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Cannabis sativa (hemp) is a plant considered to be abundant in bioactive compounds. The increasing production of hemp oil is leaving considerable amounts of hemp press cakes (HPC), which have not been sufficiently managed so far. One of the directions of development of plant-based food is the use of by-products of the agri-food industry in accordance with the idea of zero waste and the circular economy, so the purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of HPC fermentation using yogurt and kefir cultures and to determine the effect of the type of starter on the properties of the products. In the present study, starter cultures of yogurt (YO 122) and kefir (commercial grains) were used for HPC fermentation. Changes in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast population, pH, acidity, the content of bioactive compounds by spectrophotometric methods (proteins, amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, reducing sugars) and antioxidant activity (DDPH, ABTS, FRAP and reducing power) were determined. The results showed that it was possible to develop high-value beverages based on HPC with high fermentation efficiency: survivability of LAB and yeast (>106 CFU/g) and acidification (pH in a range of 4.82–6.36 and 5.34–6.49 for yogurt and kefir culture, respectively). Moreover, the stability of hemp protein, with its variable free amino acid composition, antioxidant potential and presented changes in polyphenolic content, was observed during storage. The presented results show a new way to manage HPC as an oil industry residue by using it as a raw material for the development of a bioactive food product and illustrate the relationship between applied starter culture, the direction of fermentation and changes in the content of bioactive compounds.

Relationships between diet, sex hormone concentrations, and the estrous cycle are important from the perspective of infertility and estrogen-dependent disease prevention and treatment. Four dietary interventions reflecting modern eating behaviors were explored. The study involved 50 female rats divided into five feeding groups. The impact of the amount of sucrose consumed (9% and 18% of the dietary energy content), alternating high-sucrose and sucrose-free diets, and a high-sucrose diet combined with intermittent one-day fasting on the estrous cycle and sex hormone concentrations in female rats was assessed. Even low amounts of dietary sucrose (9% of the dietary energy content) were found to lead to increased estradiol (E2) concentrations and decreased progesterone (Pg) concentrations. A high-sucrose diet, even when periodically applied, additionally led to a reduced concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH). The largest changes in the hormones tested were observed with one-day fasting coupled with the high-sucrose diet; in addition, the estrous phase was shortened and the estrous cycle was disrupted. The results of this study show that both the amount of dietary sucrose and also its uptake pattern affect the estrous cycle and sex hormone concentrations in female rats.

The effect of a sucrose diet and repeated one-day starvation on oxidative status in the ovary and uterus is still unknown. Our analysis focused on carbohydrate-lipid metabolism parameters and the changes in red blood cells, ovary and uterus superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and malonylodialdehyde (MDA) concentration in rats fed with a diet containing 16% of sucrose and subjected to systematic one-day starvation when using such a diet. It was found that a diet with 16% sucrose contributed to the increase of antioxidant enzyme activity in the blood (GPx and CAT) and uterus (SOD), without changes in MDA concentrations, which indicates an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration in these tissues, being balanced by an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity. The introduction of a regular one-day starvation period into the diet intensified oxidative stress and led to a redox imbalance in the reproductive tissues of female rats. This was manifested by higher GPx activity, lower CAT activity and higher MDA concentration in the uterus and lower GPx and CAT activities and lower MDA concentration in the ovaries. The observed changes may be the cause of fertility disorders and possible problems with fertilised egg cell implantation into the uterine tissue.

Background. Over the past 50 years, the average consumption of sugar worldwide has tripled, also the type of consumed sugar has changed. Due to high price of sucrose and its technological disadvantages, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has become one of the most commonly used substitutes. Objective. The aim of the study was to compare, on the animal model, the effect of sugar type (sucrose vs high fructose corn syrup 55% of fructose) and the sugar form (solid vs fluid and solid) on the chosen parameters of carbohydrate-lipid metabolism. Material and methods. The experiment was carried out on 40 Wistar male rats aged 5 months, fed four isocaloric diets, containing: group I (SUC 15%) fodder with 15% sucrose, group II (HFCS 15%) fodder with 15% HFCS-55%, group III (SUC 7.5%+7.5%) – 7.5% sucrose in solid fodder and 7.5% sucrose water solution, group IV (HFCS 7.5%+7.5%) – 7.5% HFCS-55% in solid fodder and 7.5% HFCS water solution. Results. The effect of HFCS-55 on the parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was not equivalent of the effect of sucrose. Dietary use of HFCS-55 instead of sucrose causes adverse changes in blood parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, particularly when provided in beverages, as at comparable weight gains to that of sucrose. More intense changes, manifesting in increased blood levels of glucose, triglycerides and uric acid, as well as increased liver fat content, were observed at simultaneous intake of sweeteners in solid foods and fluids, even with less sugar consumption, compared to solid food only. Conclusions. Dietary use of HFCS-55 causes adverse changes in blood parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as at comparable weight gains to that of sucrose. But liquid form of sugar intake is more important insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease risk factor than the sugar type.

Background The objective of this study was to compare, in an animal model, the effect of different sugar types (sucrose vs. high-fructose corn syrup 55%) consumed as 10% by weight of the diet (11.6% of daily caloric intake) on the amount of food consumed, body weight, fatty tissue deposits, concentrations of selected lipids, and atherogenic indices of blood plasma. Material and method. The experiment was carried out on 30 5-month-old Wistar male rats, fed three differ- ent diets, containing, amongst other foods, (1) ground unrefined cereal grains, (2) sucrose, (3) high-fructose corn syrup. Results. Weight gains in animals on sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup diets were higher than those con- suming basic feed, but the effect was not associated with perivisceral fat accumulation. It has been found that all the atherogenic indices (Castellirs Risk Index I, Castellirs Risk Index II, Atherogenic Index of Plasma, Atherogenic Coefficient) were statistically significantly higher in animals on a high-fructose corn syrup diet compared to both the control group and those on a sucrose diet. Conclusion. The effect of the 55% high-fructose corn syrup on the tested parameters of lipid metabolism was not equivalent to that of sucrose. Using HFCS-55 instead of sucrose has an adverse effect on blood lipid parameters, while weight gains and peri-organ fat deposits are comparable. Moreover, the obtained results confirm that tested animals were susceptible to the adverse effects of sugars added to their diet, even in small amounts. This emphasises the need to precisely control the amount of added sugars in. Methods nd. The objective of this study was to compare, in an animal model, the effect of different sugar types (sucrose vs. high-fructose corn syrup 55%) consumed as 10% by weight of the diet (11.6% of daily caloric intake) on the amount of food consumed, body weight, fatty tissue deposits, concentrations of selected lipids, and atherogenic indices of blood plasma. Material and method. The experiment was carried out on 30 5-month-old Wistar male rats, fed three differ- ent diets, containing, amongst other foods, (1) ground unrefined cereal grains, (2) sucrose, (3) high-fructose corn syrup. Results Weight gains in animals on sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup diets were higher than those con- suming basic feed, but the effect was not associated with perivisceral fat accumulation. It has been found that all the atherogenic indices (Castellirs Risk Index I, Castellirs Risk Index II, Atherogenic Index of Plasma, Atherogenic Coefficient) were statistically significantly higher in animals on a high-fructose corn syrup diet compared to both the control group and those on a sucrose diet. Conclusions The effect of the 55% high-fructose corn syrup on the tested parameters of lipid metabolism was not equivalent to that of sucrose. Using HFCS-55 instead of sucrose has an adverse effect on blood lipid parameters, while weight gains and peri-organ fat deposits are comparable. Moreover, the obtained results confirm that tested animals were susceptible to the adverse effects of sugars added to their diet, even in small amounts. This emphasises the need to precisely control the amount of added sugars in the diet.

The aim of the study was to assess the reproducibility of a short-form, multicomponent dietary questionnaire (SF-FFQ4PolishChildren) in Polish children and adolescents. The study involved 437 children (6&ndash, 10 years old) and 630 adolescents (11&ndash, 15 years old) from rural and urban areas of Poland. The self-administered questionnaire was related to nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, active/sedentary lifestyle, self-reported weight and height, and socioeconomic data. The questionnaire was completed with a two-week interval&mdash, twice by parents for their children (test and retest for children), twice by adolescents themselves (adolescent&rsquo, s test and retest) and once by adolescents&rsquo, parents (parent&rsquo, s test). The strength of agreement measured using the kappa statistic was interpreted as follows: 0&ndash, 0.20 slight, 0.21&ndash, 0.40 fair, 0.41&ndash, 0.60 moderate, 0.61&ndash, 0.80 good, and 0.81&ndash, 1.00 excellent. Regarding the frequency of consumption of food items and meals, kappa statistics were 0.46&ndash, 0.81 (the lowest: fruit/mixed fruit and vegetable juices, the highest: Energy drinks) in test&ndash, retest for children, 0.30&ndash, 0.54 (fruit/mixed fruit and vegetable juices, breakfast, respectively) in adolescent&rsquo, s test&ndash, retest, 0.27&ndash, 0.56 (the lowest: Sweets, fruit, dairy products, the highest: Breakfast) in adolescent&rsquo, s test and parent&rsquo, s test. Lower kappa statistics were found for more frequently consumed foods (juices, fruit, vegetables), higher kappa statistics were found for rarely consumed foods (energy drinks, fast food). Across study groups, kappa statistics for diet quality scores were 0.31&ndash, 0.55 (pro-healthy diet index, pHDI) and 0.26&ndash, 0.45 (non-healthy diet index, nHDI), for active/sedentary lifestyle items they were 0.31&ndash, 0.72, for components of the Family Affluence Scale (FAS) they were 0.55&ndash, 0.93, for BMI categories (based on self-reported weight and height) they were 0.64&ndash, 0.67, for the nutrition knowledge (NK) of adolescents the kappa was 0.36, for the nutrition knowledge of children&rsquo, s parents it was 0.62. The Spearman&rsquo, s correlations for diet quality scores were 0.52&ndash, 0.76 (pHDI) and 0.53&ndash, 0.83 (nHDI), for screen time score they were 0.45&ndash, 0.78, for physical activity score they were 0.51&ndash, 0.77, for the FAS score they were 0.90&ndash, 0.93, and for the NK score they were 0.68&ndash, 0.80. The questionnaire can be recommended to evaluate dietary and lifestyle behaviors among children and adolescents.

The purpose of this research was to assess the amount of isoprostane 8-iPF2α-III, a marker of oxidation stress, in excreted urine. The study was conducted on 40 male rats aged 5 months. Group 1 received the basic diet, groups 2-4, the modified diet in which whole cereal grains were partly substituted with wheat flour and sucrose. Groups 1-2 received water to drink, groups 3 and 4 were given aqueous solutions of B group vitamins at different doses. On the fifth week of the experiment, a 24-h urine collection was conducted. The concentrations of creatinine and 8-iPGF2a-III were determined in urine samples. Modification of diet composition caused increased excretion of isoprostane, which may indicate enhancement of free-radical reactions in the examined animal. The provided supplementation decreased the value of this parameter expressed as a creatinine ratio, but not, however, to the values observed in the animals fed the basic diet. A stronger effect was observed with excess supplementation.