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OBJECTIVE: Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining mental and physical health. This study assessed the effect of physical activity monitoring awareness on the physical activity level and subjective self-assessment of physical activity in middle-aged subjects with normal cognitive function (NCF) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five subjects aged 50-65 years with NCF and MCI were randomised into two experimental groups, each taking part in two one-week intervention periods. Subjects in group A were not aware that their physical activity was monitored in the first week (phase I) and were aware of the monitoring in the second week (phase II), whereas it was the opposite order for group B. Physical activity was assessed using the ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: A total of 32 subjects (MCI: n = 12, NCF: n = 20) completed both intervention periods, with MCI subjects having significantly lower objectively assessed physical activity than NCF participants. Moreover, subjectively assessed physical activity in the MCI group was significantly higher when the participants were unaware of physical activity monitoring. A significant phase-group interaction was found in total (MET-min/d: p = 0.0072; min/d: p = 0.0194) and moderate (MET-min/d: p = 0.0015; min/d: p = 0.0020) physical activity as well as energy expenditure (p = 0.0366) assessed by the IPAQ and in the percentage of sedentary behaviour (p = 0.0330) and the average number of steps (p = 0.0342) assessed by ActiGraph. CONCLUSIONS: The awareness of physical activity assessment might decrease the ability to subjectively assess physical activity in subjects with MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and metabolic syndrome are risk factors for liver diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. A healthy food pattern is vital for managing these health problems, therefore, this study investigated how two calorie-restricted diets, the Central European diet (CED) and Mediterranean diet (MED), altered microsomal liver function in obese postmenopausal women with a risk of metabolic syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One-hundredforty-four subjects were randomly assigned to the CED (n=72) or the MED (n=72) groups. A 13C-methacetin breath test was performed, before and after the intervention to assess CPDR (Cumulative Percentage Dose Recovery at 120 minutes of the test), TTP (Time to Peak - maximal momentary recovery of 13C) and Vmax (the maximum momentary 13C recovery). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in TTP and Vmax in the CED group only (p=0.0159 and p=0.0498, respectively). Changes in CPDR and TTP due to intervention were significantly higher in the CED group than in the MED group (p=0.0440 and p=0.0115, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to document a stimulatory effect of the energy-restricted CED on liver microsomal function as compared to MED. The relatively short dietary intervention led to a significant difference in the CYP1A2 activity between groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Many data show that green tea (GT) consumption has a beneficial effect on human health, including antiinflammatory, antibacterial and anticarcinogenic activities. However, there are no data on the effect of long-term GT intake on lipid assimilation not related to luminal processes. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to assess the impact of a three-month diet enriched in green tea extract (GTE) on lipid digestion and absorption in obese humans with metabolic syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight obese subjects aged 56-65 years, for three months, consumed a daily portion of GTE enriched bread. 13C-labelled mixed triglyceride breath test (13C MTG-BT) was performed twice; once before and once after three months of GTE consumption. Cumulative percentage dose recovery (CPDR) was assumed to reflect digestion and absorption of lipids. RESULTS: Energy and macronutrient intake was stable within the period study. No significant changes in basic anthropological parameters (body weight, BMI, WC, WHR), body fat content (expressed as absolute and relative values), as well as of energy expenditure in the course of the study were observed. Significant decrease in lipid digestion and absorption as assessed using the 13C MTG-BT was observed. CPDR was lower after GTE intake (median <1st-3rd quartile>: 20.8% <14.9-25.6> vs. 15.5 <12.3-20.5>; p < 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term diet containing GTE decreases lipid assimilation, but probably without involvement of luminal effects. However, further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis and to clarify underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) represents a promising approach in the prevention of cognitive decline, but the evidence for such beneficial effect, especially among elderly populations in non-Mediterranean regions, is at present inconsistent. This study investigated the relationship between adherence to MedDiet and cognitive function (CF), along with selected sociodemographic (SD) and clinical indices, in Polish elderly people > 60 years of age, with high risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), living in rural area. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Complete SD and lifestyle information was collected. The dietary outcome was recorded as a MedDiet score with the frequencies of consumption of the main food groups in the a MedDiet pyramid. Parameters identifying MS and body weight status were determined, and 11 psychological test results were examined in four domains: visual memory, executive function, attention, and global cognition. RESULTS: The lower MedDiet score was more often connected with living without children and with CF impairment. The MedDiet score was linked with global cognition; frequency of consumption of vegetable, fish, olive and rapeseed oil with visual memory, attention, executive function respectively. The consumption of full-fat dairy products and red meat and meat products was negatively related to executive and global CF. Also, insufficient physical activity, low educational status, female gender, living without children, and the existence of MS were factors of risk of CF impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Greater adherence to MedDiet and frequency of consumption of some foods were associated with better scores in several CF tests in elderly individuals with high risk of MS living in a rural community. However, lifestyle, clinical, and SD factors should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background From the viewpoint of human physiological adaptability, we previously investigated seasonal variation in the amount of unabsorbed dietary carbohydrates from the intestine after breakfast in Japanese, Polish and Thai participants. In this investigation we found that there were significant seasonal variations in the amount of unabsorbed dietary carbohydrates in Japanese and Polish participants, while we could not find significant seasonal variation in Thai participants. These facts prompted us to examine seasonal variations in the respiratory quotient after an overnight fast (an indicator of the ratio of carbohydrate and fat oxidized after the last meal) with female university students living in Osaka (Japan), Poznan (Poland) and Chiang Mai (Thailand). Methods We enrolled 30, 33 and 32 paid participants in Japan, Poland and Thailand, respectively, and measurements were taken over the course of one full year. Fasting respiratory quotient was measured with the participants in their postabsorptive state (after 12 hours or more fasting before respiratory quotient measurement). Respiratory quotient measurements were carried out by means of indirect calorimetry using the mixing chamber method. The percent body fat was measured using an electric bioelectrical impedance analysis scale. Food intake of the participants in Osaka and Poznan were carried out by the Food Frequency Questionnaire method. Results There were different seasonal variations in the fasting respiratory quotient values in the three different populations; with a significant seasonal variation in the fasting respiratory quotient values in Japanese participants, while those in Polish and Thai participants were non-significant. We found that there were significant seasonal changes in the percent body fat in the three populations but we could not find any significant correlation between the fasting respiratory quotient values and the percent body fat. Conclusions There were different seasonal variations in the fasting respiratory quotient values in the three different populations. There were significant seasonal changes in the percent body fat in the three populations but no significant correlation between the fasting respiratory quotient values and the percent body fat.

Context: Seaweed is a promising source of anti-obesity agents, including polysaccharides, proteins, polyphenols, carotenoids, and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The anti-obesity effects of such compounds may be due to several mechanisms, including inhibition of lipid absorption and metabolism, effect on satiety, and inhibition of adipocyte differentiation., Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the evidence from human randomized controlled trials for the effects of seaweed on body-weight status as well as lipid and nonlipid parameters in adults with overweight and obesity., Data Sources: Four databases-Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library-were searched from December 2022 to June 2023 using the following key words: Seaweed OR fucoxanthin OR alginates OR fucoidans OR phlorotannin's OR macroalgae OR marine algae AND obesity OR overweight OR BMI OR body mass index., Data Extraction: Eleven interventional studies (10 parallel and 1 crossover) were extracted., Data Analysis: Meta-analysis showed a significant effect, favoring the intervention group for BMI (body mass index) (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.40; 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.16 kg/m2; P = 0.0013) and percentage of fat mass (SMD: -1.48; 95% CI: -2.66% to -0.30%, P = 0.0138). The results were seen when refined or extracted brown seaweed (BMI) or only refined brown seaweed (% fat mass) were administered to participants for at least 8 weeks. Moreover, a significant overall effect of seaweed supplementation on total cholesterol (SMD: -7.72; 95% CI: -12.49 to -2.95 mg/dL; P = 0.0015) and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD: -7.33; 95% CI: -11.64 to -3.02 mg/dL; P < 0.001) was noted. Any significant effects of seaweed on glucose metabolism were not shown., Conclusion: Edible seaweed supplementation shows potential for managing obesity and disorders of the blood lipid profile when administered to participants for at least 8 weeks., Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022378484 (www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO)., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: It has been suggested that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and that improper diet can aggravate these changes. This study thus aimed to investigate the effects of a high-fat/high-fructose (HF/HFr) diet on the gut microbial community and their metabolites in prepubertal female mice with letrozole (LET)-induced PCOS. We also tested the correlations between the relative abundance of microbial taxa and selected PCOS parameters., Research Methods & Procedures: Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8) and implanted with LET or a placebo, with simultaneous administration of a HF/HFr diet or standard diet (StD) for 5 wk. The blood and intestinal contents were collected after the sacrifice., Results: Placebo + HF/HFr and LET + HF/HFr had significantly higher microbial alpha diversity than either group fed StD. The LET-implanted mice fed StD had a significantly higher abundance of Prevotellaceae&#95;UCG-001 than the placebo mice fed StD. Both groups fed the HF/HFr diet had significantly lower fecal levels of short-chain fatty acids than the placebo mice fed StD, while the LET + HF/HFr animals had significantly higher concentrations of lipopolysaccharides in blood serum than either the placebo or LET mice fed StD. Opposite correlations were observed between Turicibacter and Lactobacillus and the lipid profile, CONCLUSION: HF/HFr diet had a much stronger effect on the composition of the intestinal microbiota of prepubertal mice than LET itself., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Context: Shift work involves working outside the standard working hours of 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and may include working evening, night, weekend, or rotating shift patterns. Since shift workers sleep less and their circadian rhythms are disrupted, they are reported to have higher body weight than day workers., Objective: This meta-analysis aims to determine whether shift workers (SW) are more prone to higher body mass index (BMI) than their day workers (DW) counterparts. It also addresses the question of whether the duration of shift work exposure, sex, or occupational type affect BMI value., Methods: Four databases that is PubMed, EBSCO Host, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for reports published up to October 2023., Results: Sixty-three studies involving a total of 693 449 participants met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses showed a significant effect of shift work on BMI value (standard mean difference; SMD: 0.10 kg/m 2 [95% confidence interval; 95% CI: 0.07; 0.13; p < .001]) as compared with non-shift counterparts. Subgroup analysis revealed that shift work significantly increased BMI for studies where male working on this job schedule (SMD: 0.10 kg/m 2 [95% CI: 0.04; 0.17; p = .0018]) for studies where shift workers worked ≥13 years (calculated as the median of shift work experience; SMD: 0.14 kg/m 2 [95% CI: 0.10; 0.18; p < .001]) as well as for studies where industrial (SMD: 0.12 kg/m 2 [95% CI: 0.05; 0.19; p = .0012]) and other type of occupations were dominated (0.12 kg/m 2 [95% CI: 0.07; 0.16; p < .001])., Conclusions: We found that in general working on a shift schedule increases BMI as compared with day workers, especially in case of male employed in this job schedule, for shift workers working for long periods of time (≥13 years), and for shift workers employed in industry and other type of occupations(e.g., airline workers, firefighters, police officers, blue collar, security personnel, bus drivers, garbage collectors, railway workers, postal, oil and gas workers)., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Context: It is well known that the microbiome undergoes cyclical diurnal rhythms. It has thus been hypothesized that meal timing may affect gut microbial composition, function, and host health., Objective: This review aims to examine the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) and Ramadan fasting (RF) on the composition of the gut microbiota in animal and human studies. The associations between composition of microbiota and host metabolic parameters are also examined., Data Sources: A search was performed on the PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to December 31, 2022. The search strategy was performed using the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms "intermittent fasting" and "gastrointestinal microbiome" and the key words "Ramadan fasting" and "microbes.", Data Extraction: Seven human studies (4 TRE and 3 RF) and 9 animal studies (7 TRE, 2 RF-like) were retrieved., Data Analysis: TRE and RF in human studies lead to an increase in gut microbial community alpha-diversity. In animal studies (both TRE and RF-like), fasting is not associated with improved alpha-diversity, but enhancement of microbial fluctuation is observed, compared with high-fat diet ad libitum groups. Within Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla, no specific direction of changes resulting from fasting are observed in both animals and human. After TRE or RF, a greater abundance of the Faecalibacterium genus is observed in human studies; changes in Lactobacillus abundance are found in animal studies; and increases in Akkermansia are seen both in humans and in animals fed a feed-pellet diet. Only 2 human studies show a beneficial correlation between microbiota changes and host metabolic (HDL cholesterol) or anthropometric parameters (body mass index)., Conclusions: These findings support the importance of both regimens in improving the gut microbiota composition. However, based on results of animal studies, it can be suggested that diet remains the essential factor in forming the microbiota's environment., Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021278918., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute.)

This study aimed to assess the association between dietary factors and depression in a group of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women and to evaluate potential interactions and the mediating role of BMI in this relationship. One hundred and sixteen women with PCOS were asked to complete the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire and the manual for developing of nutritional data (KomPAN questionnaire) and the Beck Depression Inventory. The population was divided into two groups: (1) not at risk of depression (ND), n = 61, and (2) at risk of depression (RD), n = 55. Significantly higher BMI values were observed in the RD group than in the ND group. In the RD group, the intake of vegetables and legumes was lower than in the LD group, but the consumption of sweet beverages and energy drinks was higher. Consumption of vegetables and legumes at least twice per day is known to be associated with a 62% lower probability of the risk of depression in PCOS women. Furthermore, women with overweight and obesity have a 5.82 times greater chance of depression than women with normal body weight. Our findings show that there is a significant association between certain dietary factors, BMI, and symptoms of depression in PCOS women.

It is hypothesized that plasma proportion of selected fatty acids (FAs) and dietary habits are linked with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the association of plasma FA composition and markers of dietary habits with an atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), a predictor of CVD risk in postmenopausal women. In total, 87 postmenopausal women with an average age of 57 ± 7 years were recruited and their dietary intake, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, and FA status in total plasma lipid proportions were determined, showing that 65.5% of the participants had a high risk of CVD according to their AIP value. After adjusting for some confounders (age, body mass index, and physical activity level), the risk of CVD was only positively associated with the frequency of consumption of animal fat spreads (butter and lard) of terrestrial origin. Regarding the FA profile, CVD risk was positively associated with the percentages of vaccenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA; mainly n-7) in total FA, as well as the MUFA/SFA ratio in total plasma and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-16 activity (16:1/16:0 ratio). In contrast, the risk of CVD was negatively associated with percentages of α-linolenic acid, total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and PUFA/MUFA ratio in total plasma lipid, and the estimated activity of Δ5-desaturase (20:4/20:3 n-6 ratio). These results support the current recommendations to decrease the frequency of animal fat spread intake because it is associated with a reduced CVD risk based on AIP in postmenopausal women. In accordance with these plasma percentages of ALA, vaccenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, PUFA, PUFA/MUFA ratio, and 16:1/16:0 ratio may be important parameters in CVD risk assessment., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising worldwide, paralleling the epidemic of obesity. The liver is a key organ for the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Various types of fats and carbohydrates in isocaloric diets differently influence fat accumulation in the liver parenchyma. Therefore, nutrition can manage hepatic and cardiometabolic complications of NAFLD. Even moderately reduced caloric intake, which leads to a weight loss of 5%-10% of initial body weight, is effective in improving liver steatosis and surrogate markers of liver disease status. Among dietary patterns, the Mediterranean diet mostly prevents the onset of NAFLD. Furthermore, this diet is also the most recommended for the treatment of NAFLD patients. However, clinical trials based on the dietary interventions in NAFLD patients are sparse. Since there are only a few studies examining dietary interventions in clinically advanced stages of NAFLD, such as active and fibrotic steatohepatitis, the optimal diet for patients in these stages of the disease must still be determined. In this narrative review, we aimed to critically summarize the associations between different dietary patterns, obesity and prevention/risk for NAFLD, to describe specific dietary interventions' impacts on liver steatosis in adults with NAFLD and to provide an updated overview of dietary recommendations that clinicians potentially need to apply in their daily practice., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study examines the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, the gut barrier function, and inflammatory markers in athletes based on data from randomised controlled trials. Searches were conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science up to October 2021. The protocol for this review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021284938). Two reviewers independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts to identify articles on the influence of probiotics or symbiotics on GI symptoms, gut barrier function, and cytokines, and the quality of the studies was assessed using RoB2. Ten articles involving 822 athletes were included in this review. A single strain Lactobacillus bacteria was used in three studies, seven studies used a Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium multi-strain cocktail, and one study used this cocktail with a prebiotic. Only slight evidence was found for a positive effect of probiotics on GI symptoms in athletes during training, exercise, and competition, so it was not possible to identify the best product for managing GI symptoms in athletes. Due to the small number of studies, it was also difficult to find a direct association between the reduced exercise-induced perturbations in cytokines, gut barrier function, and GI symptoms after probiotic supplementation.

This study aims to investigate the effects of a high-fat, high-fructose (HF/HFr) diet on metabolic/endocrine dysregulations associated with letrozole (LET)-induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in prepubertal female mice. Thirty-two prepubertal C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups of eight and implanted with LET or a placebo, with simultaneous administration of an HF/HFr/standard diet for five weeks. After sacrifice, the liver and blood were collected for selected biochemical analyses. The ovaries were taken for histopathological examination. The LET+HF/HFr group gained significantly more weight than the LET-treated mice. Both the LET+HF/HFr and the placebo-treated mice on the HF/HFr diet developed polycystic ovaries. Moreover the LET+HF/HFr group had significantly elevated testosterone levels, worsened lipid profile and indices of insulin sensitivity. In turn, the HF/HFr diet alone led to similar changes in the LET-treated group, except for the indices of insulin sensitivity. Hepatic steatosis also occurred in both HF/HFr groups. The LET-treated group did not develop endocrine or metabolic abnormalities, but polycystic ovaries were seen. Since the HF/HFr diet can cause substantial metabolic and reproductive dysregulation in both LET-treated and placebo mice, food items rich in simple sugar-particularly fructose-and saturated fat, which have the potential to lead to PCOS progression, should be eliminated from the diet of young females.

Background: Elevated concentrations of serum inflammatory cytokines, specifically TNF-α and IL-6, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP), are commonly observed after menopause., Objectives: Because soy isoflavones may have some anti-inflammatory potential, the aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to explore whether soy intake affects serum markers of inflammation in postmenopausal women., Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to August 2020. All RCTs that met the following criteria were included: 1) studies of the effects of soy intake on inflammatory markers; 2) any date of publication; 3) conducted on postmenopausal women; 4) with sufficient quantitative data for meta-analysis. Effect sizes were expressed as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% CIs. A total of 24 RCTs assessing the effects of soy intake on serum concentrations of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 were included in the analysis. A random-effects model was used to determine the overall effect., Results: Soy supplementation significantly reduced CRP by 0.11 mg/L in postmenopausal women (95% CI: -0.22, -0.004 mg/L; P = 0.0414), but did not affect IL-6 or TNF-α. Significant reductions in CRP concentration occurred when natural soy products were given (WMD: -0.23 mg/L; 95% CI: -0.29, -0.17 mg/L; P < 0.001). This is equivalent to a ∼9% reduction in CRP concentration from baseline., Conclusions: Although our meta-analysis found evidence that soy products significantly reduce CRP concentrations in postmenopausal women, the mechanisms by which soy foods and their constituents affect inflammatory biomarkers still need to be clarified.This systematic review was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ as CRD42020179232., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Background: The oral microbiota is a significant risk indicator for oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal inflammation. Much attention is presently paid to the development of functional foods (e.g. beverages containing cranberry constituents, or foods containing probiotics) that may serve as adjuncts for oral disease treatments (e.g. periodontitis and caries). Cranberry fruit, due to its unique chemical composition and antimicrobial potential, is a possible ingredient of such foods. The study aimed to investigate the effects of cranberry juice (CJ) and a cranberry functional beverage (mixture of 80% v/v apple juice, 20% v/v cranberry juice, and 0.25 g/100 mL ground cinnamon; CFB) on the growth and metabolic activity of selected oral bacteria., Methods: Serial dilution pour plate method (SDPP) was used to examine the effect of CJ and CFB on the growth of Actinomyces naeslundii, Streptococcus mutans, and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei. 48-h electrical impedance measurements (EIM) during the cultivation of A. naeslundii were applied to evaluate the utility of the method as a rapid alternative for the assessment of the antimicrobial potential of cranberry beverages., Results: The tested bacteria differed in their susceptibility to the antimicrobial action of CJ and CFB, with L. paracasei subsp. paracasei being least vulnerable to CFB (according to SDPP). Although CJ at a concentration of 0.5 mL/mL, showed a bactericidal effect on the growth of S. mutans, A. naeslundii was more sensitive to CJ (SDPP). Its inhibitory effect on A. naeslundii was seen even at concentrations as small as 0.03125-0.125 mL/mL (SDPP and EIM). On the other hand, S. mutans seemed to be more vulnerable to CFB than A. naeslundii (SDPP)., Conclusions: CFB may be considered an adjunct in the treatment of oral diseases due to its action against selected oral pathogens, and not against the presumably beneficial L. paracasei subsp. paracasei. Bioelectrical impedance measurements appear to be a quick alternative to evaluating the antimicrobial activity of fruit beverages, but their utility should be confirmed with tests on other bacteria., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The aim of our study was to evaluate the associations between sensitivity to fat taste, eating habits and BMI value in a sample of menopausal Polish women. In a population of 95 women, fat taste thresholds with oleic acid were determined, allowing us to classify each woman as a hypersensitive or hyposensitive taster. Eating habits were assessed using a validated KomPAN questionnaire for food frequency. Dietary intake was evaluated based on a food diary. Selected biochemical parameters were measured using a Konelab20i biochemical analyzer. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were also measured. Twenty-two menopausal women were classified as hyposensitive to fat taste and 73 as hypersensitive. The hyposensitive tasters were significantly older ( p = 0.006), with the majority of them (92%) being postmenopausal ( p < 0.001); this group had significantly higher BMI values ( p < 0.001) and other adiposity indicators compared to their hypersensitive counterparts. The hyposensitive tasters had higher blood pressure (systolic blood pressure; SBP p = 0.030; diastolic blood pressure; DBP p = 0.003), glucose ( p = 0.011) and triacylglycerols levels than the hypersensitive tasters ( p = 0.031). Almost half of them had diagnosed metabolic syndrome. Daily eating occasions were associated with low oral fatty acid sensitivity, irrespective of age ( p = 0.041) and BMI value ( p = 0.028). There were also significant associations between frequency of consumption of meats and eggs, as well as snacks and fast foods and low oral fatty acid sensitivity before adjustment for potential confounders (both associations p < 0.05), which remained after adjustment for age (both associations p < 0.05), but not after adjustment for BMI. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher BMI value ( p = 0.003), along with postmenopausal status ( p = 0.003), were associated with low fat taste sensitivity irrespective of age and consumed percentage energy from fat. Postmenopausal status and BMI are associated with low fat taste sensitivity. Fat hyposensitivity may also play a role in eating habits, leading to increased eating occasions and favoring certain types of food. These eating habits may determine increased body weight and the occurrence of metabolic syndrome in mid-life women, especially those who have undergone menopause and have been exposed to the physiological changes which are conducive to these relationships.

Preventing obesity (OB) among adults is a public health priority. One factor that seems to contribute to OB, due to the extra energy intake it involves, is the greater consumption of snacks. Whether snacking promotes OB in adults is however a source of controversy in the literature at present. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of snacking on body weight status, along with contextual factors such as snacking location, food source, timing, and social context of snacking. To better understand the nature of snacking behavior, seven currently used definitions of snacking were described. Studies published prior to November 2020 were identified by searching the PubMed and Scopus databases, with thirty-three observational studies being identified and included. The consumption of energy-dense snacks may contribute to higher energy intake and weight in adult populations. The context in which adults snacks-such as eating alone, outside home or work, late in the day, in front of a TV or computer-is also important for this behavior. However, the lack of consensus on the definition of snacks in the literature makes these considerations suggestive rather than objective. Better-designed research is needed to determine the prospective association between snacking behavior and weight status in adults. Snacking may be an important behavior that can be modified to prevent obesity on the population level. Social education focused on promoting morning snacks and replacing energy-dense snacks by more nutritious ones, e.g. fruit and vegetables, may thus be beneficial., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation on upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and inflammatory markers in elite athletes., Data Sources: We searched the PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using the following terms: probiotic OR probiotics AND exercise OR sport OR athletes AND URTI OR respiratory infection OR URTIs OR inflammation OR inflammatory OR cytokines., Study Selection: We screened the titles and abstracts of 2498 articles using our inclusion criteria. A total of 14 articles were selected for further analysis., Data Extraction: For each study, 2 independent reviewers extracted the study design, participant characteristics, inclusion and exclusion criteria, intervention characteristics, outcome measures, and main results., Data Synthesis: We did not observe an effect of probiotic supplementation on the number of days of illness or the mean number or duration of URTI episodes but did note an effect of probiotic supplementation on the total symptom severity score (-0.65; 95% CI = -1.05, -0.25; P = .02). Lower levels of interleukin 6 (-2.52 pg/mL; 95% CI = -4.39, -0.66 pg/mL; P = .002) and tumor necrosis factor α (-2.31 pg/mL; 95% CI = -4.12, -0.51 pg/mL; P = .01) were also reported after supplementation., Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides evidence that probiotic supplementation, especially among professional athletes, is an effective way to decrease the total URTI symptom severity score. In addition, probiotic supplementation may decrease interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α levels. More studies involving larger groups are needed to better assess this effect. The optimal timing, duration, composition, and dose of such supplementation need to be determined., (© by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.)

It is well known that rapeseed oil improves lipid profile and has antiatherosclerotic properties. Recently, amaranth oil has also become popular due to its potential health benefits. However, the effect of this oil on atherosclerosis markers in humans is not clear. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect of amaranth and rapeseed oils on selected atherosclerosis-related parameters in overweight and obese subjects. In this randomized cross-over study, 44 subjects were instructed to consume 20 mL of amaranth oil and rapeseed oil during two consecutive three-week intervention periods separated by a washout period of the same duration as the intervention. The outcome variables included changes in tumor necrosis factor-alpha, adiponectin, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, apolipoproteins (Apo) A1, B and E as well as glucose and insulin homeostasis markers. Compared to rapeseed oil, amaranth oil had a slight positive effect on adiponectin levels (mean (95% confidence interval): 0.55 (0.22-0.89) vs. -0.29 (-0.75-0.16), p = 0.0002) but negatively affected ApoB concentrations (0.05 (-0.01-0.11) vs. 0.03 (-0.07-0.00), p = 0.0004) and ApoB/A1 ratio (0.01 (-0.03-0.05) vs. -0.02 (-0.04-0.00), p = 0.0113). No differences between the other analyzed parameters were observed. In conclusion, amaranth oil does not have a greater beneficial effect on atherosclerosis markers than rapeseed oil. However, further studies with a longer intervention period are needed. The study was retrospectively registered with the German Clinical Trials Register within the number: DRKS00014046, date of registration: 3 May 2018.

This study compared subjective and objective methods of measuring different categories of physical activity in non-depressed middle-aged subjects with normal cognitive function (NCF) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In total, 75 participants (NCF: n = 48, MCI: n = 27) were recruited and physical activity was assessed for seven days using the ActiGraph and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Anthropometric parameters, body compositions, resting metabolic rate, and energy expenditure were also assessed. ActiGraph data indicated that subjects with NCF were more active than MCI subjects. A comparison of the IPAQ and the ActiGraph data revealed a significant correlation between these methods for total (r = 0.3315, p < 0.01) and moderate (r = 0.3896, p < 0.01) physical activity in the total population and moderate activity (r = 0.2893, p < 0.05) within the NCF group. No associations between these methods were found within the MCI group. Independent predictors of subjectively evaluated total physical activity were alcohol consumption ( p = 0.0358) and socio-professional status ( p = 0.0288), while weight ( p = 0.0285) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment results ( p = 0.0309) were independent predictors of objectively measured physical activity. In conclusion, the long version of IPAQ is a more reliable tool to assess PA in subjects with NCF than those with MCI. More studies are needed to confirm this finding.

In postmenopausal women (PW), estrogen depletion may predispose to cognitive decline through an increased risk of chronic inflammation. Unhealthy diets also appear to have an impact on the cognitive health of these women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory potential of the diet, levels of inflammatory biomarkers, and cognitive function in PW. In a population of 222 PW, energy intake-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) was used to assess the dietary inflammatory potential. Cognitive function was estimated using the Polish version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), corrected by age and educational level. Selected biochemical inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, CRP; interleukin-6, IL-6; and tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α) were measured by ELISA tests. PW with an anti-inflammatory diet (first tercile) had significantly higher MMSE, while BMI, percentage fat mass and TNFα concentration were significantly lower compared to those with the most proinflammatory diets (third tercile). Women with cognitive impairment had significantly higher IL-6 concentrations (4.1 (0.8) pg/mL vs. 2.5 (0.2) pg/mL, p = 0.004), and were less educated (12.7 (0.7) years vs. 14.1 (0.2) years, p = 0.03) and less physically active compared to cognitively normal women. PW with the most proinflammatory diets had increased odds of cognitive impairment compared to those with the most anti-inflammatory diets, even after adjustment (OR = 11.10, 95% confidence level; 95%CI: 2.22; 55.56; p = 0.002). Each one-point increase in E-DII (as a continuous value) was also associated with 1.55-times greater odds of cognitive impairment (95%Cl: 1.19; 2.02 p = 0.003) in this population. Dietary inflammation may increase the risk of cognitive impairment in PW, but future studies should include a more sensitive battery of tests to assess cognitive function in this population. Implementation of an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern in PW may help prevent cognitive decline.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between eating frequency (EF), meal frequency, and snacking frequency (SF), and the body weight status of postmenopausal women. We tested how meal frequency and SF were related with macronutrient intake, and how different definitions of snacking affected the study results., Methods: Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-d food diary in 302 women age 45 to 65 y. Body weight, body fat percentage, and waist circumference were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was computed. Women were classified as overweight-to-obese or of normal weight. Eating occasions that provided at least 50 kcal were classified as meals or snacks based on three definitions: Contribution to total energy intake (EI; ≥15% as a meal, <15% as a snack), self-reported, and based on time., Results: When adjusted for confounders and the EI:estimated energy requirement, a negative association was seen between EF, self-reported SF, and BMI. EF and self-reported SF were negatively associated with EI. Differences in the dietary composition of the snacks between the groups were seen when identified by participants themselves. Specifically, the percentage energy from total sugar and alcohol in self-reported snacks was significantly lower, but dietary fiber density was significantly higher among normal-weight compared with overweight-to-obese women., Conclusions: Higher EF and self-reported SF, independently of the EI:estimated energy requirement, is associated with lower BMI values and EI in postmenopausal women. Snacking may improve the dietary fiber density of the diet. An objective definition of snacking needs to be used in nutritional studies., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Little is known about the factors affecting body weight-loss maintenance among postmenopausal women. We thus performed an analysis to identify some sociodemographic, physiological, and behavioral predictors of weight regain in a targeted subpopulation of women who had lost weight 1 year earlier. We also measured how eating behaviors and habits as well as physical activity pattern differ among successful and unsuccessful weight-loss maintainers over the trial. Sixty-four postmenopausal women were followed up for a year after dieting, and the successful and unsuccessful maintainers were identified. The regainers had regained an average of 4.9 kg of their lost body weight, while the maintainers had regained only 1.5 kg. Regainers had fewer years of education and lower initial body weight loss than maintainers. They also showed poor dietary adherence during dieting, and had unhealthy patterns of eating involving the avoidance of breakfast and a lower intake of nuts, seeds, and pulses, and a higher intake of sweets, biscuits, cakes, and pastries over time (excluding the dieting period). All the significant sociodemographic, physiological and behavioral variables differentiating regainers and maintainers before and after dieting were then examined as independent variables in a logistic regression model. The model showed that less weight reduction during dieting, higher disinhibition scores after dieting, and avoidance of breakfast before dieting were significant predictors of body weight regain in postmenopausal women. From a practical point of view, early identification of postmenopausal women who are at risk of regaining lost weight can allow health professionals to create behavioral and dietary supports to help prevent this. A regular schedule of follow-ups over at least the first year should be considered for them-including psychological and dietary intervention, if necessary. Since this sample study included only postmenopausal women, our findings are not generalizable to other populations.

This study aimed to evaluate the association of genetic variants in lactoferrin ( LTF ) metabolism-related genes with the prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUHO). In total, 161 MHO and 291 MUHO subjects were recruited to the study. The following polymorphisms were genotyped: low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein ( LRP ) 2 rs2544390, LRP1 rs4759277, LRP1 rs1799986, LTF rs1126477, LTF rs2239692 and LTF rs1126478. We found significant differences in the genotype frequencies of LTF rs2239692 between MHO and MUHO subjects, with the CT variant associated with lower odds of developing metabolic syndrome than the TT variant. In the total population, significant differences in body weight and waist circumference (WC) were identified between LTF rs1126477 gene variants. A similar association with WC was observed in MUHO subjects, while significant differences in body mass index and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were discovered between LTF rs1126477 gene variants in MHO subjects. Besides, there were significant differences in diastolic blood pressure between LRP1 rs1799986 gene variants in MUHO subjects, as well as in WC and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels between LRP1 rs4759277 gene variants in MHO subjects. In conclusion, selected lactoferrin and lactoferrin receptor-related gene variants may be associated with the prevalence of metabolically healthy or metabolically unhealthy obesity.

Some studies have ascribed a protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases to the β-carbolines harman (H) and norharman (NH), which occur mostly in coffee and coffee substitutes. We determined the concentrations of β-carbolines and undesirable compounds (such as acrylamide) in roasted coffee substitute ingredients and found that chicory coffee was optimal. Two in vivo experiments were conducted with seventeen-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats fed a diet with the addition of pure carboline standards in the first stage, and chicory in the second. We observed an increase in the level of H and NH in blood plasma, as well as higher activity of animals in the battery behavioral test, particularly in the second stage. The results of in vitro studies-particularly the level of the expression in brain tissue of genes associated with aging processes and neurodegenerative diseases-clearly show the benefits of a diet rich in β-carbolines.

Objective: In the present study, we tested whether calorie-restricted diets differing in their percentage of energy derived from monounsaturated fatty acids and carbohydrates can affect the metabolism of fatty acids (FAs) in postmenopausal women. Moreover, we examined whether polymorphisms of FADS1 and FADS2 are associated with these changes., Methods: Postmenopausal women (the mean age: 60.5 ± 5.0 y) were randomized for 16 weeks to two different calorie-restricted diets: a Central European diet (CED) or a Mediterranean diet (MED)., Results: After the intervention, levels of most FAs in red blood cells decreased in both groups. The delta values for the 20:1n-9 and the 20:2n-6 levels differed between the CED and the MED (-1.55 ± 4.02 μg/mL vs 0.39 ± 4.11 μg/mL and -0.62 ± 10.93 μg/mL vs 3.06 ± 8.75 μg/mL; P < 0.05). Women in the CED group with at least one minor allele of FADS genes had greater decreases of α-linolenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, total n-6, and total PUFA (by approximately 70%, 40%, 35%, and 35%, respectively) than did women with the major alleles. After the intervention, the change in the lipid accumulation product index was -28.28 ± 27.84 and -32.00 ± 78.55 in the CED and the MED group, respectively., Conclusions: The effect of the dietary intervention on FA metabolism seems to depend mostly on calorie restriction, but not on type of diet. FADS1 and FADS2 gene polymorphisms can modify the response to the CED.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that polymorphism of genes with the biggest effects on body mass (FTO and PPARG) can affect the results of dieting in centrally obese postmenopausal women. A total of 144 volunteers were randomized to a 16-week intervention with two hypocaloric diets: either a Mediterranean diet (MED) moderate in fat (37% total energy as fat) or the Central European diet (CED) moderate in carbohydrates (55% total energy as carbohydrates). The associations between FTO and PPARG polymorphism on the baseline body mass, body composition, blood pressure, lipid and non-lipid parameters, and their changes after the trial were analyzed. None of the examined baseline outcomes differed in the rs9939609 FTO subgroups; abdominal fat was higher in the minor (G) allele carriers of the PPARG rs1801282. After the intervention, in the CED group, the PPARG G allele carriers showed greater reductions in weight (-6.58 ± 0.61 vs -9.58 ± 0.83; P < .01), lean mass (-0.38 ± 0.29 vs -1.79 ± 0.38; P < .05) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (-0.46 ± 0.77 vs -5.25 ± 1.49; P < .01) than the CC homozygotes, and the TT individuals of the rs9939609 FTO had greater reductions in diastolic blood pressure (-9.03 ± 1.78 vs. -7.58 ± 1.50; P < .05). In the MED group, greater reductions in abdominal fat were observed in the G allele carriers than in the CC homozygotes (-3.31 ± 0.26 vs. -4.23 ± 0.41; P < .05). PPARG and FTO polymorphism may affect the outcomes of the diets aimed at weight reduction in postmenopausal women., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The hypothesis that habitual fat intake, the IL6 genotype, the Mediterranean diet or the central European diet for 16 weeks affect biomarkers of inflammation in centrally obese postmenopausal women, was tested in a randomized controlled trial. Dietary intake was assessed using a three-day food diary. Lipid parameters were measured using a Beckman Coulter AU analyzer. Transcription of TNF and IL6 genes was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using real-time PCR. Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 6 (IL6) were measured with ELISA. rs1800795 polymorphism of IL6 was analyzed using hydrolyzing probes. Higher energy intake from fat was associated with higher IL6 levels ( p < 0.05). Significantly ( p < 0.01) lower total cholesterol (T-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were observed in the GG IL6 rs1800795 genotype group. Both diets significantly ( p < 0.001) decreased TNFα concentrations. Neither IL6 gene transcription levels nor blood IL6 concentrations were affected by them. Our findings confirm that habitual fat intake may affect inflammation. The rs1800795 IL6 polymorphism alone did not significantly affect body weight or body composition in aimed group, but C-allele carriers had higher levels of T-C and LDL-C. This polymorphism did not affect inflammation. Both diets may lead to a decrease in TNFα concentration.

Green tea contains many polyphenolic constitutes, which might prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to investigate whether green tea extract (GTE) given at doses reflecting habitual consumption of green tea beverages prevents development of NAFLD in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups (two study and two control groups). The study groups received a HFD (approximately 50% energy from fat), enriched with 1.1% and 2.0% GTE, respectively, for a total of 56 days. The control groups were fed a HFD alone and normal standardised diet (low-fat diet), respectively, for the same period of time. The percentage of hepatocytes affected by steatosis in the HFD group (median [1st-3rd quartile]: 25% [12-34%]) was higher (p < 0.033 and p < 0.050, respectively) than in the HFD-2.0%GTE group (9% [3-18%]) and normal diet group (10% [5-18%]). No significant differences were observed for the group consuming HFD-1.1%GTE, in which intermediate results were observed (15% [4-30%]). This finding points towards the hepatoprotective potential of GTE in preventing dietary-induced liver steatosis. In view of the increasing incidence of overweight and obesity a simple and cheap dietary modification, such as GTE supplementation, could prove to be useful clinically.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation (alone or with co-supplementation) on insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)., Methods: We performed a literature search of databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Library) and identified all reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published prior to April 2018. We compared the effects of supplementation with vitamin D alone (dose from 1000 IU/d to 60,000 IU/week) or with co-supplements to the administration of placebos in women diagnosed with PCOS. The systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Prospero) as number CRD42018090572., Main Results: Eleven of 345 identified studies were included in the analysis; these involved 601women diagnosed with PCOS. Vitamin D as a co-supplement was found to significantly decrease fasting glucose concentrations and the HOMA-IR value. HOMA-IR also declined significantly when vitamin D was supplemented with a dose lower than 4000 IU/d., Conclusions: Evidence from RCTs suggests that the supplementation of PCOS patients with continuous low doses of vitamin D (<4000 IU/d) or supplementation with vitamin D as a co-supplement may improve insulin sensitivity in terms of the fasting glucose concentration (supplementation with vitamin D in combination with other micronutrients) and HOMA-IR (supplementation with vitamin D in continuous low daily doses or as co-supplement).

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a powerful risk factor for atherosclerosis (AT). The crucial meth- od of minimizing the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations is lifestyle modifications, including following a healthy diet. The aim of the study was to check if the Central European Diet (CED) could be an alternative to the Mediterranean Diet (MED) in the prevention of AT in patients with a risk of MS., Methods: The randomized, single-blind nutritional trial involved 144 obese women with a risk of MS. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups and followed MED (n = 72) or CED (n = 72) for 16 weeks. The concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) were measured before and after nutritional intervention., Results: In both studied groups, the concentrations of hs-CRP decreased significantly after the nutritional in- tervention (CED: p = 0.0107; MED: p = 0.0002). The ADMA levels were significantly lower after nutritional intervention in the CED group (p = 0.0187) but not in the MED group (p = 0.8354). However, the observed changes of hs-CRP concentrations (&Delta;hs-CRP) and ADMA levels (&Delta;ADMA) were not different between the groups (p = 0.5307 and p = 0.0905, respectively)., Conclusions: In the Central European post-menopausal obese population, a well-designed, energy-restricted diet with the use of food items traditional for the region (CED) could be a good alternative to MED in terms of AT prevention.

Periodontal diseases affect up to 90% of the population worldwide. Deficiencies in vitamins, minerals and polyphenolic compounds, whose main sources are fruit and vegetables (F&V), may predispose to these diseases. The PICO (Patient, Intervention of interest, Comparison or Control Intervention, and Outcome) question was: What is the effect of F&V intake on the outcomes of periodontal diseases, observed in either experimental or observational studies of human populations suffering from periodontitis or gingivitis, compared to controls without intervention or healthy people.The review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol for search strategy, selection criteria and data extraction. The searched databases included MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus and Google Scholar. A total of 181 potentially relevant articles were identified, which were then evaluated according to pre-specified criteria relating to relevance and quality. Finally, 15 articles were selected for review. Four articles described intervention studies, 3 reported on prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and 8 concerned cross-sectional studies. A total of 10,604 people aged 15-90 years took part in the studies. On the basis of the research it can be concluded that the consumption of at least 5 servings of F&V per day may prevent the progression of periodontal diseases, especially periodontitis, and even tooth loss. Moreover, incorporation of specific F&V into the diet or, alternatively, their lyophilized forms, and nutritional education activities seem to support the standard of care therapy of gingivitis and periodontitis. However, further observational and well-designed experimental studies, with homogeneous periodontal status outcomes, are needed to confirm these findings. Furthermore, professional dietetics care for periodontal patients should become an integral component of the healthcare program.

Periodontal disease is highly prevalent worldwide, and consumption of certain foods, such as fruits, seem to improve the effectiveness of periodontal therapy (PT) due to their antiadhesive, immunomodulatory, and antioxidative properties. We hypothesized that the cranberry functional beverage (CFB) consumed for eight weeks improves gingival inflammation indices via inhibition of dental plaque, and alterations in antioxidant status, and systemic inflammation in patients with gingivitis. In this two-arm randomized controlled study, fifty participants were divided into an experimental group (CFB), administered daily with 750 ml CFB, or a control group administered the same amount of water. All patients underwent nonsurgical PT prior to the intervention. Gingival (GI) and bleeding on probing (BoP) indices of inflammation, plaque (PI) and approximal plaque (API) indices of dental plaque deposition, saliva and serum total antioxidant status (TAS), serum malonylodialdehyde level (MDA), and interleukin 1-beta level (IL-1beta) were measured pre- and postintervention. A risk of caries development was determined by Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus spp. (LAB) counts in supragingival dental plaque. Changes in GI and PI but not BoP and API were significantly more pronounced in the CFB group compared to the control group. Serum or saliva TAS, IL-1beta, and MDA did not differ between groups. The number of SM reduced in CFB, but not in the control group. We demonstrated that the consumption of CFB improves gingival and plaque indices without posing a risk of caries development. Thus CFB can be recommended as a safe adjunct for nonsurgical PT in patients with gingivitis., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fatty acid (FA) status is associated with the risk of several diet-related diseases. Since postmenopausal women are at increased risk of cardiometabolic disturbances, determinants of FA metabolism should be fully understood in this group. We hypothesize that FA metabolism in postmenopausal Polish women may depend on current macronutrient intake and on fatty acid desaturase ( FADS ) gene polymorphism. One-hundred-and-twenty-eight postmenopausal women with central obesity were recruited to the study and their dietary intake, FA composition in red blood cells (RBC), and rs174556, rs174561, rs174547, and rs3834458 polymorphism of the FADS gene were analyzed. Higher levels of 18:2n-6t level in RBC were associated with higher protein or fat intake or with lower carbohydrate intake. The minor allele carriers of rs174561 of the fatty acid desaturase 1 ( FADS1 ) gene had 9.7% lower concentration of 20:4n⁻6 in RBC ( p < 0.05), but there were no other associations between other FA in RBC levels and FADS1 or fatty acid desaturase 2 ( FADS2 ) polymorphisms. The mean D5D value was 15.3⁻17.9% lower in the minor allele carriers of each SNPs. We concluded that protein and carbohydrate intake may be associated with FA concentrations in RBC in centrally obese postmenopausal Polish women. The D5D value may be affected by FADS1 or FADS2 polymorphism.

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of two energy-restricted diets on body weight (BW), visceral fat (VF) loss, and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. A total of 144 centrally obese postmenopausal women were assigned to the moderate in fat Mediterranean diet (MED) or to the Central European diet (CED), which is moderate in carbohydrates and high in dietary fiber (DF), for 16 weeks. BW, waist circumference and VF were significantly reduced by 8.8%, 7.0%, and 24.6%, respectively, over the trial (P < 0.001), with no difference between groups. A similar trend was seen for total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and blood pressure. Within each diet group, the more adherent participants lost significantly more BW than did their less adherent counterparts. VF was significantly reduced only in women who were more adherent to the CED, and the reduction in VF correlated with an increase in the proportion of DF. Short-term dietary treatment with the CED or the MED was associated with similar improvements in some anthropometric, lipid, and nonlipid parameters; however, adequate adherence to the prescribed diet is important in weight loss success and in achieving improvements in metabolic health.

Background: The effects of un-extruded (UCP) and extruded cranberry pomace (ECP) on fecal fat excretion, liver index, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and inhibition of oxidative stress due to a high-fat diet (HFD) in rats were studied., Methods: The Wistar rats for 8 weeks received one of the four diets: (1) control (modified the American Institute of Nutrition: AIN based diet containing 7% fat), (2) HFD (AIN based diet containing 30% fat), (3) HFD with 3% un-extruded (UCP) and (4) HFD with 3% (ECP)., Results: Both UCP and ECP significantly improved the plasma antioxidant capacity and decreased lipid per- oxidation in rats fed a HFD. However, only the addition of 3% UCP into the HFD significantly increased the fecal lipid excretion and considerably decreased serum triglycerides level in rats., Conclusions: Further investigation is needed to determine the role of an individual components present in UCP and ECP in the improvement of metabolic conditions observed in the current study.

Purpose: Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf tea has recently received much attention as a dietary supplement due to the wide range of putative health benefits, such as antidiabetic effects. Nevertheless, data evaluating its influence on carbohydrate metabolism in humans are scarce. The present study aims to investigate the effect of mulberry leaf extract supplementation on starch digestion and absorption in humans., Materials and Methods: The study comprised of 25 healthy subjects, aged 19-27 years. In all subjects, a starch 13 C breath test was performed twice in a crossover and single blind design. Subjects were initially randomized to ingest naturally 13 C-abundant cornflakes (50g cornflakes+100ml low fat milk) either with the mulberry leaf extract (36mg of active component-1-deoxynojirimycin) or the placebo and each subject received the opposite preparation one week later., Results: The cumulative percentage dose recovery was lower for the mulberry leaf extract test than for the placebo test (median [quartile distribution]: 13.9% [9.9-17.4] vs. 17.2% [13.3-20.6]; p=0.015). A significant decrease was detectable from minute 120 after the ingestion., Conclusions: A single dose of mulberry leaf extract taken with a test meal decreases starch digestion and absorption. These findings could possibly be translated into everyday practice for improvement of postprandial glycemic control., (Copyright © 2017 Medical University of Bialystok. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to determine the effects on quality of incorporating raspberry and cranberry pomaces into American-style muffins prepared under various baking conditions. The different baking conditions did not affect the texture or microstructure of the control muffins. The enhanced samples baked at 140 °C for 30 min were characterized by a harder texture than the control muffins and by a distributed protein matrix and distorted starch granules, while those baked at 240 °C for 15 min had a moist texture and showed incomplete starch gelatinization. The mean percent recovery of ellagic acid, flavonols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and anthocyanins after baking were 156, 53, 48, 43, and 22 %, respectively. Lower baking temperature was better for ellagic acid and tocotrienols, but worse for flavonols, tocopherols, and anthocyanins. It seems that, for the enhanced samples, the intermediate baking conditions (180 °C for 20 min) guarantee the best microstructure and texture and the appropriate retention of phytochemicals in muffins.

Background: Sour cherry pomace (CP), a by-product obtained during fruit processing, was used to replace wheat flour in a muffin formula. The influence of the most sensory acceptable muffins on glycemic response, appetite sensation, and energy intake during subsequent meal in a randomized crossover trial was studied., Results: It is acceptable to incorporate up to 30% CP into muffin formulas. With CP-treated muffins glucose responses were significantly lower at 30, 45, and 60 min intervals, and the incremental peak glucose was 0.40 and 0.60 mmol L(-1) lower than for plain muffins (PM). The CP-enriched muffins showed an incremental area under the blood glucose response curve values lower than that of PM. 20% CP and 30% CP resulted in improved satiety and induced a lower energy intake at a test meal ingested 3 h later (-13.7%; -15.1%) as compared to PM, respectively., Conclusion: CP may be a good functional ingredient for bakery products that assists in managing glucose levels, satiety, and subsequent energy intake in healthy individuals. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.)