The importance of zinc (Zn) for cardiovascular health continuously gains recognition. As shown earlier, compromised Zn homeostasis and prolonged inflammation are common features in various ...cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Similarly, Zn biochemistry alters several vascular processes, and Zn status is an important feature of cardiovascular health. Zn deficiency contributes to the development of CVDs; thus, Zn manipulations, including Zn supplementation, are beneficial for preventing and treating numerous cardiovascular (CV) disorders. Finally, additional long-term, well-designed studies, performed in various population groups, should be pursued to further clarify significant relationships between Zn and CVDs.
•Vitamin D food composition datasets consist of analytical data and source reference.•Vitamin D dataset specialized for dietary assessment and modelling.•Dataset compliant to EuroFIR standards: ...LanguaL™, EFSA FOODEx2 and ODIN.•The highest number of data values found in meat, fortified foods, fish & dairy.•Most data values expressed as total vitamin D; 25(OH)D3 & D2 are not provided.
A review of national nutrition surveys from 2000 to date, demonstrated high prevalence of vitamin D intakes below the EFSA Adequate Intake (AI) (<15μg/d vitamin D) in adults across Europe. Dietary assessment and modelling are required to monitor efficacy and safety of ongoing strategic vitamin D fortification. To support these studies, a specialized vitamin D food composition dataset, based on EuroFIR standards, was compiled. The FoodEXplorer™ tool was used to retrieve well documented analytical data for vitamin D and arrange the data into two datasets - European (8 European countries, 981 data values) and US (1836 data values). Data were classified, using the LanguaL™, FoodEX2 and ODIN classification systems and ranked according to quality criteria. Significant differences in the content, quality of data values, missing data on vitamin D2 and 25(OH)D3 and documentation of analytical methods were observed. The dataset is available through the EuroFIR platform.
The prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia has increased worldwide. The role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of these conditions is not well understood. This study examines the relationship ...between dietary zinc (Zn) intake and plasma concentrations of Zn, copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) with lipid profile indicators, fatty acid composition in plasma phospholipids and desaturase enzyme activities in a dyslipidemic population. The role of the newly proposed biomarker of Zn status, the linoleic:dihomo-gama-linolenic acid (LA:DGLA) ratio, in predicting Zn status of dyslipidemic subjects has been explored. The study included 27 dyslipidemic adults, 39-72 years old. Trace elements were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry and fatty acid composition by a liquid gas chromatography. Desaturase activities were calculated from product-precursor fatty acid ratios. Dietary data were obtained using 24 h recall questionnaires. Insufficient dietary intake of Zn, low plasma Zn concentrations and an altered Cu:Zn ratio is related to modified fatty acid profile in subjects with dyslipidemia. Plasma Zn status was associated with obesity. There was no correlation between dietary Zn intake and plasma Zn status. The LA:DGLA ratio was inversely linked to dietary Zn intake. Cu, in addition to Zn, may directly or indirectly, affect the activity of desaturase enzymes.
Research conducted during the 1980s demonstrated Se deficiency in humans. Increased inclusion of selenium in animal feeds started from the year 2000 onwards. The aim of this study was to estimate the ...effects of selenium inclusion in animal feeds on human selenium status and dietary habits of the Serbian population related to food of animal origin. Plasma selenium concentration in healthy adult volunteers, including residents of one of the regions with the lowest (Eastern Serbia,
= 60) and of one of the regions with the highest Se serum levels reported in the past (Belgrade,
= 82), was determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Multivariate analysis was employed to determine the correlation between Se plasma levels and dietary intake data derived from food frequency questionnaires and laboratory tests. The mean plasma Se level of the participants was 84.3 ± 15.9 μg/L (range: 47.3-132.1 μg/L), while 46% of participants had plasma Se levels lower than 80 μg/L. Frequency of meat, egg, and fish consumption was significantly correlated with plasma selenium level (r = 0.437,
= 0.000). Selenium addition to animal feed in the quantity of 0.14 mg/kg contributed to the improvement of human plasma selenium levels by approximately 30 μg/L.
•Identified lack of standardized dietary intake data and tools in CEEC region.•Need for harmonized dietary assessment, monitoring and nutrition surveillance.•DIET ASSESS & PLAN-DAP – software for ...standardized food consumption data collection.•DAP supports Capacity Development in nutrition research and surveillance in CEEC.•DAP is Research Infrastructure for public health nutrition epidemiology and policy.
In order to meet growing public health nutrition challenges in Central Eastern European Countries (CEEC) and Balkan countries, development of a Research Infrastructure (RI) and availability of an effective nutrition surveillance system are a prerequisite. The building block of this RI is an innovative tool called DIET ASSESS & PLAN (DAP), which is a platform for standardized and harmonized food consumption collection, comprehensive dietary intake assessment and nutrition planning. Its unique structure enables application of national food composition databases (FCDBs) from the European food composition exchange platform (28 national FCDBs) developed by EuroFIR (http://www.eurofir.org/) and in addition allows communication with other tools. DAP is used for daily menu and/or long-term diet planning in diverse public sector settings, foods design/reformulation, food labelling, nutrient intake assessment and calculation of the dietary diversity indicator, Minimum Dietary Diversity-Women (MDD-W). As a validated tool in different national and international projects, DAP represents an important RI in public health nutrition epidemiology in the CEEC region.
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a common aliment predicted to affect 17% of the world's population. Zinc is a vital micronutrient used for over 300 enzymatic reactions and multiple biochemical and structural ...processes in the body. Although whole blood, plasma, and urine zinc decrease in severe zinc deficiency, accurate assessment of zinc status, especially in mild to moderate deficiency, is difficult as studies with these biomarkers are often contradictory and inconsistent. Hence, as suggested by the World Health Organization, sensitive and specific biological markers of zinc status are still needed. In this review, we provide evidence to demonstrate that the LA:DGLA ratio (linoleic acid:dihomo-γ-linolenic acid ratio) may be a useful additional indicator for assessing Zn status more precisely. However, this biomarker needs to be tested further in order to determine its full potential.
•EuroFIR identified lack of FCDB and Food Composition Data Management tools in CEE/B.•IMR created Food Composition Data Management software, harmonized with EuroFIR.•The 1st online Serbian FCDB was ...compiled and launched in 2007.•Serbian FCDB has 1046 foods and 129 traditional composite dishes.
Within the European Food Information Resource Network of Excellence (EuroFIR NoE; FP6) and EuroFIR Nexus (FP7) project paucity in food composition databases (FCDB) in the Central Eastern Europe/Balkan (CEE/B) region was identified. As a member of EuroFIR NoE, the Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Serbia initiated creation of the 1st online Serbian FCDB employing EuroFIR quality framework and CEN Food Data Standard requirements, supporting capacity development and designing the web-based Food Composition Data Management (FCDM) software for FCDB building. The 1st online version of Serbian FCDB was launched in 2007, and then extended with food composition data from other Balkan countries (Balkan Food Platform-Regional FCDB). All foods are indexed using LanguaL Thesaurus and coded with EFSA FoodEx2 coding system. To date, upgraded Serbian FCDB with 1046 foods and 129 traditional/common Serbian composite dishes is a prerequisite for nutritional research in Serbia, CEE/B region and wider Europe.
Regular and optimal intake of polyphenols associates with numerous health-promoting effects. Bioavailability and activity of polyphenols depend on foods' structure and interactions with other food ...constituents, especially proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. Polyphenols-proteins interactions can result in various biological effects, such as sense of astringency. So far, polyphenols interactions with food lipids have not been of special importance, except in case of plant oils. Polyphenols-carbohydrates interactions can influence the organoleptic properties, while interactions with dietary fibers are particularly significant. Polyphenols can decrease the synthesis of fats and fatty acids in the liver, or delay their absorption in intestines. Also, polyphenols can slow down digestion of carbohydrates, through the inhibition of digestive enzymes or modulation of glucose uptake. Both animal and plant proteins have low impact on the bioavailability of polyphenols, but some in vitro studies reported that milk proteins could enhance intestinal absorption of polyphenols from tea. Dietary fats may alter the passage of polyphenols through gastrointestinal tract and impact absorption of more hydrophobic polyphenols in particular. While some studies reported that associations with carbohydrates could decrease bioavailability of polyphenols, the others showed the opposite effects. Macronutrients can be used for encapsulation of polyphenols, which can increase their bioavailability and ensure controlled and targeted release. Polyphenols' interactions in the body include their incorporation in cell membranes which causes changes in fatty acid profile and impacts membrane-bound transporters and enzymes. Finally, gut microbiota plays essential role in metabolism of both polyphenols and macronutrients and thus can have great impact on their interactions.
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•Metabolism and absorption of Aronia phenolics were investigated.•Intestinal absorption depends on colon location and phenolic type.•Colon matrix may improve the cellular transport of ...Aronia phenolics.
Aronia phenolics are considered to be beneficial for cardiovascular health, but are not always bioavailable. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro bioavailability of Aronia juice phenolics by combination of intestinal digestion models with Caco-2 absorption models. First, intestinal luminal stability and microbial metabolism of Aronia phenolics were investigated using two in vitro digestion models: a short-term batch model and a long term dynamic model (SHIME®). Next, diluted digests were directly applied to Caco-2 cells to simulate enterocyte absorption. Three anthocyanins, 5 flavonol glycosides, 5 phenolic acids and epicatechin were quantified at different stages of digestion and absorption. The location of absorption was compound specific, as procyanidins were mainly absorbed in the distal colon while anthocyanins, flavonol glycosides and phenolic acids were absorbed in the proximal intestinal tract. Further, the food matrix present in the colon significantly increased transport without permanent barrier damage.
Dietary polyphenols promote cardiometabolic health and are linked with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma phospholipids (LC-PUFA). The
polymorphisms are associated with LC-PUFA ...metabolism and overweight/obesity. This 4-week study examined the link between polyphenol intake,
variants (rs174593, rs174616, rs174576) and obesity in 62 overweight adults (BMI ≥ 25), allocated to consume 100 mL daily of either: Aronia juice, a rich source of polyphenols, with 1177.11 mg polyphenols (expressed as gallic acid equivalents)/100 mL (AJ,
= 22), Aronia juice with 294.28 mg polyphenols/100 mL (MJ,
= 20), or nutritionally matched polyphenol-lacking placebo as a control (PLB,
= 20). We analyzed LC-PUFA (% of total pool) by gas chromatography and
variants by real-time PCR. Four-week changes in LC-PUFA, BMI, and body weight were included in statistical models, controlling for gender and PUFA intake. Only upon AJ and MJ, the presence of
variant alleles affected changes in linoleic, arachidonic, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Upon MJ treatment, changes in EPA were inversely linked with changes in BMI (β= -0.73,
= 0.029) and weight gain (β= -2.17,
= 0.024). Only in subjects drinking AJ, the link between changes in EPA and anthropometric indices was modified by the rs174576 variant allele. Our results indicate the interaction between
, fatty acid metabolism, and polyphenol intake in overweight subjects.
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