An Overview of the Possible Exposure of Infants to Microplastics.

Microplastics are small plastic pieces with sizes less than 5 mm. They are becoming a global concern due to the potential risk to human health. The potential risks of microplastics may be greater for infants because they do not have sufficiently developed metabolizing enzymes, have less ability to remove microplastics, and have highly sensitive target organs. Infants should be breastfed for the first six months of life. Breast milk is considered to be the most complete and suitable source of nutrition. However, if breastfeeding during this period is not possible, it is necessary to use formulas designed for infant initial feeding. Infants may be exposed to higher levels of MPs through infant foods or plastic products. The aim of this study is to describe the possible sources of exposure to microplastics such as the human placenta, plastic feeding bottles, and toys as well as the presence of released microplastics in infant feces, breast milk, and infant formulas. There is still not enough data available for this study area. Therefore, it is necessary to pay increased attention to minimizing the negative effects of microplastics on human health.

Relationship between Eating Habits and 4-Nonylphenol Concentration in Breast Milk of Women in Slovakia.

4-Nonylphenol belongs to the alkylphenol group of chemicals, and its high occurrence in the environment can cause an adverse effect on human health. Breast milk can serve as a marker to take measure of human exposure to these chemicals through different routes of exposure. In this work, the influence of selected factors (the kind of water drank by the mothers; the consumption of fish, pork, and beef; wearing gloves; using nail polish, gel nails, vitamins, and medication) on the concentration on 4-nonylphenol in 89 breast milk samples was studied. The concentrations of nonylphenol in breast milk were determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The lowest and highest concentrations of 4-nonylphenol in breast milk were 0.97 ng/mL and 4.37 ng/mL, respectively. Statistical significance was observed for the consumption of pork (p = 0.048) and fish (0.041) in relation to the 4-nonylphenol concentration. Certain parameters (use of gel nails, beef consumption, and vitamin supplementation) were at the border of statistical significance (p = 0.06). Other parameters did not show any statistical significance. The results showed that breast milk in Slovakia does not contain a harmful dose of 4-nonylphenol and does not cause health problems. But it is necessary to continue this research and perform extended screening on a larger number of samples.

Association of Inflammatory and Oxidative Status Markers with Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in 40-to-45-Year-Old Females: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Oxidative stress and sterile inflammation play roles in the induction and maintenance of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study cohort included 170 females aged 40 to 45 years who were categorized according to the presentation of MetS components (e.g., central obesity, insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and elevated systolic blood pressure) as controls not presenting a single component (n = 43), those with pre-MetS displaying one to two components (n = 70), and females manifesting MetS, e.g., ≥3 components (n = 53). We analyzed the trends of seventeen oxidative and nine inflammatory status markers across three clinical categories. A multivariate regression of selected oxidative status and inflammatory markers on the components of MetS was performed. Markers of oxidative damage (malondialdehyde and advanced-glycation-end-products-associated fluorescence of plasma) were similar across the groups. Healthy controls displayed lower uricemia and higher bilirubinemia than females with MetS; and lower leukocyte counts, concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukine-6, and higher levels of carotenoids/lipids and soluble receptors for advanced glycation end-products than those with pre-MetS and MetS. In multivariate regression models, levels of C-reactive protein, uric acid, and interleukine-6 were consistently associated with MetS components, although the impacts of single markers differed. Our data suggest that a proinflammatory imbalance precedes the manifestation of MetS, while an imbalance of oxidative status accompanies overt MetS. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether determining markers beyond traditional ones could help improve the prognosis of subjects at an early stage of MetS.

Effect of a plant sterol, fish oil and B vitamin combination on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolemic children and adolescents: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors can predict clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in adulthood. In this pilot study with hypercholesterolemic children and adolescents, we investigated the effects of a combination of plant sterols, fish oil and B vitamins on the levels of four independent risk factors for CVD; LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, C-reactive protein and homocysteine. METHODS: Twenty five participants (mean age 16 y, BMI 23 kg/m2) received daily for a period of 16 weeks an emulsified preparation comprising plant sterols esters (1300 mg), fish oil (providing 1000 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) and vitamins B12 (50 µg), B6 (2.5 mg), folic acid (800 µg) and coenzyme Q10 (3 mg). Atherogenic and inflammatory risk factors, plasma lipophilic vitamins, provitamins and fatty acids were measured at baseline, week 8 and 16. RESULTS: The serum total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, subfractions LDL-2, IDL-1, IDL-2 and plasma homocysteine levels were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention period (p<0.05). The triacylglycerols levels decreased by 17.6%, but did not reach significance. No significant changes in high sensitivity C-reactive protein, HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 were observed during the study period. After standardisation for LDL cholesterol, there were no significant changes in the levels of plasma γ-tocopherol, ß-carotene and retinol, except for reduction in α-tocopherol levels. The plasma levels of n-3 fatty acids increased significantly with the dietary supplementation (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Daily intake of a combination of plant sterols, fish oil and B vitamins may modulate the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic children and adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN89549017.

Vitamin C levels in blood are influenced by polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases.

PURPOSE: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are intimately involved in combating oxidative stress and in detoxifying xenobiotics. Our objective was to examine possible interactions between polymorphisms in GST genes and plasma vitamin C, tocopherols and carotenoids in 149 reference subjects and 239 subjects occupationally exposed to mineral fibres (asbestos, rock wool, glass fibre), agents that induce oxidative stress. METHODS: Deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1, and substitution 105Ile/Val in GSTP1 genes were determined by PCR, antioxidants in plasma were measured by HPLC. RESULTS: Tocopherols and carotenoids were affected by age, sex, smoking, occupational exposure to fibres, but not by GST polymorphisms. Vitamin C level was influenced by sex, smoking and occupational exposure. Subjects with deletion of GST had lower vitamin C levels compared with subjects carrying the functional gene variant. Vitamin C levels varied according to GSTM1 polymorphism in the whole group (p < 0.05), in all reference subjects (p < 0.05), in the asbestos factory reference group (p < 0.05), and according to GSTT1 polymorphism in reference group of the rock wool plant (p < 0.05). Vitamin C levels were approximately 20% lower in subjects with both functionally deficient genes in the whole group (p < 0.01) and in all non-exposed subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The correspondence of lower vitamin C levels with non-functional GST isoenzymes may indicate a causal connection between two antioxidant defence pathways, also the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. It seems that supplementation by natural antioxidants is particularly important for subjects with unfavourable genetic makeup and in those exposed to oxidative stress.

Occupational exposure to mineral fibres. Biomarkers of oxidative damage and antioxidant defence and associations with DNA damage and repair.

In order to study the effect of mineral wool exposure on oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, an epidemiological study was conducted in a mineral wool factory in Slovakia. Altogether 141 subjects were investigated (21-58 years old), 43 controls (20 men and 23 women: 27 non-smokers, 16 smokers) and 98 exposed (75 men and 23 women: 61 non-smokers, 37 smokers). We found higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the group of all exposed workers (P = 0.025) and in exposed non-smokers (P = 0.003) and a significantly suppressed activity of ceruloplasmin oxidase (P = 0.02, P < 0.02, respectively) and catalase (CAT) (P = 0.04, P = 0.01, respectively) in these groups. The activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) was affected by exposure to mineral wool; levels were significantly lower in all exposed subjects (P = 0.04), in the exposed non-smokers (P = 0.03) and in exposed men (P < 0.01). Concentrations of vitamin C in plasma and the ferric-reducing activity of plasma (FRAP) were not affected by the mineral wool exposure. There was a significant negative correlation between the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and MDA in the whole group (P < 0.01) and in the exposed group and between CAT activity and MDA in all subjects (P < 0.01). GST activity correlated inversely with oxidized pyrimidines in lymphocyte DNA, in almost all subgroups. We found significant negative correlations between DNA repair and GPX in all subjects (P = 0.03) as well as in control men (P < 0.03) and between DNA repair and CAT in all control subjects (P < 0.02) and in control men (P < 0.01). Interestingly, we found a positive correlation between DNA repair and MDA in all subjects (P < 0.01) and in all exposed subjects (P < 0.03). The presented results indicate that mineral wool exposure induces an increase in oxidative damage to biomolecules especially in the group of male non-smokers. However, optimal levels of antioxidants could have a protective effect. Biomarkers such as MDA, antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant vitamins measured in blood may be useful biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant protection. We do not recommend FRAP as a marker of antioxidant status as interference from other constituents can provide false or confusing results. Our study supports the idea that there might also be other mechanisms by which antioxidant enzymes (especially GST) protect cells against oxidative DNA damage.

[Method of measurement of protein metabolism in isolated skeletal muscle of the rat]. / Metoda merení parametru metabolismu proteinu na izolovaných kosterních svalech laboratorního potkana.

The aim of our present research is to evaluate the direct effects of humoral factors on protein metabolism. For this purpose we have adopted a method that enables measuring of parameters of protein and amino acid metabolism in isolated m. soleus and m. extensor digitorum longus of the rat. The rate of tyrosine release was used to estimate protein breakdown. The oxidation of leucine was evaluated by the rate of 14CO2 production from [1-14C]leucine. Incorporation of [1-14C]leucine into muscle proteins was used to estimate protein synthesis. The metabolic state of the muscles was evaluated by measuring changes in ATP, ADP, AMP levels, and calculated energy charge.