Potential parapharmaceuticals in the traditional Polish diet.

The basic parapharmaceuticals in the Polish diet include natural anti-oxidants - bioflavonoids found in berry fruit. They were proven to have the ability to regulate genetic transcription and increase the synthesis of nitric oxide which counteracts dysfunction of the vascular endothelium. They also display anti-oxidant action through the inhibiting effect on cyclooxygenase - COX-2, and increase the level of adiponectin. We have also more and more proof of the important biological role of short-chained fatty acids formed as a result of fermentation of fibre by probiotic bacteria. Through their effects on peroxisome proliferators activated receptors (PPAR), butyric and propionic acids may reduce the expression of adhesion molecules and exert anti-inflammatory action both in the gastrointestinal tract as well as systemically.

[Reduction of the plasma LDL-cholesterol level among young healthy men as a result of the change from butter to soft margarine in the unbalanced diet]. / Redukcja stezenia frakcji LDL-cholesterolu w surowicy mlodych zdrowych mezczyzn w wyniku zamiany masla na margaryne miekka w zwyczajowej diecie.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of lipid profile on 83 healthy males consuming soft type margarine instead of butter, in their unbalanced diet. For this purpose double blind, cross-over methodology was applied. After stabilization period of consuming the diet, the whole sample was randomly divided into two subgroups (A n--37; B n--46). First group was consuming 15 g of the butter twice a day (30 g in total) and the second identically packed soft type margarine (also twice a day 15 g; 30 g in total) containing high level (33.3 g/100 g) of polyunsaturated fatty acids. After four weeks, the diet of subgroups was mutually exchanged--group consuming margarine consumed butter and the opposite. The feeding pattern of both groups was monitored with the aid of FOOD 2 computer programme. The group under investigation consisted of healthy males at the age 23.3 +/- 2.5, BMI 24.4 +/- 3.9 kg/m2; WHR 0.82 + -0.06 and normal blood pressure. Exchange of butter into soft margarine caused the increase of P/S ratio from 0.30 to 0.78 in their diet. Both investigated groups shoved average decrease of 10.7% of blood cholesterol content (in group A 13.8%), LDL cholesterol of about 9.8% and triglycerides ca 12.7% (higher decrease in group B--16.7%). Both groups while on margarine diet shoved small decrease of HDL cholesterol (3.9%). It can not be the matter of serious concern due to average HDL content in both groups was ca 52 mg/dl (ca 1.4 mmol/l)--it means considerably excessive the limited risk (35 mg/dl; 0.90 mmol/l). Application of the margarine diet in group A caused the decrease the ratios of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol from 3.84 into 3.52; whereas in group B from 4.15 into 3.75. It was also concluded, that the low trans isomer margarine show no effect on lipoprotein Lp(a). Back to the diet with butter after 4 weeks carry down the beneficial effects of diet with margarine on lipid profile. The results indicate that for lipid profile the consumption of soft margarine was more beneficial than butter, even for unbalanced diet.