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It is known that the perception of bitterness is mediated by type 2 bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs). However, recent reports have suggested that the carbonic anhydrase 6 (CA6) gene may also influence bitterness sensing. Genetic variants in these genes could influence dietary intake of brassica vegetables, whose increased consumption has been observed in the literature, though inconsistently, to decrease breast cancer (BC) risk. We hypothesized that the estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between BC and taster diplotype (PAV/PAV) and/or genotype A/A, will be in the direction of increased BC risk, potentially due to reduced consumption of brassica vegetables. Using a case-control study of BC in Polish women in Poland (210 cases and 262 controls) and Polish immigrant women to USA (78 cases and 170 controls) we evaluated the association of the taster diplotypes in TAS2R38 gene and genotypes in the CA6 gene and BC risk in these two populations individually and jointly. No significant increase in risk was observed for the TAS2R38 PAV/PAV diplotype (tasters) in each population individually or in the joint population. For the CA6 gene, in the joint population, we observed an increased BC risk for the combined G/A and G/G genotypes (non-tasters) vs A/A (tasters), OR = 1.41 (95% CI 1.04-1.90, p = 0.026) which after adjustment for False Discovery Rate (FDR), was not significant at p≤0.05 level. However, for the joint population and for the combined genotype of the two genes AVI/AVI+G* (non-tasters) vs. PAV/*+A/A (tasters), we observed a significant increase in BC risk, OR = 1.77 (95%CI 1.47-2.74, p = 0.01), for the non-tasters, which remained significant after FDR adjustment. In conclusion for the joint population and the joint effect for the two bitter sensing genes, we observed an increase in BC risk for the bitterness non-tasters, association which is in the opposite direction to our original hypothesis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Łukasiewicz-Śmietańska et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Fruit and fruit products are important part of our daily diet. In addition to the ingredients necessary for the proper functioning of the body, these products can also be a source of intake elements harmful to human health., Objective: Analysis of the results of monitoring studies conducted in Poland in 2015 concerning contamination of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and tin (Sn) in fruit and fruit products and exposure assessment., Material and Methods: Approximately 600 samples of fresh, frozen, dried fruits, fruit preserves and canned fruits were tested. The laboratories of State Sanitary Inspection were involved in testing. Accredited and validated analytical methods were used. The test samples were prepared in accordance with the standard PN-EN 13804:2013. The contents of lead, cadmium and tin were determined by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) or flameless with electrothermal atomization spectrometry (GFAAS); arsenic by using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry method (HGAAS) and mercury the "cold vapor" atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) method., Results: Contamination of investigated samples with elements harmful to human health (Pb, Ca, As, Hg and Sn does not rise concern to human health and was in most cases comparable with contamination reported in other European Union countries. The estimated average exposure of adults and children to lead intake with fruit and fruit products ranged from 0.5% to 14.6% of the respective Benchmark Dose Lower Confidence Limit (BMDL) established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The mean intake of cadmium with these groups of foodstuffs was in the range 0.3 - 8.5% of the TWI value (Tolerable Weekly Intake) established by EFSA for adults and children (0.1 - 3.6% of the PTMI (Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake) established by JECFA. In case of arsenic mean intake was in the range 0.5 - 1.6% BMDL whilst for mercury (inorganic form) intake represented 0.5 - 1.4% of TWI value established by JECFA and then confirmed by EFSA., Conclusions: Based on the obtained results, it was found that content of Pb, Cd, As, Hg and Sn in the tested samples of fruit and their products does not pose a risk to consumer health. Estimated exposure of consumers does not exceed tolerable doses established by EFSA and JECFA for these elements., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest, (© Copyright by the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.)

The purpose of this study was an assessment average daily intake of calcium and phosphorus by prepubertal adolescents (aged 11 and 12) during monitoring their diets in last 10 years. In 1989-1999 years, it was investigated 767 randomly selected girls and 817 boys, aged 11 and 12 in Warsaw. Information on dietary intake was obtained by 24-hour recall method, always spring, having representation of weekdays and weekends. Among environmental factors, nutrition, and particularly calcium intake is assumed to influence whether the genetically determined maximal peak bone mass is reached. However, near half of examined prepubertal adolescents have intake less than 600 mg calcium per day. It was also observed low calcium to phosphorus ratio in diets and stated Ca:P < 0.25 among 10% diet in different groups of girls and boys. Consequently, due to consider the activity educational efforts directed to prepubertal adolescent with reference to means realization of calcium RDA in daily diet through increase milk and dairy products consumption.