Elite Runners Live Years Longer Than The Average Person, Scientists Find

Posted on May 13, 2024 Updated on May 12, 2024

Running 10 hours a week for more than 120 km (75 miles) is extreme exercise, to be sure. Yet far from pushing the body beyond its limits, a new study suggests some professional athletes are adding years to their lives with such brutal routines.

The analysis includes public health data from the first 200 people to run a mile in under 4 minutes back in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. According to a team of researchers from Canada and Australia, these professional runners lived, on average, almost 5 years longer than the general population.

The findings contradict the view that too much exercise has negative health effects in the long run. Pushing the human body to its max could actually be beneficial, at least for some.

While numerous epidemiological studies suggest that physically active individuals live longer than inactive individuals, it is as yet unclear whether exercising more than recommended is good or bad for health.

The lifestyles of high-intensity athletes who partake in marathons, endurance cycling, or triathlons could be putting undue stress on their hearts, some scientists suggest, putting them at greater risk of early death. But while strenuous exercise can certainly put sedentary individuals at risk of health issues, perhaps the outcomes are different for seasoned athletes.

In 2022, a Harvard study found that people who exercise more than recommended could lower their risk of death by 30 percent – 10 percent more than those who met activity guidelines.

Indeed, write University of Alberta cardiologist Stephen Foulkes and his colleagues, epidemiological studies of Tour de France cyclists, Olympic athletes, and rowers have shown increased lifespans compared to the general population.

Now, researchers have shown this pattern holds true for the fastest runners of a mile as well.

Athletes who can cross a mile marker in under 4 minutes are a unique population, known for pushing their respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal system to the max.

To achieve this level of speed, runners regularly partake in high-intensity bouts of physical activity throughout the week.

In 2018, cardiologists found that the first 20 runners to run a mile in under 4 minutes lived, on average, 12 years beyond general life expectancy.

The new study considers a larger cohort across three decades.

Interestingly, runners who completed a mile in under 4 minutes in the 1960s had greater life expectancy than runners who achieved the feat in successive decades.

“This may reflect improvements in life expectancy from the general population,” the authors suggest, as well as the “management of several major communicable and non-communicable diseases.”

In other words, not all the benefits in life expectancy seen in professional athletes may be due to their lifestyle alone. It’s possible, for instance, that athletes possess favorable genes at higher rates compared to the general population. In the group of 200 mile-long runners, researchers counted 20 sets of siblings and several father and son duos.

“While we could not determine the cause of death for the majority of runners, studies reporting on Tour de France cyclists and cohorts of Olympians (that include middle to long distance runners) suggest the longevity effects are primarily mediated by decreased rates of cardiovascular and cancer-related mortality,” write Foulkes and colleagues.

The outcome of their analysis, the team adds, “reiterates the benefits of exercise on the lifespan, even at the levels of training required for elite performance.”

The study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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Liposomal technology revolutionises pharma and nutraceutical industries in India

Posted on May 13, 2024 Updated on May 12, 2024

Indian pharma & nutraceutical industries see liposomal technology as a game-changer with the potential to improve drug efficacy and patient safety. This is particularly significant in the development of targeted therapies for conditions like cancer, where precise delivery of medication to specific cells or tissues is crucial. Currently, there are around six major manufacturers of liposomal products in the country which is expected to grow with the technology’s increasing acceptance.

According to Dr. Chaitra Prasad, director, Samarth Biorigins LLP, liposomal technology is revolutionizing the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries in India by optimizing the delivery and effectiveness of various active ingredients. There is also a notable shift toward indigenous manufacturing of production equipment and essential lipids like phospholipids and cholesterol.

This innovative encapsulation technique within lipid vesicles enhances water dispersion, absorption, and bioavailability, playing a crucial role in targeting specific cells, stabilizing active ingredients, and reducing side effects to maximize therapeutic outcomes, she added.

Although liposomal technology was initially adopted by the dairy industry, it now encapsulates a broader spectrum of nutrients including vitamins, proteins, peptides, and herbal extracts, effectively overcoming solubility and bioavailability challenges. Post-Covid-19, the technology has seen a 40% increase in clinical trial registrations, reflecting a surge in its acceptance and the recognition of its potential to enhance drug efficacy and patient safety, Dr Prasad told Pharmabiz in an email.

Additionally, the market for related testing equipment such as particle size analyzers and dissolution apparatus is also expanding, indicating a robust development ecosystem for liposomal technology, pointed out M Suresh, head sales & marketing, Samarth Biorigins LLP.

But despite the positive growth, Suresh said that new manufacturers face significant challenges, including high development costs and extensive time requirements due to the technology’s complex nature. Additional hurdles include dependency on imported specialized equipment, a shortage of trained personnel, and complex regulatory requirements for new drug approvals, he stated.

To this end, the Bengaluru-based Samarth Biorigins, part of the Mumbai-headquartered Samarth Life Sciences said that it is utilizing state-of- art liposomal technology to work with vital ingredients such as lactoferrin, vitamin C, glutathione, curcumin, coenzyme Q10, iron, and multivitamins. With advanced manufacturing processes like freeze-drying, the company ensures rigorous quality control. Extensive testing enables assessing the final pharma or nutraceutical product’s size, shape, encapsulation efficiency, release profile, and overall safety and efficacy, using animal models, cell line studies, and clinical data. In fact, such comprehensive characterization helps predict its performance in the body. These ingredients can be used in various formulations, including capsule filling, tablets, mouth-melt granules, effervescent tablets, gummies, syrups, and soft gels.

The support extended from developing the right formulation combination with the scientific backup facilitates the much-needed success in a competitive market. As the industry continues to evolve, the adoption of liposomal technology in India reflects a broader trend in the global pharmaceutical and nutraceutical arena. As research and development in this field continue to progress, we can anticipate further innovations and applications that will contribute to the advancement of healthcare and nutrition in India and internationally, said Suresh.

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Higher CO2 Levels Have a Concerning Effect on Viruses Floating Through The Air

Posted on May 10, 2024 Updated on May 5, 2024

Virus containing droplets were suspended in the CELEBS experimental device for different durations before infectivity was tested. (Allen Haddrell/University of Bristol)

Keeping CO₂ levels low reduces infectious airborne viral loads, new research suggests. While the study focused on the pathogen behind COVID-19, it has clear implications for reducing the risk of transmitting viruses in spaces where ventilation is limited.

“Opening a window may be more powerful than originally thought,” says University of Bristol chemist Allen Haddrell, “especially in crowded and poorly ventilated rooms, as fresh air will have a lower concentration of CO₂, causing the virus to become inactivated much faster.”

By measuring SARS-CoV-2 capacity to remain infectious while aerosolized in droplets under different environmental conditions, Haddrell and colleagues discovered the virus’s stability is directly impacted by CO₂levels in the air. They used a new technique called Controlled Electrodynamic Levitation and Extraction of Bioaerosol onto a Substrate (CELEBS), which measures the impact of temperature, relative humidity, and different gas concentrations on suspended virus particles.

Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are currently around 400 parts per million (ppm). Crowd enough people in a closed room, however, concentrations can soar to around 3,000 ppm. The team found the number of viral particles that can remain infectious under these elevated concentrations can be 10 times higher than what would be found in outdoor air.

“The high pH of exhaled droplets containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus is likely a major driver of the loss of infectiousness,” explains Haddrell. “CO₂ behaves as an acid when it interacts with droplets. This causes the pH of the droplets to become less alkaline, resulting in the virus within them being inactivated at a slower rate.”

What’s more, highly crowded environments in poorly ventilated spaces can exceed 5,000 ppm of CO₂.

“This relationship sheds important light on why super spreader events may occur under certain conditions,” notes Haddrell.

Interestingly, different strains of SARS-CoV-2 had different patterns of stability in the air. After only 5 minutes viable viral particle concentrations were 1.7 times higher for Omicron (BA.2) than for Delta. This suggests there may be a lot of variability between viral particle types.

So while more research is required to confirm the relationships between CO₂ and other types of viruses, the researchers suspect this could explain why many respiratory viruses have seasonality. During colder weather people are likely to spend more time indoors experiencing greater exposure to air with higher levels of CO₂.

The amount of CO₂ in our outdoor air is also increasing thanks to global warming. Recent projections predict concentrations could exceed 700 ppm by the end of the century.

“[This study] also highlights the importance of our global net zero goals because the research indicates even slightly raised levels of CO₂ , which are increasing in the atmosphere with the onset of climate change, can significantly improve the rate of virus survival and the risk of it spreading,” Haddrell adds.

“These findings can serve as a scientific basis for the design of mitigation strategies that could save lives in any future pandemic,” concludes University of Bristol physical chemist Jonathan Reid.

This research was published in Nature Communications.

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IPC and CSIR-IMTech forge strategic partnership to advance research in microbiology

Posted on May 7, 2024 Updated on May 5, 2024

Aimed at driving innovation and progress in the field of microbiology, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) and the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTech), Chandigarh, have joined forces towards advancing microbiological research and development for the betterment of public health. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the journey towards harnessing the potential of microbiology to address pressing healthcare challenges. By pooling their expertise and resources, IPC and IMTech are poised to unlock new avenues of discovery and innovation in this critical field. Through close collaboration, IPC and IMTech aim to explore cutting-edge technologies and methodologies that hold the promise of transforming healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. By fostering an environment of cooperation and knowledge exchange, this partnership seeks to accelerate the pace of microbiological research and propel India to the forefront of global innovation. According to Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, secretary-cum-scientific director, IPC, “This significant partnership underscores the mutual recognition of the critical role played by both institutions in the realm of microbiology and public health. By formalizing their commitment to cooperation, IPC and IMTech pave the way for an unprecedented synergy in research, development, and innovation.” He further added that the MoU signifies a strategic alliance aimed at leveraging collective expertise and resources to drive advancements in the field of microbiology. Through collaborative efforts, IPC and IMTech aim to spearhead the development of future technologies that hold the potential to revolutionize healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Central to this partnership is the exchange of technical and scientific knowledge, fostering an environment conducive to innovation and progress. By pooling their respective strengths and resources, IPC and IMTech seek to address pressing challenges and seize emerging opportunities in microbiological research and development. Moreover, this collaboration is poised to facilitate the exchange of skills and best practices, nurturing talent and expertise in the field of microbiology. By investing in human capital development, IPC and IMTech aim to empower future generations of researchers and professionals, driving sustained growth and excellence in the domain. “As both institutions embark on this collaborative journey, they reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing public health and well-being. Through concerted efforts and collective endeavors, IPC and IMTech aspire to make meaningful contributions towards addressing healthcare challenges and improving the quality of life for communities across the nation,” said Dr. Sanjeev Khosla, director, CSIR-IMTech, Chandigarh. He further added that the signing of this MoU heralds a new era of partnership and innovation in microbiology, setting the stage for transformative advancements and breakthroughs. With a shared vision and a commitment to excellence, IPC and IMTech are poised to redefine the boundaries of microbiological research and shape the future of healthcare in India and beyond.

Exercising in Midlife May ‘Reverse’ Years of Inactivity, Large Study Finds

Posted on May 6, 2024 Updated on May 5, 2024

As the world’s aging population grows, and dementia, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis reach epidemic levels, people of all ages want to know how they can live healthier, not just longer, lives.

For women in their 40s and 50s, it’s not too late to take action. A study that tracked more than 11,000 women in Australia has found that midlife is a crucial time to meet physical activity guidelines of at least 150 minutes a week.

Women in the study who said they maintained those guidelines consistently over the next 15 years had better physical health scores than those women who did not.

Even participants who did not exercise regularly before middle age benefited from the new routine. In fact, at the final follow-up study, this group’s physical test scores were virtually the same as the group of women who regularly exercised before their 50s – three percentage points ahead of women who never or rarely met the exercise guidelines.

Future studies are needed to see if these physical benefits also extend to men in mid-life, but there is good reason to suspect they might.

“Our findings suggest that to maintain good physical health-related quality of life at around age 70, one may be able to “make up” for not being active earlier by becoming active in the mid-50s,” write the research team, led by scientists at the University of Sydney.

“This finding supports public health initiatives for messaging around “turning back the clock” in midlife through lifestyle changes such as physical activity.”

Interestingly, women in the study who only started exercising consistently in their 60s did not see the same benefits as those who started in their 50s. Lead author and epidemiologist, Binh Nguyen, and her colleagues suspect that is because there “had not been sufficient accumulation of physical activity for the health benefits to be evident by around age 70.”

Regular exercise is hardly a new prescription for middle-aged folk, or people of any age, really. Numerous large population studies have linked physical activity to a lower risk of death, yet surprisingly, few long-term studies have tracked the health effects of exercise as a person ages.

The new study tracked 47- to 52-year-old women in Australia from 1998 to 2019, with intermittent check-ups for mental and physical health occurring every three years.

Participants reported their own physical activity, which may not reflect reality. However, even when controlling for socioeconomic, dietary, and other physical and mental health factors, a “small but meaningful” benefit emerged.

To put three percentage points in context, the researchers in Australia explain that osteoarthritis usually results in a 10-point difference in a person’s physical functioning scores compared to those without it.

A recent meta-analysis suggests even just one point difference on this physical activity test can lower the risk of mortality in the general population.

“Combined with existing evidence, this study contributes to growing evidence of the benefits of maintaining or adopting an active lifestyle in mid-age,” the researchers conclude.

The study was published in PLOS Medicine.

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