Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ
10
) is an effective natural antioxidant with a fundamental role in cellular bioenergetics and numerous known health benefits. Reports of its natural occurrence in various food ...items are comprehensively reviewed and critically evaluated. Meat, fish, nuts, and some oils are the richest nutritional sources of CoQ
10
, while much lower levels can be found in most dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and cereals. Large variations of CoQ
10
content in some foods and food products of different geographical origin have been found. The average dietary intake of CoQ
10
is only 3-6 mg, with about half of it being in the reduced form. The intake can be significantly increased by the fortification of food products but, due to its lipophilicity, until recently this goal was not easily achievable particularly with low-fat, water-based products. Forms of CoQ
10
with increased water-solubility or dispersibility have been developed for this purpose, allowing the fortification of aqueous products, and exhibiting improved bioavailability; progress in this area is described briefly. Three main fortification strategies are presented and illustrated with examples, namely the addition of CoQ
10
to food during processing, the addition of this compound to the environment in which primary food products are being formed (i.e. animal feed), or with the genetic modification of plants (i.e. cereal crops).
Collagen dietary supplements are becoming increasingly popular as a means to reduce signs of skin ageing. The objective of this three-way, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was to ...examine and contrast the effects of dietary supplementation with a daily dose of 5 g hydrolysed collagen with 80 mg of vitamin C (CP product) and their combination with 30 mg of hyaluronic acid (CPHA product) over 16 weeks. Validated methods were utilised for the objective evaluation of skin parameters. In total, 87 subjects (women, 40–65 years) completed the entire trial, distributed across the groups as follows: placebo group (n = 29), CPHA group (n = 28), and CP group (n = 30). The results showed beneficial effects of both test products, with notable enhancements in dermis density, skin texture, and a reduction in the severity of wrinkles. In contrast, the administration of either of the products did not yield any significant impacts on skin elasticity or hydration. Observation of the investigated skin parameters did not show superior effects of the addition of hyaluronic acid (HA) to collagen. Therefore, the ability of supplementation with HA to improve the effects on investigated skin parameters beyond the supplementation of collagen alone cannot be confirmed.
Skin is a complex and dynamic organ that provides a protective interface between the external environment and the body; changes in skin appearance are often the first visible signs of aging. It is ...well established that nutrients and other bioactive substances have important roles in the structure and functions of human skin; however, the effects of dietary supplementation of such bioactives are much less investigated. The objective of this randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effects of liquid food supplement, characterised by a combination of water-soluble coenzyme Q10 (Q10Vital®) and collagen, on dermal density and other skin parameters in comparison to placebo. The trial was performed on 34 healthy women aged 40–65 that received either the test product (n = 17) or the placebo (n = 17) for twelve weeks. Measurements and assessments of skin parameters were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. We observed improved dermis density, reduced periorbital wrinkle area and the total wrinkle score, and improved skin smoothness. On the other hand, changes in skin hydration, dermis thickness, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and viscoelasticity were not significant.
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•12-week supplementation with collagen improved skin density, texture and wrinkles.•Addition of MSM proved beneficial for improvement in skin texture and thickness.•5g of collagen ...with MSM was sufficient to improve the majority of the parameters.•Interventions did not result in significant effects on TEWL and viscoelasticity.
Dietary supplementation with collagen has been gaining popularity as an anti-ageing remedy. The aim of this randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled four-way study was to investigate and compare the effects of 12-week daily dietary supplementation with products containing 10 g hydrolysed fish collagen (HC) or a combination of 5 g or 10 g HC with 1.5 g methylsulphonylmethane (MSM) on dermis density in healthy human subjects. The secondary objectives were to investigate the effects on a variety of other skin parameters. The study results showed improved dermis density, skin texture and reduced wrinkles for all the active products. However, products containing MSM were superior in the improvement of skin thickness and roughness, and a higher dose of HC combined with MSM was crucial for improvement in hydration. On the other hand, no significant effects of the supplementation on viscoelasticity and transepidermal water loss were determined with any of the products.
Vitamin D (VitD) has a critical role in phosphorous-calcium metabolism as well as an important role in the immune system. In the human body, VitD is synthesized as cholecalciferol in the skin, but ...this process requires sunlight (UVB) radiation. Numerous reports showed high prevalence of VitD deficiency, particularly during the winter season, indicating the importance of VitD supplementation. Various factors can affect the absorption of VitD, including dosage and formulation. The primary study objective was to examine the efficiency of supplementation with three different formulations containing cholecalciferol in comparison with the control group. The secondary objective was to identify other factors affecting increase in serum 25-OH-VitD. A randomized controlled intervention study was conducted in Slovenia during wintertime (January- March) on 105 apparently healthy subjects (aged 18-65 years) with suboptimal VitD status (25-OH-VitD 30-50 nmol/L). Subjects were randomized into four groups: three treatment groups receiving (A) capsules with starch-adsorbed VitD, (B) oil-based Valens VitD oral spray, or (C) water-based Valens VitD oral spray and a control group (D) which did not receive supplemental VitD. Two months of supplementation with cholecalciferol (1000 IU; 25 µg daily) resulted in significant increase in serum 25-OH-VitD levels in comparison with control group (pooled Δc 32.8 nmol/L; 95% CI: 23.0, 42.5,
< 0.0001). While we did not observe any significant differences between the tested formulations, the efficiency of supplementation was associated with body mass index and baseline serum 25-OH-VitD level. Higher supplementation efficiency was observed in participants with normal body weight (BMI < 25) and in those with more pronounced VitD insufficiency. We also determined that tested dosage was not sufficient to achieve recommended 25-OH-VitD levels in all subjects.
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•Lutein supplementation (3 months) increased minimal erythema dose.•Skin photoprotective activity increased for 22% and skin photoprotective potential improved.•Dietary lutein could ...contribute to skin defense against UVR-mediated damage.•We did not observe skin regeneration effects.
Various studies showed promising photoprotective and anti-aging effects of lutein, but it was mostly investigated in combination with other antioxidants, and some study results are contradictory. The aim of this randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled intervention was to investigate the effects of dietary lutein supplementation on minimal erythema dose (MED) as a measure of skin’s photoprotective potential, and other skin parameters. Thirty healthy women received supplementation of lutein (20 mg/day; liquid formulation) or placebo for 12 weeks. In the test group, MED was significantly increased, indicating greater individual’s resistance to the production of erythema following UV radiation. The overall treatment effect was 0.114 J/cm2 corresponding to a relative increase of photoprotective activity of 22%. On the other hand, we were unable to confirm supportive effects for skin regeneration. Study findings show that dietary supplementation with lutein improved skin photoprotective potential and could contribute to skin defense against UVR-mediated skin damage.
Salt iodisation is considered a key public health measure for assuring adequate iodine intake in iodine-deficient countries. In Slovenia, the iodisation of all salt was made mandatory in 1953. A ...considerable regulatory change came in 2003 with the mandatory iodisation of rock and evaporated salt only. In addition, joining the European Union's free single market in 2004 enabled the import of non-iodised salt. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent of salt iodising in the food supply. We examined both the availability and sale of (non-)iodised salt. Average sales-weighted iodine levels in salt were calculated using the results of a national monitoring of salt quality. Data on the availability and sales of salts were collected in major food retailers in 2014. Iodised salt represented 59.2% of the salt samples, and 95.9% of salt sales, with an average (sales-weighted) level of 24.2 mg KI/kg of salt. The average sales-weighted KI level in non-iodised salts was 3.5 mg KI/kg. We may conclude that the sales-weighted average iodine levels in iodised salt are in line with the regulatory requirements. However, the regulatory changes and the EU single market have considerably affected the availability of non-iodised salt. While sales of non-iodised salt are still low, non-iodised salt represented 33.7% of the salts in our sample. This indicates the existence of a niche market which could pose a risk of inadequate iodine intake in those who deliberately decide to consume non-iodised salt only. Policymakers need to provide efficient salt iodisation intervention to assure sufficient iodine supply in the future. The reported sales-weighting approach enables cost-efficient monitoring of the iodisation of salt in the food supply.
Several studies conducted around the world showed substantial vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among different population groups. Sources of vitamin D in the human body include ultraviolet B ...(UVB)-light-induced biosynthesis and dietary intake, but people's diets are often poor in vitamin D. Furthermore, in many regions, sun exposure and the intensity of UVB irradiation during wintertime are not sufficient for vitamin D biosynthesis. In Slovenia, epidemiological data about vitamin D status in the population were investigated through a national Nutrihealth study-an extension to the national dietary survey SI.Menu (2017/18). The study was conducted on a representative sample of 125 adult (18-64 years) and 155 elderly (65-74 years old) subjects, enrolled in the study in different seasons. Their vitamin D status was determined by measuring the serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration. Thresholds for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were 25(OH)D levels below 30 and 50 nmol/L, respectively. Altogether, 24.9% of the adults and 23.5% of the elderly were found to be vitamin D deficient, while an insufficient status was found in 58.2% and 62.9%, respectively. A particularly concerning situation was observed during extended wintertime (November-April); vitamin D deficiency was found in 40.8% and 34.6%, and insufficient serum 25(OH)D levels were observed in 81.6% and 78.8%, respectively. The results of the study showed high seasonal variation in serum 25(OH)D levels in both the adult and elderly population, with deficiency being especially pronounced during wintertime. The prevalence of this deficiency in Slovenia is among the highest in Europe and poses a possible public health risk that needs to be addressed with appropriate recommendations and/or policy interventions.
High sodium intake is the leading diet-related risk factor for mortality globally. Many countries have introduced policies to support the reformulation of foods and to reduce sodium intake, mainly on ...a voluntary basis, but there are limited data available about the long-term efficiency of such measures. Slovenia implemented salt reduction policies for the period of 2010–2020; these policies also included the voluntary reformulation of foods with the lowering of sodium content. This study’s aim was to explore the nationally representative branded food datasets collected in the years 2011, 2015, 2017, and 2020 to investigate the changes in the sodium content in prepacked branded foods. The study was conducted with datasets collected from food labels using standard food monitoring studies and included all the major retailers. Differences in market shares were adjusted by sales weighting, which was conducted using the yearly sales data provided by the major retailers. The food categories with a major contribution to the overall sales of sodium in prepacked branded foods were processed meat and derivatives (19.0%), canned vegetables (7.1%), water (6.7%), bread (7.2%), and cheese (6.3%). Considering the available food products, a notable decreasing sodium content trend was observed in biscuits, breakfast cereals, pizza, and spreads. Year-to-year differences were much less expressed after the correction for market share differences, and neutral trends were most frequently highlighted. This indicates that sodium was less frequently reduced in market-leading products. The study results revealed that very limited progress in sodium food reformulation was achieved in the 10-year period, indicating the need for more efficient policy approaches. The study demonstrated the importance of the systematic monitoring of the food supply for the evaluation of food policies.
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