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A study of content of dietary fibre in the total daily diets of hospitalized children reveals that the mean dietary fiber content of the daily diets of the hospitalized children is 15.14 to 23.07 grams per 100 grams and the crude fiber content is 5.38 to 7.42 grams per 100 grams. The main source of fiber consisted of cereals such as wheat, oats and rice, white bread, potatoes, carrot, parsley, cabbage, spinach and apples.

Background: The literature data as well as clinical observation of addicted persons indicate the preference of sweet products consumption. Some authors suppose that the sweet taste preference may be a marker of increased risk of opiate and alcohol dependence development. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of fat and sweet food consumption that stimulates the Brain Reward System (BRS) in 48 participants of methadone programme. The main goal of this programme was not only to improve the physical and mental health of opiate dependent persons, but to limit their improper nutritional habits as well. Material and methods: The study included 36 men aged 20-46 year and 12 women aged 21-33 year. The opiate (morphine, heroine) dependence duration ranged from 3 to 24 years. The evaluation of the diet and the assessment of nutritional status were performed three times: 1st examination -before treatment, 2nd examination -after 2 months and 3rd -after 9 months of methadone maintenance treatment. Food consumption quality was estimated with the use of the Questionnaire of Frequency Intake Food Products. The statistical calculations were performed by using STATISTICA v. 6.0 program with the application of factor and cluster analysis. Three clusters were created. They included food products consumed: A-occasionally, B-rarely, C-often. Results: The examined opiate abusers preferred sweet taste. The frequency of sweet products consumption was the highest in the early stage of methadone programme. In the first examination most of sweet products were found in cluster A, whereas in the third examination in cluster C. The analysis of 24-hour recall showed that mono- and disaccharides always provided much more that recommended 10% of energy (20% in the first and 15% in the third examination). Conclusions: The opiate abusers intuitively chose the products that stimulate BRS. The diminished frequency of disordered nutrition habits and behaviour was observed during 9 months' methadone maintenance treatment programme conducted in opiate dependent patients at Medical College Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim: The evaluation of the influence of the zinc daily food ration (DFR) supplementation on fatty acid profile of plasma phospholipids. Material and methods: The study covered a group of 40 women, mostly female students (average age 22.5 ± 0.8 years) from the Mid-West part of Poland. The study was carried out from 2001-2003. Students were supplemented with 25 mg of Zn&sup+2;. The supplementation carried on for 50 days with daily dose 25mg Zn/day. Fatty acid methyl esters were analysed by the gas chromatography (Hewlett Packard - 6890 Series) with flame-ionisation detection method, after being separated by the high precision thin layer chromatography. U Manna-Whitney' a test was used to confirm statistically significant differences at p=0.05. Consent for the study was obtained from the Ethical Committee, Medical Academy, Poznan, Poland. Results: A dominant group of fatty acids in plasma phospholipids were saturated fatty acids, which composed about 50% of the sum of all fatty acids (range from 53.4% to 58.0%). Polyunsaturated fatty acids occurred in the range from 24.9% to 28.1% (half amount of the saturated acids), whereas the monounsaturated fatty acids content presented one third of fatty acids content (range from 16.4% to 17.9%). The statistically significant changes of the % content were observed: decrease of the amount of saturated fatty acids - (57.3 ± 3.36 vs 55.1 ± 3.29; p=0.0017) and increases - of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (25.2 ± 2.94 vs 27.1 ± 3.17; p=0.0034), of the alpha-linoleic acid (0.34 ± 0.06 vs 0.40 ± 0.06; p=0.0019) and of the arachidonic acid (3.92 ± 0.71 vs 4.82 ± 1.09; p=0.0001). Conclusions: The zinc supplementation of daily food rations of women may influence on the change of fatty acid profiles in blood plasma phospholipids, among others LCPUFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was estimation of the nutritional preferences among 147 young men beginning military service in one of the Polish Army military units. The average age of examined was 21.1 ± 1.3. Most of them came from the country (49.7%). Young men coming from the small towns and big cities made 40.8% and 9.5% respectively. The majority of these examined was secondary (53.1%) and technically educated (43.5%). Only 1.4% was post-secondary educated and 2.0% elementary. The examination was carried out by inquiry method. The following food products were taken into consideration: cereal products, milk and dairy products, meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, fish and fish products, fruit and vegetables, confectionery as well as "fast food". To estimate nutritional preferences, the five-degree graduation was used. Among all examined products and meals the most favoured (average preference value 4.5) were: white bread, flavoured yoghurt, flavoured homogenized cottage cheese, meat meals, fruit and fruit juices, pizza and dish cooked "au gratin" and Coca Cola. These foods/meals were willingly eaten by 87.7-96.6% of subjects. The following products and meals were included into the group of low preference value (average preference value 3.0-3.5): cereal products (groats, noodles, and rice), melted cheese, cottage cheese, poultry products, fishes products and cooked vegetables. These products/meals were willingly eaten by 44.9-61.2% of those examined. Dark bread and bread with additions (soy or sunflower seeds) were included into the group of the lowest preferences (average preference value 3.0). This kind of bread was willingly eaten by 21.8-28.6% of subjects; 41.5-42.2% of subjects unwillingly consumed this bread. Our results may be a foundation for rational alimentation planning during the military service and show necessity to undertake an action having in view propagation of rational alimentation rules among examined young men in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine is the most common psychoactive substance available to adults, as well as to children and adolescents. The safety of its use in younger age groups requires further research. The aim of this study was to evaluate caffeine intake, to identify products and drinks that are the main sources of caffeine intake in the diet of the subjects and the risk of excessive caffeine intake with the diet of adolescents, stratified by gender. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 508 adolescents aged 16-18 years from southern Poland. Black tea, cola-based soft drinks and milk chocolate were the most frequently consumed products containing caffeine in the diet of the examined persons. The average caffeine intake was 95.54 mg/day (1.54 mg/kg b.w.). In 12.2% of the subjects the dose of 3 mg/kg b.w./day was exceeded, and in over 41.3% the dose causing sleep disorders was exceeded. The dose causing anxiety was also exceeded in 18.1% of the respondents, significantly more often in girls than boys ( p = 0.0487).

Inadequate eating habits, as well as a low level of physical activity, influence adipose tissue deposition. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of central obesity in upper-secondary students and to determine the factors related to its occurrence. The survey included 309 participants, aged 16 to 18 years from Krakow (Poland). Anthropometric measurements were taken during the periodic assessment of students' health status. An anonymous questionnaire was used to assess the nutritional and non-nutritional risk factors of participants. According to different methods of measurement, abdominal obesity (AO) was observed in 15.5% (WC-waist circumference), 10.7% (WHtR-waist to height ratio) or 21.7% (WHR-waist to hip ratio) participants. Abdominal obesity (WC) was significantly associated with family history of excess body weight and higher economic status of the family. The risk of AO (WC) was significantly lower among adolescents who declared higher physical activity. Boys who eat first breakfasts have lower AO risk according to WHtR interpretation. Abdominal obesity in gender group was related to the self-esteem of one's own appearance according to WHtR and WC. Abdominal obesity was associated with the family environment and modifiable lifestyle factors and was dependent on gender.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant worldwide, including by pregnant women. Products containing caffeine should be limited in accordance with the recommendations for pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate consumption of caffeinated products and daily caffeine intake from food by pregnant women. The study was conducted on a group of healthy pregnant women: attendees of antenatal classes ( n = 70) and patients of an outpatient gynecological clinic ( n = 70) from Krakow (Southern Poland). A questionnaire about the frequency of consumption of selected foods and drinks containing caffeine was used. The average caffeine content in food products obtained from other Polish studies was used to estimate average daily caffeine intake in our study group. Mean daily caffeine intake was 49.60 ± 59.15 mg/day and the maximum was 498.0 mg/day. The main sources of caffeine were as follows: black tea (bags, leaf), instant coffee and ground coffee. No statistically significant differences in caffeine intake between the groups were found. A weak negative correlation (rs) = -0.28 ( p = 0.0208) between month of pregnancy and caffeine intake was observed among attendees of antenatal classes. Mean daily caffeine intake did not exceed the maximum recommended dose in our study group.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of food neophobia in pre-school children and its association with eating habits, dietary intake and anthropometric parameters., Design: Cross-sectional survey performed in 2012-2013. The Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS) adapted by Wardle, Carnell and Cooke was used to assess the level of food neophobia. Dietary intake was measured using an FFQ and dietary records from three days. Anthropometric measurements were taken to determine children's nutritional status and BMI was computed based on Polish growth charts. Wilcoxon's rank test and Pearson's rank-correlation coefficient were applied to compare the level of food neophobia and frequency of consumption of food products and nutrient intakes., Setting: Kindergartens in southern Poland located in or near Cracow., Subjects: Three hundred and twenty-five pre-school children and their parents., Results: Low neophobia was observed in 12·3 % and high neophobia in 10·8 % of the children examined. Children with a high level of neophobia were significantly less likely (P<0·05) to eat eggs, raw or cooked vegetables and legumes, whereas they tended to eat sweets and snacks more frequently; these foodstuffs were also eaten more often between meals. Because the neophobic children ate vegetables very rarely, their intakes of vitamin C (36 % of RDA) and thiamin (84 % of RDA) were far below the norms. No differences in anthropometric parameters according to level of food neophobia were observed., Conclusions: High levels of neophobia are associated with diet variation and may enhance the risk of nutritional deficiencies in children.

Background: The previous study indicated the enhancement of the anti-inflammatory effect of ketoprofen by acute and sub chronic administration of zinc hydroaspartate., Methods: The present study examined anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic and analgesic activity induced by chronic (14 days) administration of ZHA (30 mg/kg, po), with a combination of a single administration of ketoprofen, in rats. Moreover, the zinc concentration in serum and stomach mucosa was also determined., Results: Chronic ZHA po administration exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and enhanced the effect induced by ketoprofen. Likewise, ZHA administration demonstrated anti-ulcerogenic activity. While ZHA alone did not exhibit analgesic action, it enhanced the effect of ketoprofen., Conclusions: The present study demonstrated for the first time that chronic treatment with zinc salt exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. Besides, anti-ulcerogenic activity and the enhancing properties of zinc to ketoprofen induced anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity were also shown., (Copyright © 2014 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.)

Background: Peanuts are one of the main food allergens, occasionally responsible for life-threatening reactions. Thus, many studies have tried to fi nd a connection between peanut allergy prevalence and processes in the peanut chain that may contribute to the peanut allergenicity. To inform this discussion, this paper outlines experiences in peanut cultivation, trade and processing in Europe, focusing on four European countries with different peanut experiences (Poland, Bulgaria, Spain and the UK)., Material and Method: Results here are based on documentary analysis and semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 32 experts involved in various stages of the peanut chain, including peanut farmers, processors, traders, food technologists and manufacturers., Results: A common peanut chain diagram has been drawn considering shelled and in-shell peanuts. The analysis of each stage of peanut processing has been made in accordance with this peanut chain schema. Thermal and mechanical processes are discussed alongside the resultant end peanut products available for European consumers. The paper also analyses the main trends of peanut trade in Europe. The results suggest that the majority of peanut products in Europe are roasted, implying enhanced exposure of the population to more allergenic peanuts., Conclusion: The presented schema and related discussion bring together diverse aspects of peanut production, trade and processing. The main factor associated with the increased allergenicity of peanuts appears to be high temperature roasting. Frying and boiling are also thermal processes, but fried and boiled peanuts have been associated with reduce peanut allergenicity. Neither country of origin nor cultivar type appear to be related to differential peanut allergenicity. More research is needed as regards the impact of various additives, such as chocolate (which is also considered an allergen) on the allergenicity of peanut products. The use of peanuts in non-food products also needs more investigation.

Background: Recurrent major depression is associated with decreased blood zinc concentrations that may be increased by effective antidepressant therapy. Some clinical investigations point to alterations of the zinc level in blood as a potential marker of depression., Methods: A placebo-controlled, double blind study of zinc supplementation to imipramine therapy was conducted on sixty patients fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for major depression (18-55 years old, 40 females, 20 males). Moreover, a group of 25 healthy volunteers was recruited (16 females, 9 males). Blood samples were drawn for the assay of serum zinc once from the control subjects and four times (before, and then 2, 6 and 12 weeks after the beginning of treatment) from the depressed subjects., Results: We report that: 1) the serum zinc level was significantly lower (by 22%) in depressed patients than in healthy volunteers, 2) all groups demonstrated a gradual increase in zinc concentrations over the period of imipramine treatment with or without zinc supplementation, 3) treatment-resistant patients demonstrated lower concentrations of zinc (by 14%) than treatment-non-resistant patients, 4) zinc concentrations were higher in zinc-supplemented patients than in placebo-supplemented patients, 5) zinc supplementation increased zinc concentrations over the period of treatment, and 6) at a 12-week imipramine treatment, a significant negative correlation was demonstrated between the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the serum zinc level together with a concomitant increase in serum zinc in patients in remission., Conclusions: Serum zinc is a state marker of depression., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)