or late initiation thresholds might oversimplify the complexity" of deciding when to start blood thinners, it noted. It said there should be an assessment of other co-morbidities, including advanced age, other medications being taken and frailty, when delayed blood thinner therapy "might derive increased benefit.' (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here)
