Some flavonoids identified in beet stalks can help the antioxidant endogenous defenses during a chronic inflammation process. The current study investigates the effect of polyphenols present in beet stalks and leaves on liver oxidative damage in mice fed a high-fat diet (HF). The control (CT) or HF diet groups were supplemented with dehydrated beet stalks and leaves (SL) or beet stalk and leaf ethanolic extract (EX). In terms of Vitexin-rhaminoside equivalents (VRE), EX groups received ~5.91 mg of VRE·100 g⁻¹ diet, while the SL groups received ~3.07 mg VRE·100 g⁻¹ diet. After 8 weeks, we evaluated fasting blood glucose; cholesterol, hepatic Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and hepatic Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione reductase (GR) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Dehydrated beet stalks and leaves (HFSL) attenuated the deleterious effects of a HF diet on lipid metabolism, reduced fasting blood glucose levels, ameliorated cholesterol levels and reduced GPx and GR activities (p < 0.05) compared to the HF group. However; the addition of ethanolic extract from beet stalks and leaves was unable (p > 0.05) to prevent the liver damage caused by HF diet in mice. The presence of flavonoids, such as Vitexin derivatives in beet stalks and leaves can help the liver damage induced by HF diet.

Ilian high-school games. High-school wrestlers (females: n = 16, 13 ± 2 years; males: n = 15, 13 ± 2 years) participated in this study. The official weigh-in was conducted 24 hours before competition. Immediately after the official weigh-in, wrestlers completed a hydration habits and a standardized weight loss questionnaires. Twenty-four hours later, wrestlers took part in an unofficial prematch weigh-in. Sodium, potassium, chloride, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were measured immediately before the first competitive match by iSTAT Blood Gas Analyzer. A significant body mass increase was observed from the official weigh-in to the prematch weigh-in (females: 2.7 ± 1.4 kg and males: 1.5 ± 0.9 kg; p ≤ 0.05) with significantly greater body mass increase in females (6.3%) vs. males (3.1%) (p ≤ 0.05). Rapid weight loss practices were exercised by 42.0% of the wrestlers. Furthermore, 46.2% of those who performed RWL practices reported side effects, which they perceived negatively altered past performance. Despite RWL and subsequent body mass increase, all biomarkers (sodium, potassium, chloride, hematocrit, and hemoglobin) were in the normal range at the prematch weigh-in. The majority (82.0%) of the athletes agreed that hydration habits are important to health and performance. It seems that although wrestlers acknowledge negative performance effects due to RWL, the practice is still exercised among both female and male wrestlers. Therefore, educational programs should be implemented in high-school athletes to discourage RWL and provide information for exercise and nutritional strategies to maintain a healthy body mass and avoid chronic health issues....