The Consumption of Nuts is Associated with Better Dietary and Lifestyle Patterns in Polish Adults: Results of WOBASZ and WOBASZ II Surveys.

In recent years, the concept of the health benefits of synergistic dietary patterns as opposed to individual foods or food constituents has been developed. The aim of this study was to determine whether nut consumption is associated with healthier nutrition and lifestyle. The research was based on complete data obtained during two Polish National Multi-Centre Health Examination Surveys-WOBASZ (2003-2005) and WOBASZ II (2013-2014). Of the 12,946 participants who completed dietary assessments, 299 subjects reported consuming any quantity of whole nuts. A control group of 1184 non-nut consumers from both surveys was randomly selected for the study, with age, gender, study (WOBASZ, WOBASZ II), educational level, and season-related interactions taken into account. In this study, nut consumption was associated with favorable food and lifestyle choices, excluding smoking. Better dietary quality consisted of having a higher Healthy Diet Indicator score, an increased intake of polyphenols and antioxidants, lower intake of red meat, but higher of poultry and fruit, more frequent consumption of antiatherogenic food products, and less frequent consumption of processed meats. There was also greater interest in special diets, such as weight-loss diet. In addition, nut eaters were more physically active in their leisure time. While limited by 24-h recall of nut intake and possible misclassification of nut/non-nut consumer status, this research supports the synergistic health-promoting attitudes of those who were classified as nut consumers.

Dietary Polyphenol Intake, but Not the Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity, Is Inversely Related to Cardiovascular Disease in Postmenopausal Polish Women: Results of WOBASZ and WOBASZ II Studies.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the dietary polyphenol intake (DPI) and the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women. Participants were 916 postmenopausal women diagnosed with CVD and 1683 postmenopausal women without history of CVD, who took part in the population-based studies carried out in Poland: WOBASZ (2003-2005) and WOBASZ II (2013-2014). Nutritional data were collected using a single 24-hour dietary recall. DPI and DTAC in the CVD women were significantly lower and accounted for 1766.39 mg/d and 10.84 mmol/d, respectively, versus 1920.57 mg/d and 11.85 mmol/d in the women without CVD, but these differences disappeared after the standardization for energy input. Also, in the multiple-adjustment model, higher DPI, but not DTAC, was associated with the reduced odds ratio for the prevalence of CVD. Beverages, mainly coffee and tea, contributed in more than 40% to DPI and in more than a half to DTAC. In this study, higher dietary polyphenol intake, but not the dietary total antioxidant capacity, was inversely associated with CVD in postmenopausal women, which points to the health benefits of increased polyphenol intake from food sources for these women.

Are dietary habits of the Polish population consistent with the recommendations for prevention of cardiovascular disease? - WOBASZ II project.

BACKGROUND: Diet is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). AIM: To assess diet quality in the adult Polish population, taking into consideration consumption of various nutrients as well as the total diet quality. METHODS: Within the frame of the National Multicentre Health Survey (WOBASZ II), a random sample of the whole Polish population aged 20 years and above was screened during the years 2013-2014. Dietary habits were assessed in 5690 subjects (2554 men and 3136 women). Nutrient intakes were compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes. Total diet quality was measured using the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI) score, based on the World Health Organisation recommendations for CVD prevention, that includes 7 nutrients (saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, dietary fibre, fruits and vegetables, free sugars) and ranges from 0 (the least healthy diet) to 7 (the healthiest diet). RESULTS: The studied group was characterised by a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (69% in men vs. 59% in women), hypercholesterolaemia (56% vs. 55%, respectively), hypertension (50% vs. 42%), and diabetes (12% vs. 10%). At the same time, a significant percentage of Poles had improper dietary habits. A low fat and low cholesterol diet was reported by only 8% and a low calorie diet by 1% of the respondents. Adding salt to already seasoned dishes was reported by 27% of men and 18% of women, and 56% and 30% of them, respectively, consumed meat products with visible fat. The diet of most adult Polish citizens was found to be not balanced. Vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B6, and B12, protein, dietary cholesterol and fruits/vegetables were consumed in recommended doses only by 44-80% of the respondents. The recommended intake of fat, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which significantly affect lipid levels, was found in 18-37% of the respondents. Dietary intakes of folate and minerals important for the prevention of hypertension were insufficient. The desired level of folate intake was found only in 13-26% of the respondents, and that of magnesium, calcium and potassium in 5-36% of them. The average HDI value was about 3.2 (out of the maximum of 7). A healthy diet (5-7 points) was noted in 15% of adult Poles. Most subjects (60%) were characterised by a low quality diet (0-3 points). Nevertheless, about 55% of respondents believed that their diet was appropriate. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of dietary habits of the majority of the adult Polish population falls far short of the recommendations relevant for CVD prevention.

Serum Levels of Biomarkers of Immune Activation and Associations With Neurological Impairment in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients During Remission.

INTRODUCTION: Although much is known about cytokines and adhesion molecules during an active course of multiple sclerosis (MS), there is limited information about their serum levels during remission. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) compare peripheral levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), soluble interleukin-2 receptor α (sIL-2Rα), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in MS patients during clinical remission with those of healthy controls and (2) explore possible relationships between the levels of these cytokines and adhesion molecules and neurological impairment. METHODS: Initially, 92 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who were in clinical remission and 30 healthy controls were recruited for this study. The severity of neurological impairment was assessed with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Serum concentrations of TNF-α, sIL-2Rα, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin were determined using the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) technique and compared between patients and controls. In a subset of RRMS patients (n = 67), the levels of these cytokines and adhesion molecules were compared between subgroups of patients based on scores on the EDSS subscales, which measure disability level for specific neurological functions. RESULTS: The MS patients' TNF-α, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin levels were markedly lower than those of the controls, while their sIL-2Rα level was higher. The serum sICAM-1 concentration was positively associated with EDSS total score (ρ = .291, p = .017) as well as with the EDSS pyramidal (ρ = .267, p = .029) and cerebellar subscores (ρ = .303, p = .013). In the patients with cerebellar deficits and severe brain stem dysfunction, sICAM-1 levels were upregulated. CONCLUSION: Although a decreased sICAM-1 concentration was observed in RRMS patients in remission as compared to healthy controls, sICAM-1 seemed to reflect neurological impairment and clinical disability. These data suggest that increasing serum sICAM-1 levels may be associated with progression of cerebellar or brain stem perturbations. However, further studies are required to confirm these findings in a larger population of RRMS patients.

Comparison of Various Databases for Estimation of Dietary Polyphenol Intake in the Population of Polish Adults.

The primary aim of the study was to estimate the consumption of polyphenols in a population of 6661 subjects aged between 20 and 74 years representing a cross-section of the Polish society, and the second objective was to compare the intakes of flavonoids calculated on the basis of the two commonly used databases. Daily food consumption data were collected in 2003-2005 using a single 24-hour dietary recall. Intake of total polyphenols was estimated using an online Phenol-Explorer database, and flavonoid intake was determined using following data sources: the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) database combined of flavonoid and isoflavone databases, and the Phenol-Explorer database. Total polyphenol intake, which was calculated with the Phenol-Explorer database, was 989 mg/day with the major contributions of phenolic acids 556 mg/day and flavonoids 403.5 mg/day. The flavonoid intake calculated on the basis of the USDA databases was 525 mg/day. This study found that tea is the primary source of polyphenols and flavonoids for the studied population, including mainly flavanols, while coffee is the most important contributor of phenolic acids, mostly hydroxycinnamic acids. Our study also demonstrated that flavonoid intakes estimated according to various databases may substantially differ. Further work should be undertaken to expand polyphenol databases to better reflect their food contents.

Dietary antioxidant capacity of the patients with cardiovascular disease in a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to establish sources and patterns of antioxidant, polyphenol and flavonoid intakes in men and women with cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: The subjects with CVD and healthy controls (HC) were participants of the Polish National Multicenter Health Survey (WOBASZ). Food intakes were measured with the 1-day 24-hour recall method. A self-developed database was used to calculate dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), dietary total polyphenol content (DTPC) and dietary total flavonoid content (DTFC). RESULTS: DTAC did not differ between the men with CVD and HC men (6442 vs. 6066 µmol trolox equivalents - TE), but in the women with CVD it was significantly higher than in the HC women (6182 vs. 5500 µmol TE). The main sources of antioxidants in the males with CVD were: tea, coffee, apples, and nuts and seeds, and tea, coffee and apples in HC. In the females they were: tea, coffee, apples and strawberries, both in the women with CVD and HC. DTPC in the men with CVD did not differ from HC (1198 vs. 1114 mg gallic acid equivalents, GAE). In the females, DTPC was significantly higher in the subjects with CVD as compared to HC (1075 vs. 981 mg GAE). Predominant sources of polyphenols were: tea, coffee, cabbage, potatoes, apples and white bread in the men with CVD, and tea, coffee, potatoes, white bread and apples in HC, while in the women (both with CVD and HC): tea, coffee, apples, potatoes and cabbage. No differences in DTFC have been found between the males with CVD and HC (212 vs. 202 mg quercetine equivalents, QE). In the women with CVD, DTFC was significantly higher than in HC (200 vs. 177 mg QE). Main sources of flavonoids in all participants (men and women, CVD and HC) were tea, apples, cabbage and coffee. CONCLUSIONS: Polish men and women faced with CVD beneficially modify their dietary practices by enhancing intakes of foods that are sources of antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids. Different sources and patterns of antioxidant, polyphenol and flavonoid intakes, however, between male and female patients with CVD were observed.

Potential application of curcumin and its analogues in the treatment strategy of patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer.

Recent findings on the molecular basis of ovarian cancer development and progression create new opportunities to develop anticancer medications that would affect specific metabolic pathways and decrease side systemic toxicity of conventional treatment. Among new possibilities for cancer chemoprevention, much attention is paid to curcumin-A broad-spectrum anticancer polyphenolic derivative extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. According to ClinicalTrials.gov at present there are no running pilot studies, which could assess possible therapeutic benefits from curcumin supplementation to patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer. Therefore, the goal of this review was to evaluate potential preclinical properties of curcumin and its new analogues on the basis of in vivo and in vitro ovarian cancer studies. Curcumin and its different formulations have been shown to display multifunctional mechanisms of anticancer activity, not only in platinum-resistant primary epithelial ovarian cancer, but also in multidrug resistant cancer cells/xenografts models. Curcumin administered together with platinum-taxane chemotherapeutics have been reported to demonstrate synergistic effects, sensitize resistant cells to drugs, and decrease their biologically effective doses. An accumulating body of evidence suggests that curcumin, due to its long-term safety and an excellent profile of side effects should be considered as a beneficial support in ovarian cancer treatment strategies, especially in patients with platinum-resistant primary epithelial recurrent ovarian cancer or multidrug resistant disease. Although the prospect of curcumin and its formulations as anticancer agents in ovarian cancer treatment strategy appears to be challenging, and at the same time promising, there is a further need to evaluate its effectiveness in clinical studies.

Reduced intake of dietary antioxidants can impair antioxidant status in type 2 diabetes patients.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate associations between dietary intake of antioxidants and antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 80 patients with type 2 diabetes and 37 controls, total antioxidant status (TAS), activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 4­hydroxyalkenals (4­HAE) were measured. The 24­hour food recall method and our own dietary database were used to calculate dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), polyphenol content (DTPC), and flavonoid content (DTFC). Dietary antioxidant vitamins were calculated using national food composition databases. RESULTS: Serum TAS was 1.57 mmol/l in controls, 1.41 mmol/l in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and 1.23 mmol/l in patients with long-standing type 2 diabetes. Serum MDA and 4­HAE levels were 0.78 µmol/l in controls, 1.45 µmol/l in newly diagnosed diabetes, and 1.74 µmol/l in long-standing diabetes. GPx and SOD activities were 42.6 and 1340 units/g hemoglobin (Hb), respectively, in controls, 47.3 and 2373 units/g Hb in long-standing diabetes, and 58.2 and 3093 units/g Hb in newly diagnosed diabetes. DTAC, DTPC, DTFC, and vitamin C content were 5697 µmol Trolox equivalents (TE), 1031 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE), 223 mg quercetine equivalents (QE), and 82 mg, respectively, in control diet. In patients with long-standing diabetes, the values were 4271 µmol TE, 822 mg GAE, 173 mg QE, and 63 mg, respectively, and in those with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, they were 4545 µmol TE, 839 mg GAE, 180 mg QE, and 65 mg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The diet of type 2 diabetes patients is poor in antioxidants despite increased demand.

The effect of a Mediterranean diet model on serum beta-carotene concentration. A preliminary assessment.

BACKGROUND: Some of the main nutritional reasons for recommending a Mediterranean diet is to prevent metabolic diseases arising through free radical formation. A key constituent compound is beta-carotene which, amongst the carotenoids, displays the greatest provitamin A activity as well as possessing significant antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVES: Principally, to determine the relationship between serum beta-carotene levels and the effect of Mediterranean diet guidelines in a selected group of women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subject group consisted of 26 women aged 19-22 years. A nutritional assessment was performed using 3 day repeats of 24-hour recall interviews. A 9-point aMED (alternate Mediterranean Diet) score was used to study dietary habits. Serum beta-carotene was measured by liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA). RESULTS: Beta-carotene dietary intake was highly variable, ranging from 734 to 14476 microg/day (median 3022 microg/day). Serum beta-carotene concentration ranged between 0.071-1.905 micromol/L (median 0.519 micromol/L) and was significantly associated with the Mediterranean Diet model (Spearman r = 0.633, p < 0.001). Out of the dietary sources of beta-carotene, consuming carrots had the most significant impact on its serum concentration. Other dietary factors positively affecting serum beta-carotene were: consumption of nuts and seeds, pulses, a favourable ratio of mono-unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and eating fruit and wholegrain cereal products. CONCLUSIONS: Adopting a Mediterranean-based diet had a positive effect on increasing serum beta-carotene levels.

Comparative study of wild edible mushrooms as sources of antioxidants.

The purpose of the study was to explore sixteen of the most popular edible species of wild-growing mushrooms as potential sources of antioxidants. Among the mushrooms tested, the highest total polyphenol contents, exceeding 100 mg/100 g fresh mass, were found in five mushrooms: Boletus chrysenteron, B. edulis, Leccinum scabrum, L. aurantiacum, and Macrolepiota procera. Antioxidant activity was measured with the FRAP, TEAC, DPPH scavenging ability and ferrous ions chelating ability assays. Results of the study show that wild mushrooms vary according to their antioxidant properties. The highest FRAP potentials, exceeding 1 mmol/100 g, were found in five species ofBoletales: Boletus edulis, B. chrysenteron, Leccinum scabrum, L. aurantiacum, and Suillus grevillei. TEAC values were from 1.07 to 4.01 mmol/100 g fresh mass. High TEAC values (>2.3 mmol/100 g) were found in Leccinum scabrum, L. aurantiacum, Macrolepiota procera, Boletus chrysenteron, and B. edulis. The DPPH radical scavenging effectiveness of mushroom extracts, expressed as EC50 values, was in range 2.91-13.86 mg/mL. Scavenging ability was the highest for B. edulis and B. chrysenteron. The metal chelating ability of mushroom extracts expressed as ECso values of chelating ability on ferrous ions were from 8.02 mg/mL in Cantharellus cibarius to 12.10 mg/mL in Suillus luteus. Among the mushrooms tested, Boletus chrysenteron and B. edulis were characterized by high scores of polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity in the FRAP, TEAC, and DPPH assays. These results place these culinary species of wild-growing mushrooms among products with considerable antioxidant potential.