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Progranulin and family with sequence similarity 19, member A5 (FAM19A5) protein are adipokines with growing importance in the context of metabolic diseases. The study aimed to determine the serum concentration of progranulin and FAM19A5 in people with metabolic syndrome (MS) compared to those without MS. The concentration of progranulin and FAM19A5 was determined in 45 people with MS (group A) and in 35 healthy people without MS (group B). Body composition analysis, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation and anthropometric measurements were performed. There were no differences in the blood levels of progranulin and FAM19A5 between the groups. In group A, the level of progranulin was 29.25±36.92 pg/ml and in group B it was 46.00±60.12pg/ml (p=0.2693). The level of FAM19A5 was 163.16±55.11 pg/ml and 197.57±112.89 pg/ml (p=0.1341) in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome, respectively. In group A, there was a correlation between FAM19A5 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (R= –0.40) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level (R= –0.37). In group B, correlations were found between progranulin and waist circumference (R= –0.43) and progranulin and triglyceride (TG) levels (R= –0.42). Both groups together showed correlations between progranulin level and body mass index (R= –0.24), HDL (R=0.25) and TG levels (R= –0.25) and between FAM19A5 level and DBP (R= –0.34). In conclusion, patients with and without MS do not differ in the range of progranulin and FAM19A5 serum levels. In patients with MS, elevated FAM19A5 serum levels may be an indicator of dyslipidaemia development. FAM19A5 appears to be a better predictor of MS than progranulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celiac disease, a chronic autoimmune disorder caused by genetic factors and exposure to gluten, is increasingly being recognized and diagnosed in both children and adults. Scientists have been searching for a cure for this disease for many years, but despite the impressive development of knowledge in this field, a gluten-free diet remains the only recommended therapy for all patients. At the same time, the increasing diagnosis of celiac disease in adults, which was considered a childhood disease in the 20th century, has opened a discussion on the etiopathology of the disease, which is proven to be very complex and involves genetic, immunological, nutritional, environmental and gut microbiota-related factors. In this review, we extensively discuss these factors and summarize the knowledge of the proposed state-of-the-art treatments for celiac disease to address the question of whether a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of celiac disease has opened new directions for therapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Skoracka, Hryhorowicz, Tovoli, Raiteri, Rychter, Słomski, Dobrowolska, Granito and Krela-Kaźmierczak.)

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic small intestinal immune-mediated enteropathy precipitated by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. The worldwide prevalence of CD is estimated to be 0.7-1.4% of the general population. Etiopathology of this disease is multifactorial, with genetic determinants being a major contributing player to CD susceptibility. Its manifestation embraces different organs, including the musculoskeletal apparat. Patients with CD have increased risk of bone disorders. According to data, bone disorders - osteopenia and osteoporosis - can affect up to 70% of patients with CD at diagnosis, and it decreases after the initiation of a gluten-free diet. Gluten consumption in patients with CD triggers an inflammatory reaction followed by tissue damage, and both; local and systemic inflammation can increase the risk of bone mass deterioration. Other theory assumes shortages of vitamin D and an impaired calcium absorption mechanism leading to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Taking into account the increasing prevalence of CD and osteoporosis, we broadly discuss genetic, immunological, dietary, gut microbiota, and environmental factors that could increase the risk of osteoporosis in CD. Furthermore, we discuss lifestyle and pharmacological preventing and treatment measures., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) is a common problem among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We hypothesised that an insufficient intake of folate might affect BMD., Methods: The study subjects included 26 with Crohn's disease-CD, 30 with ulcerative colitis-UC, and 31 healthy adults (control group-CG) aged 18-50 years. Participants were asked to follow their usual diet, and dietary intake was assessed by a 4-day, 24 h dietary recall. All the participants filled in a questionnaire referring to folic acid supplementation. The BMD, T-score, and Z-score of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck (FN) were assessed., Results: We found significant differences in the body mass, BMI (body mass index), CRP (C-reactive protein), BMD, Z-score, and T-score of the L1-L4 and FN between groups. There were no differences in energy and folate intake or the percentage coverage of recommended dietary allowances (RDA) of folate in all groups. Moreover, 70% of patients with UC, 92% of patients with CD, and 77% of CG patients showed insufficient folate intake. Folic acid was supplemented with a similar frequency in patients covering and not covering the RDA of folate. The intake of folate per 1000 kcal correlated positively with the CD group's BMD and T-score of L1-L4., Conclusions: Insufficient folate intake is common in patients with IBD and healthy individuals. The impact of folate on BMD in IBD is not clear. We need more studies on the association between folate intake, folic acid concentration, and BMD in IBD.

Background: The aim of this study was to find an association between moderate, vigorous and total physical activity (PA); diet quality; and bone mineral density (BMD) among patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)., Methods: We enrolled 54 IBD patients, including those with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and 24 healthy adults. All subjects completed the Questionnaire of Eating Behaviour based on which prohealthy and nonhealthy diet indexes were calculated, and the questionnaire included questions from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Prohealthy and nonhealthy diet indexes were divided into low-, medium- and high scores. BMD and T- and Z-scores of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck (FN) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method., Results: BMD, T- and Z-scores of the FN and the Z-score of L1-L4 were significantly lower among patients with CD and UC than healthy controls. We did not find any differences in the time of PA among CD, UC and control groups (CG). The prohealthy diet index was higher among healthy subjects than the CD and UC groups. The nonhealthy diet index was lower among UC patients compared with the CG or CD patients. Prohealthy diet index positively correlated with BMD and T- and Z-scores of L1-L4 and FN in IBD. The prohealthy diet index correlated negatively with C-reactive protein and positively with body mass index. The prohealthy diet index correlated only with total PA in the CD group., Conclusion: A well-balanced diet and proper PA may decrease the risk of osteoporosis in IBD, so education of patients referring to nutrition and PA is needed., (© 2023 British Dietetic Association.)

Background: Metabolic bone disease is frequently found in patients with coeliac disease (CD). Despite its high prevalence, international guidelines are partially discordant about its management due to the lack of long-term data., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated a large dataset of prospectively collected data of CD patients assessing the variation of DXA parameters and estimated fracture risk according to the FRAX ® score in a 10-year follow-up. Incident fractures are reported, and the predictive ability of the FRAX ® score is verified., Results: We identified 107 patients with low bone density (BMD) at the diagnosis of CD and a 10-year follow-up. After improving at the first follow-up, T-scores slowly reduced over time but with no clinically relevant differences between the first and last examination (lumbar spine: from - 2.07 to - 2.07, p = 1.000; femoral neck: from - 1.37 to - 1.55, p = 0.006). Patients with osteoporosis at the index measurement had more marked fluctuations than those with osteopenia; the latter group also showed minimal modifications of the FRAX ® score over time. Six incident major fragility fractures occurred, with a good predictive ability of the FRAX ® (AUC 0.826)., Conclusion: Adult CD patients with osteopenia and no risk factors had substantially stable DXA parameters and fracture risk during a 10-year follow-up. A dilated interval between follow-up DXA for these patients could be considered to reduce diagnosis-related time and costs, maintaining a 2-year interval for patients with osteoporosis or risk factors., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Obesity is a complex and multifactorial problem of global importance. Additionally, obesity causes chronic inflammation, upregulates cell growth, disturbs the immune system, and causes genomic instability, increasing the risk of carcinogenesis. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers, and it has become a global problem. In 2018, there were around 1.8 million new cases and around 881,000 deaths worldwide. Another risk factor of colorectal cancer associated with obesity is poor diet. A Western diet, including a high intake of red and processed meat and a low consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fiber, may increase the risk of both colorectal cancer and obesity. Moreover, the Western diet is associated with a proinflammatory profile diet, which may also affect chronic low-grade inflammation. In fact, people with obesity often present gut dysbiosis, increased inflammation, and risk of colorectal cancer. In this article, the association between obesity and colorectal cancer is discussed, including the most important mechanisms, such as low-grade chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and poor diet.

The prevalence of celiac disease increased in recent years. In addition to the genetic and immunological factors, it appears that environmental determinants are also involved in the pathophysiology of celiac disease. Gastrointestinal infections impact the development of celiac disease. Current research does not directly confirm the protective effect of natural childbirth and breastfeeding on celiac disease. However, it seems that in genetically predisposed children, the amount of gluten introduced into the diet may have an impact on celiac disease development. Also western lifestyle, including western dietary patterns high in fat, sugar, and gliadin, potentially may increase the risk of celiac disease due to changes in intestinal microbiota, intestinal permeability, or mucosal inflammation. Further research is needed to expand the knowledge of the relationship between environmental factors and the development of celiac disease to define evidence-based preventive interventions against the development of celiac disease. The manuscript summarizes current knowledge on factors predisposing to the development of celiac disease including factors associated with the western lifestyle., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Skoracka, Hryhorowicz, Rychter, Ratajczak, Szymczak-Tomczak, Zawada, Słomski, Dobrowolska and Krela-Kaźmierczak.)

Introduction: One of the challenges of personalized medicine is a departure from traditional pharmacology toward individualized, genotype-based therapies. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a prevalent condition requiring intensive treatment, whose effects are measurable only after a long time, and the goal is bone fracture prevention. This study aimed to determine the influence of VDR gene variation on anti-osteoporotic one-year treatment with denosumab in 63 Polish women with postmenopausal osteoporosis., Materials and Methods: The correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebral column (L1-L4) and femoral neck, and genotype distributions for the ApaI , BsmI , FokI , and TaqI variants of the VDR gene was analyzed. Bone fractures during denosumab therapy were also investigated., Results: In the case of the Bsml polymorphism, female patients with BB and Bb genotypes had statistically significantly higher values of BMD and T-score/Z-score indicators, which persisted after a year of denosumab treatment. Our results indicated that the Bsml polymorphism contributes to better bone status, and, consequently, to more efficient biological therapy. The study did not reveal significant differences between changes (delta) in BMD and genotypes for the analyzed VDR gene loci . In the entire study group, one bone fracture was observed in one patient throughout the yearlong period of denosumab therapy., Conclusions: BB and Bb genotypes of the Bsml polymorphism of the VDR gene determine higher DXA parameter values both before and after one-year denosumab therapy in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wawrzyniak, Skrzypczak-Zielińska, Michalak, Kaczmarek-Ryś, Ratajczak, Rychter, Skoracka, Marcinkowska, Słomski, Dobrowolska and Krela-Kaźmierczak.)

Despite the increasing knowledge with regard to IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), the etiology of these conditions is still not fully understood. Apart from immunological, environmental and nutritional factors, which have already been well documented, it is worthwhile to look at the possible impact of genetic factors, as well as the composition of the microbiota in patients suffering from IBD. New technologies in biochemistry allow to obtain information that can add to the current state of knowledge in IBD etiology.

Infertility is an increasing problem that affects couples attempting pregnancy. A growing body of evidence points to a link between diet and female fertility. In fact, data show that a diet high in trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars can negatively affect fertility. Conversely, a diet based on the Mediterranean dietary patterns, i.e., rich in dietary fiber, omega-3 (ɷ-3) fatty acids, plant-based protein, and vitamins and minerals, has a positive impact on female fertility. An unhealthy diet can disrupt microbiota composition, and it is worth investigating whether the composition of the gut microbiota correlates with the frequency of infertility. There is a lack of evidence to exclude gluten from the diet of every woman trying to become pregnant in the absence of celiac disease. Furthermore, there are no data concerning adverse effects of alcohol on female fertility, and caffeine consumption in the recommended amounts also does not seem to affect fertility. On the other hand, phytoestrogens presumably have a positive influence on female fertility. Nevertheless, there are many unanswered questions with regard to supplementation in order to enhance fertility. It has been established that women of childbearing age should supplement folic acid. Moreover, most people experience vitamin D and iodine deficiency; thus, it is vital to control their blood concentrations and consider supplementation if necessary. Therefore, since diet and lifestyle seem to be significant factors influencing fertility, it is valid to expand knowledge in this area., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Iodine deficiency is a global issue and affects around 2 billion people worldwide, with pregnant women as a high-risk group. Iodine-deficiency prevention began in the 20th century and started with global salt iodination programmes, which aimed to improve the iodine intake status globally. Although it resulted in the effective eradication of the endemic goitre, it seems that salt iodination did not resolve all the issues. Currently, it is recommended to limit the consumption of salt, which is the main source of iodine, as a preventive measure of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension or cancer the prevalence of which is increasing. In spite of the fact that there are other sources of iodine, such as fish, seafood, dairy products, water, and vegetables, the high consumption of processed food with a high content of unionised salt, alternative diets or limited salt intake can still lead to iodine deficiency. Thus, iodine deficiency remains a relevant issue, with new, preventive solutions necessary. However, it appears that there is no diet which would fully cover the iodine requirements, and iodine food supplementation is still required.

In up to 50% of cases, infertility issues stem solely from the male. According to some data, the quality of human semen has deteriorated by 50%-60% over the last 40 years. A high-fat diet and obesity, resulting from an unhealthy lifestyle, affects the structure of spermatozoa, but also the development of offspring and their health in later stages of life. In obese individuals, disorders on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are observed, as well as elevated oestrogen levels with a simultaneous decrease in testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Healthy dietary models clearly correlate with better sperm quality and a smaller risk of abnormalities in parameters such as sperm count, sperm concentration and motility, and lower sperm DNA fragmentation. Apart from mineral components such as zinc and selenium, the role of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins should be emphasized, since their action will be primarily based on the minimization of oxidative stress and the inflammation process. Additionally, the incorporation of carnitine supplements and coenzyme Q10 in therapeutic interventions also seems promising. Therefore, it is advisable to have a varied and balanced diet based on vegetables and fruit, fish and seafood, nuts, seeds, whole-grain products, poultry, and low-fat dairy products.