Folic acid - importance for human health and its role in COVID-19 therapy.

Folic acid (folacin, B9) is a vitamin that performs many very important functions in the human body, and its inadequate level - deficiency as well as excess, may contribute to an increased risk of developing many disease processes. The aim of this study was to analyze the available scientific literature on folic acid and its impact on human health. A systematic review of the studies, published until November 2022, was made on the basis of searching bibliographic databases such as: PubMed, Elsevier and Google Scholar. The following keywords and combinations were used: folic acid, folate, folic acid supplementation, folate deficiency. Folic acid, thanks to its high biological activity, has a direct and indirect effect on the metabolism of the human body cells. It plays a very important role, among others in the prevention of neural tube defects and megaloblastic anemia, the proper functioning of the nervous system, as well as reducing the risk of developing certain cancers. Currently, the important role of folic acid in maintaining the proper functioning of the immune system is also emphasized, which is of particular importance both in the prevention and in the situation of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. The effects of deficiency and excess of vitamin B9 may turn out to be dangerous to health and even life. There is a need for nutritional and health education of the society regarding the importance of folic acid for human health, due to the presence of large deficiencies in the population, which is particularly important for some social groups, such as, for example, women of procreation age, pregnant or breastfeeding, people with a nutrient malabsorption, and people who smoke or abuse alcohol.

The activity of propolis against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections

Abstract Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by bees from the buds or other parts of plants. It is known for having various biological properties, including antifungal activity. Among the substances present in propolis, flavonoids and phenolic acids and their esters are responsible for its antifungal properties. This means that propolis is ideal for use as an antifungal agent in alternative medicine to treat a number of both topical and systemic infections caused by Candida species and other yeast-like fungi, dermatophyte and nondermatophyte moulds, without the serious side effects typical of synthetic treatment. It is also active against strains of fungi that are resistant to polyenes and azoles, the classes of drugs most commonly used to treat fungal infections. In this article, we review current knowledge about the activity of propolis from different parts of the world and its components in vitro and in vivo against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections. The article also indicates the possible mechanism of antifungal activity of propolis and its components.

Body Composition and Anthropometric Indicators in Children and Adolescents 6-15 Years Old.

The problem of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has now become a major public health challenge worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of age and gender on body composition components and anthropometric indices of children and adolescents aged 6-15 years; in addition, the study aimed to assess body composition indices in relation to BMI (Body Mass Index) levels. The study was conducted at the end of 2019 and in the first quarter of 2020 among 181 pupils attending primary schools. Waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, and body height were measured. The collected data were used to calculate and then to analyse BMI, WHR (Waist-Hip Ratio), and WHtR (Waist to Height Ratio) indices. Body composition was determined with the use of the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). The analyses' statistics were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 24 and Excel. The statistical methods used included Chi2 tests of independence, one-factor analysis of variance, and two-factor analysis of variance taking into account the level of α = 0.05. Based on the results, there were no statistically significant differences in the gender and age distributions of the BMI groups. However, the analysis of interaction effects confirmed that there were statistically significant differences according to pubertal age and gender in body fat, muscle mass, hydration, and WHR. Body composition in boys and girls before the age of 12 is similar while, after the age of 12, there are differences between boys and girls in terms of body composition so there is a need to deepen the assessment of body mass, especially in adolescents at the age of puberty, by body composition analysis using the BIA method.

Vitamin D in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Background. SARS-CoV-2 virus is one of the largest RNA viruses, included in the coronavirus group, showing tropism to airway epithelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 causes an acute respiratory infectious disease, Covid-19. According to WHO reports, mortality due to Covid-19 is higher in the elderly and in those burdened with comorbidities such as diabetes, obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, cancer, hypertension, hepatitis B, obesity or chronic kidney disease. Objective: The aim of the study was to review the current literature on the influence and importance of vitamin D levels on the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Material and method: A systematic review of studies published from January 1, 2009 to June 31, 2021 has been performed. For this purpose, bibliographic databases such as PubMed and Scopus were searched. The following keywords and combinations were used: Covid-19, vitamin D, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, vitamin D supplementation, SARS-CoV-2. Results: It has been shown that vitamin D plays an important role in the mechanisms of the innate immunity in the course of the acute respiratory infections. The overlapping factors of the severity of COVID-19 disease, vitamin D deficiency, and the prevalence of obesity, age scare, ethnicity, has led some researchers to hypothesize that vitamin D supplementation may be promising as a preventive or therapeutic measure for COVID-19. Conclusions: A very important factor that has an immunomodulatory character is vitamin D, the adequate supplementation of which can be a preventive or therapeutic measure in case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in elderly people, with obesity and other chronic diseases.

Malnutrition in Obesity: Is It Possible?

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies malnutrition as the biggest threat to public health worldwide, and this condition is observed in 20-60% of hospitalized patients. Malnutrition is a state of the body in which due to insufficient supply or incorrect absorption of essential nutrients, the body composition changes and the body's functions are impaired. Malnutrition is associated not only with reduced body mass index but also with obesity. SUMMARY: Obesity is defined as a paradoxical state of malnutrition, which despite excessive energy consumption is associated with a shortage of individual microelements. Deficiency or lack of homeostasis of essential micronutrients can significantly affect daily performance, intellectual and emotional state, but also the physical state of the body. Food deficiency can also contribute to further weight gain or the development of other metabolic diseases. Micronutrient deficiency may include not only incorrect dietary choices and insufficient access to nutrient-rich foods but also changes in the absorption, distribution or excretion of nutrients, and altered micronutrient metabolism resulting from systemic inflammation caused by obesity. An effective therapy method recommended for people with morbid obesity is bariatric surgery aimed at both weight loss and improving quality of life. Unfortunately, the effects of these treatments are often medium- and long-term complications associated with micronutrient deficiency as a result of reduced consumption or absorption. Therefore, the use of bariatric surgery in patients with extreme obesity can affect the metabolism of microelements and increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Key Messages: Studies by many authors indicate a higher incidence of food deficiency among people with excessive body weight, than in people with normal body weight of the same age and same sex. Monitoring the concentration of minerals and vitamins in blood serum is a good practice in the treatment of obesity. The proper nutritional status of the body affects not only the state of health but also the effectiveness of therapy. The aim of the review was to present the issue of malnutrition in the context of obesity.

Classification accuracy of different pork quality evaluation methods in assessment of meat with lowered drip loss / Precisão da classificação de métodos de avaliação da qualidade da carne suína para menor perda durante o gotejamento

ABSTRACT: This study compared the diagnostic value of pork quality evaluation methods using different pH threshold values and time-points with muscle metabolites concentration threshold values measured 45 min. post mortem in assessment of meat with lowered drip loss. Samples of 100 longissimus dorsi (LD) (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc fatteners were examined after slaughter for following parameters: muscle acidity in 35 min, 2 h, 3 h, 24 h and 48 h (pH1, pH2, pH3, pH24 and pH48), colour lightness (L*, a*, b*), meat yield after curing and thermal processing in 72 °C (technological yield), water-holding capacity (WHC) and drip loss in 48, 96 and 144 h (DL48, DL96, DL144). To verify the accuracy of analysed methods two groups were distinguished according to DL48, e.g. Low DL (DL48≤4%) and High DL (DL48>4%). In High DL pH1 to pH48 were statistically lower while L*, WHC, DL48, DL96, DL144 were statistically higher (P≤0.05). On the basis of pH-dependent methods classification to RFN (red, firm, normal), PSE (pale, soft, exudative), DFD (dark, firm, dry) and AM (acid meat) was performed and then the percentage share of Low DL and High DL among meat classified as RFN was evaluated. Despite most samples were classified as RFN Low DL share among them did not exceed 50%. If meat sample shows metabolites concentration below threshold value and was assigned to Low DL (or was assigned to High DL above threshold value) it was regarded as correctly classified. The most promising cut-off point (correct classification of 73%) was 45 µmol both for glycogen and lactate.

RESUMO: Neste estudo foram analisadas 100 amostras de longissimus dorsi (LD) de suinos Landrace, Yorkshire (L × Y) × Duroc (D). Dois grupos foram distinguidos de acordo com a perda por gotejamento medida 48 horas após o abate, por ex. DL baixo (DL48≤%) e DL alto (DL48> 4%). Em DL alto maior leveza (L*), capacidade de retenção de água (WHC), perda por gotejamento em 48 (DL48), 96 (DL96), 144 (DL144) e menor acidez muscular de 35 min. a 48 horas post mortem (pH1 a pH48) foram anotados (P≤0.01). A baixa participação de DL dentro das amostras classificadas como RFN (vermelha, firme, normal) com base em vários métodos de avaliação da qualidade da carne suína usando diferentes pontos de tempo de pH e valores de limiar não excederam 50%. A tentativa de uso de várias concentrações de metabólitos musculares mediu 45 min. post mortem (glicogênio, lactato e suas combinações) como valores limiares na avaliação de DL baixo e DL alto foi então realizado. Os pontos de corte mais promissores (45 µmol por g de tecido muscular tanto para glicogênio quanto para lactato) permitiram classificar corretamente 83.82% de DL baixo e 50% de DL alto respectivamente abaixo e acima deles.