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The development of the Diabetic Physiological state is influenced by the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE). This receptor was discovered in 1992, and the accumulation of research on this subject has been extensive. Structural characterization studies of the RAGE protein have shown that it is a transmembrane protein

The development of the Diabetic Physiological state is influenced by the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE). This receptor was discovered in 1992, and the accumulation of research on this subject has been extensive. Structural characterization studies of the RAGE protein have shown that it is a transmembrane protein that binds a number of different motile ligands. The diversity of ligands that can attach to the binding domain is the primary factor that allows for RAGE to exhibit its wide-range effects on host cells. Two different studies were completed: one study dealt with the role of IAPP in beta cell death, and the second study was related to RAGE influence on cardiomyocytes and, more specifically, it was related to cardiac cell death. After the completion of the two studies, a comprehensive report was written for each topic. The two papers were merged into a single document. Molecular studies are important for understanding the underlying mechanisms that motivate pathophysiological presentation. In addition to a molecular understanding of the development of diabetes, a clinical research study was completed through the examination of appropriate literature sources. This clinical aspect allowed for the progression of different phases in the research process. A relationship between vinegar and lower plasma glucose was found. The exact mechanism behind this relationship will be studied in the future.
ContributorsGonzalez, Matthew Joseph (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Collins, Michael (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)
Created2015-05
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With obesity and metabolic diseases reaching epidemic levels, it is important to find ways to increase physical activity and improve diet. Previous studies have shown that improvements in mood can increase desire to perform physical activity, and that vitamin C intake is linked to improvements in mood. Based on this,

With obesity and metabolic diseases reaching epidemic levels, it is important to find ways to increase physical activity and improve diet. Previous studies have shown that improvements in mood can increase desire to perform physical activity, and that vitamin C intake is linked to improvements in mood. Based on this, two hypotheses were formed and tested to investigate the effect on physical activity levels and mood states from vitamin C supplementation at a dose of one gram per day in the form of a novel functional food. Thirty-one college students or faculty at Arizona State University were screened from a pool of applicants and placed into either a vitamin C or placebo group; all participants received the novel functional food to eat daily for four weeks. Serum levels of vitamin C, weight, height, BMI, body fat percentage, mood, and physical activity were measured before and after the functional food intervention. Vitamin C changed significantly through the course of the study in the experimental group. Baseline data for participants showed a positive correlation between vitamin C status and vigor, and a negative correlation between vitamin C status and weight and BMI. Physical activity was not related to vitamin C status, according to baseline data, and it did not significantly change over the course of the study. The results indicate that variance in BMI can be attributed to vitamin C status, but the study should be refined and tested again.
ContributorsHelland, Stephanie Lynn (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Sweazea, Karen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Graduate College (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
There are many studies on vitamin B6 (pyrodoxine) or tryptophan (Trp) as a way to increase mood but there are little to no studies with these two nutrients supplemented together. Trp is the precursor to serotonin that requires the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). Serotonin plays a role in mood, sleep,

There are many studies on vitamin B6 (pyrodoxine) or tryptophan (Trp) as a way to increase mood but there are little to no studies with these two nutrients supplemented together. Trp is the precursor to serotonin that requires the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). Serotonin plays a role in mood, sleep, appetite, and other wellbeing aspects and it is believed that low levels of serotonin is associated with the risk of developing depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. The amount of free Trp that can pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is influenced by factors such as cortisol, insulin, and competition from branch chain amino acids (BCAA). College students who exercise on a regular basis and participate in club sports may experience higher cortisol levels from stress of college and higher physical activity. Cortisol decreases the Trp levels in the plasma while BCAAs compete with Trp to pass through the BBB. Insulin promotes the passage of free Trp through the BBB. In the present study, 28 healthy active college students (21.0 ± 2.1 years, 24.5± 3.1 kg/m2) were divided into three groups: vitamin B6 (n=11), Trp (n=10), or both (n=10) (2 did not complete study). Blood serum pyridoxine levels and mood states were measured at baseline and at 4 weeks with Profile of Mood States (POMS), Depression Anxiety Stress Survey (DASS), Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and Epworth sleep scale. In the combined sample, the total POMS score improved during the study (p=0.039) and the total DASS score tended to improve during the study (p=0.068). Thus, mean depression scores for all participants decreased during the 4-week supplementation study. However, there were no time x treatment effects noted at study completion. At baseline 18% of the participants were marginally deficient in vitamin B6 (serum pyridoxine <30nmol/L), and their total POMS score was raised 78% in comparison to participants with adequate vitamin B6 status (p=0.08). DASS scores were raised 48% in vitamin B6 deficient participants versus those with adequate vitamin B6 status (p=0.243). There were no significant changes (time or time x treatment) during the course of the study for the LOT-R or sleep scores. In summary, vitamin B6 deficiency in college student athletes was remarkably high (18%) compared to the national average reported by the CDC in 2012 (10.5%), and participants with vitamin B6 deficiency displayed heightened unfavorable mood states. Moreover, supplementation with vitamin B6, tryptophan, or vitamin B6 and tryptophan improved mood state in college student athletes, but there were no differences between treatments.
ContributorsNaumann, Adelaide (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Levinson, Simin (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
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The various health benefits of vinegar ingestion have been studied extensively in the<br/>literature. Moreover, emerging research suggests vinegar may also have an effect on mental<br/>health. Beneficial effects of certain diets on mood have been reported, however, the mechanisms<br/>are unknown. The current study aimed to determine if vinegar ingestion positively affects

The various health benefits of vinegar ingestion have been studied extensively in the<br/>literature. Moreover, emerging research suggests vinegar may also have an effect on mental<br/>health. Beneficial effects of certain diets on mood have been reported, however, the mechanisms<br/>are unknown. The current study aimed to determine if vinegar ingestion positively affects mood<br/>state in healthy young adults. This was a randomized, single blinded controlled trial consisting of<br/>25 subjects. Participants were randomly assigned to either the vinegar group (consumed 2<br/>tablespoons of liquid vinegar diluted in one cup water twice daily with meals) or the control<br/>group (consumed one vinegar pill daily with a meal), and the intervention lasted 4 weeks.<br/>Subjects completed mood questionnaires pre- and post-intervention. Results showed a significant<br/>improvement in CES-D and POMS-Depression scores for the vinegar group compared to the<br/>control. This study suggests that vinegar ingestion may improve depressive symptoms in healthy<br/>young adults.

ContributorsWilliams, Susanna (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Whisner, Corrie (Committee member) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Intermittent Fasting (IF) is defined as a cyclical eating pattern where an individual will fast for a specific increment of time, followed by caloric intake periods. Fasting is a crucial part of our ancestors’ adaptation to the stresses of famine in order to maintain mental acuity and physical abilities during

Intermittent Fasting (IF) is defined as a cyclical eating pattern where an individual will fast for a specific increment of time, followed by caloric intake periods. Fasting is a crucial part of our ancestors’ adaptation to the stresses of famine in order to maintain mental acuity and physical abilities during food deprivation. IF influences physiological changes such as: triggers protective metabolic pathways, increases metabolic flexibility and resilience, promotes DNA repair and autophagy, increases microbiome diversity and restores the natural cyclical fluctuations of the gut, increases BDNF expression in mood regulating neuronal circuits, and enhances synaptic plasticity of the brain. Research on the underlying causes of mood disorders has linked impairments in neuroplasticity and cellular resilience to this pathophysiology, which fasting could mitigate. Depression and anxiety are reported as the top impediments to academic performance. Thus, an easily implemented treatment such as intermittent fasting may be an option for combating impaired mental health in college students. This research study tested time restricted feeding (TRF) and its impact on mood states. It was hypothesized that: if college students follow a time restricted feeding pattern, then they will be less moody due to TRF’s effects on the metabolism, brain, and gut. The study consisted of 11 college students: 5 following a four-week adherence to TRF (8am-4pm eating window) and 6 in the control group. The POMS questionnaire was used to measure mood states. The participants height, weight, BMI, body fat %, and POMS scores were tested at the beginning and end of the 4 week intervention. The results were as follows: weight p=0.112 (statistical trend), BMI p=0.058 (nearly significant), body fat % p=0.114 (statistical trend), POMS p=0.014 (statistically significant). The data suggests that following a TRF eating pattern can decrease moodiness and improve mood states.
ContributorsFoley, Sadie Jean (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Shepard, Christina (Committee member) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
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Description
Mood disorders are prevalent within the college student population, increasing the potential for poor academic performance among those students. Intermittent fasting, particularly time-restricted feeding (TRF) regimens, have shown promising results associated with improvements in health outcomes related to weight loss, cardiovascular health, glucose and insulin regulation, and breast cancer; however,

Mood disorders are prevalent within the college student population, increasing the potential for poor academic performance among those students. Intermittent fasting, particularly time-restricted feeding (TRF) regimens, have shown promising results associated with improvements in health outcomes related to weight loss, cardiovascular health, glucose and insulin regulation, and breast cancer; however, very limited research exits for the impact on mood states. The objective of this eight-week randomized, controlled trial was to examine the effects of a daily fasting regimen of 18 hours (six hour feeding window), compared to a daily fasting regimen of eight hours (16 hour feeding window), on the mood state of healthy college students attending Arizona State University or University of Arizona. Twenty nine students were recruited and randomized into the TRF group (n = 16) following a 16-hour fast or the control (CON) group (n = 13) following an eight-hour fast. Participants in each group were instructed to consume their first meal within an hour of waking, which would then begin their assigned feeding window. Participants were also allowed one ‘cheat day’ per week in which they were not required to follow their assigned fasting protocol, otherwise no additional dietary instructions were given; participants were permitted to consume food and beverages ad libitum throughout their feeding window. Mood state was assessed at baseline, week four, and week eight using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire and the GAD-7, specific to generalized anxiety. Of the initial 29 participants recruited, 18 completed the trial (TRF group n = 8; CON group n = 10). Data were reported through week four only, due to inconsistencies with week eight data as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mood state measures did not show any statistically significant changes after four weeks. The results of this study suggest that a TRF regimen of 18 hours does not significantly impact overall or individual mood states among college students.
ContributorsChondropoulos, Kelly Nicole (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis advisor) / Shepard, Tina (Committee member) / Alexon, Christy (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021