Depressive Disorders and Sleeping Disturbances-Surveys Study of 923 Participants on the Pol'and'Rock Festival, Kostrzyn, Poland 2019.

Depressive disorders are common among young people and can decrease social competences and thus the quality of life. There is a relationship between the occurrence of depressive disorders and insomnia. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and depressive behavior and assess the relationship between these among participants of the Pol'and'Rock Festival, Kostrzyn, Poland 2019. The study used the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and the Beck Inventory II Scale (BDI-II). The study group consisted of 923 people, with the majority of women (n = 500; 54.2%). A total of 297 persons (32.2%) reported varying severity of depressive symptoms. Insomnia was observed in 261 (28.28%) respondents. Sleeping disturbances were observed more frequently in females. Persons with insomnia had a significantly higher BDI-II score. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.65) between the number of points obtained on the Beck and AIS scales was observed. Insomnia and depressive behavior are prevalent in the Polish population. Due to long-term social and economic consequences, special attention should be paid to the prevention, early detection and treatment of both disorders.

Effects of Resveratrol Supplementation in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-A Meta-Analysis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as one of the most common liver pathologies in many societies. Resveratrol, as a phenolic compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties exerting positive effects on the lipid profile and lipid accumulation and also on insulin resistance, appears to be an effective, natural, and safe complementary treatment option in NAFLD therapy. This meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the effects of resveratrol supplementation in NAFLD patients. To this end, scientific databases PubMed/Medline/Embase were searched up to 19 March 2020. We included seven randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with a total of 302 patients with NAFLD. In all the trials included in the analysis, resveratrol was administered daily over periods between 56 and 180 days in doses ranging from 500 mg to 3000 mg a day. The results of this meta-analysis reveal that resveratrol supplementation, irrespective of the dose or duration, did not affect the analyzed parameters (p < 0.05). The sole exception was an increase in alanine aminotransferase following the administration of resveratrol (p = 0.041). Currently available evidence is insufficient to confirm the efficacy of resveratrol in the management of NAFLD. Due to the inconsistencies between the existing scientific reports, a number of which found a positive effect on NAFLD-related parameters; further research in this area is needed.

Reactive oxygen species - sources, functions, oxidative damage.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are molecules capable of independent existence, containing at least one oxygen atom and one or more unpaired electrons. This group includes oxygen free radicals, e.g. superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl radical, singlet oxygen, as well as free nitrogen radicals. Under physiological conditions, small quantities of ROS are formed during cell processes, such as aerobic respiration or inflammatory processes, mainly in hepatocytes and macrophages. Reactive oxygen species are primarily signalling molecules. In addition, they induce cell differentiation and apoptosis, thus contributing to the natural ageing process. They also participate in muscle contractions, regulation of vascular tone, and determine bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity. Increased production of free radicals is caused by excessive exposure to UV radiation, long-term stress conditions, intense physical exercise, improper diet and use of stimulants. Under physiological conditions, there is a balance between the generation and removal of free radicals from the body. The aim of the article was to review the current state of knowledge regarding oxidative stress, free radical function and free radical diseases. The search was performed using search engines such as PubMed and Google Scholar. The keywords used in the search included: oxygen radicals, oxidative stress, free radical-related diseases. Excessive formation of free radicals contributes to oxidative stress, causing damage at the molecular and cellular level. Reactive oxygen species in vitro cause chemical modifications as well as damaging effects to proteins (aggregation, denaturation), lipids (peroxidation), carbohydrates and nucleotides (changes in the DNA structure). These changes contribute to the development of many free radical-mediated diseases. Oxidative stress has a particularly adverse effect on the circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems.

Antioxidant properties of small-molecule non-enzymatic compounds.

Reactive oxygen species are molecules capable of independent existence, containing at least one oxygen atom and one or more unpaired electrons. Excessive formation of these molecules leads to oxidative stress. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in substances with antioxidant properties, reducing or preventing the harmful effects of free radicals. The compounds involved in antioxidant defence include endogenous and exogenous antioxidants, protecting body cells against the negative effects of oxygen radicals. The most important small-molecule non-enzymatic compounds found in food include ascorbic acid, retinol, ß-carotene, tocopherol and polyphenolic compounds. Products of plant origin may provide a valuable source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. It is believed that a diet rich in antioxidants may reduce the risk of developing several nutrition-related conditions as well as delay the ageing process. The aim of this review was to elucidate this topic and the state of the art about the role of plant orgin substances in counteraction of free radical reactions in human body.

Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of the Kombucha Beverage Derived from White, Green, Black and Red Tea.

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage prepared as a result of the symbiotic nature of bacterial cultures and yeast, the so-called SCOBY (Symbiotic Cultures of Bacteria and Yeasts). Kombucha is characterised by rich chemical content and healthy properties. It includes organic acids, minerals and vitamins originating mainly from tea, amino acids, and biologically active compounds-polyphenols in particular. Kombucha is prepared mainly in the form of black tea, but other tea types are increasingly often used as well, which can significantly impact its content and health benefits. This work shows that the type of tea has a significant influence on the parameters associated with the antioxidant potential, pH, as well as the content of acetic acid, alcohol or sugar. Red tea and green tea on the 1st and 14th day of fermentation are a particularly prominent source of antioxidants, especially polyphenols, including flavonoids. Therefore, the choice of other tea types than the traditionally used black tea and the subjection of these tea types to fermentation seems to be beneficial in terms of the healthy properties of kombucha.

Antioxidant Properties and Nutritional Composition of Matcha Green Tea.

Matcha green tea (Camellia sinensis), which originates from Japan, is commonly considered as particularly beneficial to health. A large content of polyphenols, amino acids (mainly tannins) and caffeine potentially increase the antioxidant properties of the drink. The aim of the study was to determine the antioxidant potential and the content of substances with an antioxidant effect-vitamin C, total polyphenol content including flavonoids-in infusions made from Traditional Matcha (from the first and second harvests) and Daily Matcha (from the second and third harvests) at different temperatures. The infusions were made by pouring 100 mL of distilled water once at various temperatures (25 °C, 70 °C, 80 °C and 90 °C) over 1.75 g of the plant material. Matcha tea is characterized by a high level of antioxidant substances (flavonoids 1968.8 mg/L; polyphenols 1765.1 mg/L; vitamin C 44.8 mg/L) as well as antioxidant potential (41.2% DPPH (10× dilution); 6129.5 µM Fe(II)/dm3 FRAP). The concentration of these compounds depends on the time at which the plant material was harvested as well as on the temperature of water used to prepare the infusions. For most parameters, the highest values were observed in infusions prepared at 90 °C and from the daily Matcha.

[Characteristics and pro-health benefits of herbhoneys]. / Charakterystyka oraz wlasciwosci prozdrowotne ziolomiodów.

Herbhoneys are bee origin products. However, they differ from traditional honeys in the production method. The process of making herbhoneys is based on feeding bees with nourishments, which are a combination of sugar syrup and plant extracts. For the preparation of the nourishment, plants that do not produce nectar or honeydew are often used. Thanks to this treatment, ready-made herbhoney, apart from a rich composition of mineral compounds, may also contain active substances. Herbhoneys have a characteristic color, which is associated with its plant origin and chemical composition. They are used in the therapy and prevention of many diseases, and their healthpromoting effect is associated with the plant material used to prepare the nutrient solution. Research shows positive influence of pine herbhoney in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, or the use of nettle herbhoney in gastrointestinal disorders. There are diverse data on the elemental composition of herbhoneys compared to natural honey. However, the essential factor conditioning the mineral content is the origin of honey and herbahoneys used for analysis. Herbhoneys, like traditional honey, have antimicrobial activity. They have been shown to be bactericidal against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. The content of bioactive substances in herbhoneys determines their high antioxidant potential. Studies also indicate the presence of polyphenols, which occurrence is not observed in natural honeys. Herbhoneys, despite numerous health-promoting properties, are not a popular products on the Polish market.

The Digestive Health among Participants of the Woodstock Rock Festival in Poland-A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Alterations of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier and the gut-brain axis may be involved in pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of digestive tract symptoms and identify common variables potentially disrupting the gut-brain axis among participants of the Woodstock Festival Poland, 2017. In total 428 people filled in a questionnaire assessing health of their digestive tract. The investigator collected answers on an electronic device, while the study participant responded using a paper version of the same questionnaire. Liver and gallbladder related symptoms were the most prevalent among our study group (n = 266, 62%), however symptoms related to altered intestinal permeability were found to be the most intensive complaints. In females the intensity of gastrointestinal complaints was higher compared to men (p < 0.05), as well as the incidence of factors with the potential to alter gut-brain axis (p < 0.0001). Chronic psychological distress, intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, were the most common associations with gastrointestinal symptoms, which were the most prevalent in females. Further attention should be focused on stress as one of the main factors negatively influencing public health.