Carrageenan in the Diet: Friend or Foe for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

While the exact pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear, genetic, environmental and nutritional factors as well as the composition of the gut microbiome play crucial roles. Food additives, which are increasingly consumed in the Western diet, are being investigated for their potential effects on IBD. These additives can affect gut health by altering the composition of the microbiota, immune responses, and intestinal permeability, contributing to autoimmune diseases and inflammation. Despite the growing number of studies on food additives and IBD, the specific effects of carrageenan have not yet been sufficiently researched. This review addresses this gap by critically analyzing recent studies on the effects of carrageenan on the gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and inflammatory processes. We searched the MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases using the following terms: carrageenan, carrageenan and inflammatory bowel disease, carrageenan and cancer, food additives and microbiome, food additives and intestinal permeability, and food additives and autoimmune diseases. In animal studies, degraded carrageenan has been shown to trigger intestinal ulceration and inflammation, highlighting its potential risk for exacerbating IBD. It can affect the gut microbiota, reduce bacterial diversity, and increase intestinal permeability, contributing to "leaky gut" syndrome. Some studies suggest that carrageenan may inhibit the growth of cancer cells by influencing the progression of the cell cycle, but the anti-cancer effect is still unclear. Carrageenan may also increase glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Further research is needed to determine whether carrageenan should be excluded from the diet of individuals with IBD.

Adherence to the 2021 dietary guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology on cardiovascular disease prevention in residents of the Pomeranian Voivodeship with increased cardiovascular risk.

INTRODUCTION: Good eating habits can reduce cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to verify the compliance with the new European Society of Cardiology (ESC) dietary guidelines in people with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 1244 current or former smokers (636 men and 608 women) at a mean (SD) age of 61.6 (6.4) years who volunteered for the MOLTEST BIS lung cancer prevention program. During the program, 49% of the patients were diagnosed with one of the following: arterial hypertension (AH), diabetes mellitus (DM), or coronary artery disease (CAD). The patients with lung cancer were excluded from the study. The participants completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ­6) and their food intake was assessed with a 24­hour dietary recall method. RESULTS: Only 2% of the studied individuals declared consuming more than 2 servings of both fruits and vegetables every day, and only 3% of the respondents confirmed daily nut consumption. Most of them weighed too much, consumed too little fiber, and derived too much energy from total and saturated fats. The mean animal to plant protein ratio was higher than recommended, as was the omega­6 to omega­3 fatty acid ratio. Only 40% of the participants with AH, DM, or CAD had a daily cholesterol intake below 200 mg, and in only 12% of them less than 7% of total energy came from saturated fats. CONCLUSIONS: The smokers with increased cardiovascular risk did not comply with the 2021 ESC dietary recommendations. The most common error was inadequate consumption of vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

Inappropriate dietary habits in tobacco smokers as a potential risk factor for lung cancer: Pomeranian cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known whether diet quality modulates lung cancer risk in smokers. The aim of the study was to assess the dietary habits of a large group of volunteers participating in the lung cancer screening program. METHODS: The 62-item food frequency questionaire was completed by 5997 participants, 127 of whom (2.1%) were later diagnosed with lung cancer. Two approaches were applied to identify dietary habits. The non-healthy diet index was calculated, and a direct analysis of the frequency of consumption was used. A logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between food product intake and the risk of lung cancer. RESULTS: The study population did not follow the Polish nutritional recommendations. They consumed fruits and vegetables too rarely and far too often ate non-recommended foods, such as processed meat, refined products, sugar, sweets, and salty snacks. Participants diagnosed with lung cancer more often consumed low-quality processed meat, red meat, fats, and refined bread and less often whole-grain products, tropical fruits, milk, fermented unsweetened milk drinks, nuts, honey, and wine. The non-healthy diet index score was significantly higher in those with cancer diagnosis compared with those without lung cancer (11.9 ± 5.2 versus 10.9 ± 5.3; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The surveyed population of smokers did not follow dietary recommendations; there was a particularly high index of an unhealthy diet in by people diagnosed with lung cancer. Prevention programs should be based on encouraging smoking cessation, lifestyle modification, and methods of early detection of lung cancer. Lifestyle modification should include changing eating habits based on a healthy diet, which may be an additional factor in reducing the risk of developing cancer.

Possibilities of the Development of Edible Insect-Based Foods in Europe.

All over the world, a large proportion of the population consume insects as part of their diet. In Western countries, however, the consumption of insects is perceived as a negative phenomenon. The consumption of insects worldwide can be considered in two ways: on the one hand, as a source of protein in countries affected by hunger, while, on the other, as an alternative protein in highly-developed regions, in response to the need for implementing policies of sustainable development. This review focused on both the regulations concerning the production and marketing of insects in Europe and the characteristics of edible insects that are most likely to establish a presence on the European market. The paper indicates numerous advantages of the consumption of insects, not only as a valuable source of protein but also as a raw material rich in valuable fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral salts. Attention was paid to the functional properties of proteins derived from insects, and to the possibility for using them in the production of functional food. The study also addresses the hazards which undoubtedly contribute to the mistrust and lowered acceptance of European consumers and points to the potential gaps in the knowledge concerning the breeding conditions, raw material processing and health safety. This set of analyzed data allows us to look optimistically at the possibilities for the development of edible insect-based foods, particularly in Europe.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test and bioimpedance as prediction tools to predict the outcomes of obesity treatment.

INTRODUCTION Obesity impacts the global population. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and cardiopulmonary exercise test [CPET]) may help modify the treatment. OBJECTIVES We aimed to compare BIA and CPET results in obese and lean indivisuals, assess changes in BIA and CPET during obesity treatment, and indentify parameters predicting treatment outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS We enrolled 200 obese patients, of whom 45 underwent a lifestyle modification treatment, and 32 lean individuals (controls). Lifestyle modifications included diet, rehabilitation, education, and behavioral therapy. The diet was based on body composition assessed by BIA and fat metabolism assessed by CPET. The intensity of exercise in the rehabilitation program was based on CPET, mainly peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), fat metabolism (FAT), and fat heart rate (FAT HR). The protocol duration was 12 weeks. RESULTS Obese patients differed from lean controls with regard to VO2peak (P <0.0001), oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (P <0.0002), respiratory exchange ratio (P <0.014), oxygen uptake to work rate slope (P <0.0004), FAT (P <0.001), FAT HR (P <0.0008), anaerobic threshold heart rate (P <0.0003), as well as fat mass (P = 0.01), fat­free mass (P = 0.007), resting metabolic rate (RMR) (P = 0.007), total body water (P = 0.01), and extracellular water (P = 0.004). The treatment resulted in increased RMR (P <0.02) and VO2peak (P <0.002), as well as reduced fat tissue (P <0.006) and resting heart rate (P <0.017). The prediction model based on FAT HR, resting heart rate, and FAT enabled the prediction of treatment outcomes in 92% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Obese patients had pathological FAT and impaired exercise tolerance. Changes in BIA and CPET prove the metabolic impact of lifestyle modification treatment.

Differences in gene expression related to the outcomes of obesity treatment, peak oxygen uptake, and fatty acid metabolism measured in a cardiopulmonary exercise test.

INTRODUCTION The obesity pandemic requires development of methods that could be used on a large scale, such as the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Gene expression may explain CPET results on the molecular level. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare gene expression in obesity, depending on CPET results. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study group consisted of 9 obese patients and 7 controls. The treatment encompassed diet, rehabilitation, and behavioral therapy. Diet was based on the body composition analyzed by bioelectrical impedance, resting metabolic rate, and subjective patient preferences. The rehabilitation depended on the CPET results: maximal oxygen uptake and fatty acid metabolism. Behavioral intervention focused on the diagnosis of health problems leading to obesity, lifestyle modification, training in self­assessment, and development of healthy habits. The intensive treatment lasted for 12 weeks and consisted of consultations with a physician, dietitian, and medical rehabilitation specialist. RNA was isolated from the whole blood. A total of 47 323 transcripts were analyzed, of which 32 379 entities were confirmed to have high quality of RNA. RESULTS We observed differences in gene expression related to the CPET results indicating abnormalities in fat oxidation and maximal oxygen uptake. The genes with major differences in expression were: CLEC12A, HLA­DRB1, HLA­DRB4, HLA­A29.1, IFIT1, and LOC100133662. CONCLUSIONS The differences in gene expression may account for the outcomes of treatment related to inflammation caused by obesity, which affects the muscles, fat tissue, and fatty acid metabolism.

Single pyruvate intake induces blood alkalization and modification of resting metabolism in humans.

OBJECTIVES: Three separate studies were performed with the aim to 1) determine the effect of a single sodium pyruvate intake on the blood acid-base status in males and females; 2) compare the effect of sodium and calcium pyruvate salts and establish their role in the lipolysis rate; and 3) quantify the effect of single pyruvate intake on the resting energy metabolism. METHODS: In all, 48 individuals completed three separate studies. In all the studies, participants consumed a single dose of pyruvate 0.1 g/kg 60 min before commencing the measurements. The whole blood pH, bicarbonate concentration, base excess or plasma glycerol, free fatty acids, glucose concentrations, or resting energy expenditure and calculated respiratory exchange ratio were determined. The analysis of variance for repeated measurements was performed to examine the interaction between treatment and time. RESULTS: The single dose of sodium pyruvate induced blood alkalization, which was more marked in the male than in the female participants. Following the ingestion of sodium or calcium pyruvate, the blood acid-base parameters were higher than in the placebo trial. Furthermore, 3-h postingestion glycerol was lower in both pyruvate trials than in placebo. Resting energy expenditure did not differ between the trials; however, carbohydrate oxidation was increased after sodium pyruvate ingestion. CONCLUSION: Pyruvate intake induced mild alkalization in a sex-dependent fashion. Moreover, it accelerated carbohydrate metabolism and delayed the rate of glycerol appearance in the blood, but had no effect on the resting energy expenditure. Furthermore, sodium salt seems to have had a greater effect on the blood buffering level than calcium salt.

Obesity and diet awareness among Polish children and adolescents in small towns and villages.

BACKGROUND: In addition to genetic predispositions and environmental factors, healthy lifestyle education is very important for children and adolescents. The purpose of this research was to estimate the number of overweight and obese children and adolescents from small towns and villages and to find out an association between health awareness in children and the risk of becoming overweight or obese. METHODS: The research was conducted in 1,515 healthy children aged 6-18 years from small towns and villages in Poland. Overweight was diagnosed when BMI for age and sex was over the 90th percentile; obesity--when it was over the 95th percentile. The study consisted of a lifestyle interview and anthropometrical measurements. The lifestyle interview was conducted with the use of an anonymous questionnaire form and included questions about food frequency, diet habits and physical activity. The research was analysed using the SAS System for Windows, release 8.02. RESULTS: Overweight status was diagnosed in 9.0% and obesity in 5.1% of respondents. Excess body mass was statistically more frequently diagnosed in girls than in boys aged 14-18 years. Girls of this age group significantly more frequently chose wholemeal bread, smoked sausages, meat and poultry as products that are believed to keep them fit. Older children substantially more often indicated that stress, smoking cigarettes, consuming fatty meat, sweets, being obese, and a lack of physical activity are factors that damage health. Boys spent more time in front of a computer or TV than girls; in the older group of children, the phenomenon even intensified. CONCLUSION: Awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviour is not sufficient to maintain optimal body mass. Knowledge about proper eating habits is better among girls than among boys, especially in the older age groups. However, in older groups, there was less physical activity due to spending more time in front of TV or the computer. High percentage of obese/overweight children and insufficient knowledge of nutrition may consequently result in increased risk of cardio-vascular diseases in adult population.