SARS-CoV-2: Nutritional determinants of reducing the risk of infection of the central nervous system.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional determinants that may contribute to potentially reducing the risk of COVID-19 central nervous system infection or, if infection occurs, to experience it in a mild form. Views: In this study, the authors collected data on nutrients that support traditional drug treatment and potentially reduce central nervous system infections, while also indicating the role they play in the central nervous system (CNS). The article points out that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids polyunsaturated fatty acids, probiotics and prebiotics, as well as vitamin D selenium and zinc play a role in supporting immune function and reducing the risk of CNS infections. It should be noted that, due to the novel nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, limited number of studies evaluating the potential impact of dietary components on COVID-19 risk reduction or their adjunctive effect on treatment are available. Therefore, further clinical studies are needed to confirm these results. Conclusions: The dietary habits and nutrients described in the article support medical care, including vaccination and other therapies. They are likely to reduce the risk of CNS SARS-CoV-2 infection. The functioning of the physiological gut-brain axis supported by probiotics, polyphenols, certain minerals such as zinc, selenium and vitamin D consumed with the diet, can probably reduce the cost of COVID-19 treatment on the CNS. Also, nutrients other than those mentioned in the article, including vitamins A, E, B1, B6, B12 and iron, could potentially reduce the cost of the treatment of this disease.

Changes in disease burden in Poland between 1990-2017 in comparison with other Central European countries: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

BACKGROUND: Systematic collection of mortality/morbidity data over time is crucial for monitoring trends in population health, developing health policies, assessing the impact of health programs. In Poland, a comprehensive analysis describing trends in disease burden for major conditions has never been published. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides data on the burden of over 300 diseases in 195 countries since 1990. We used the GBD database to undertake an assessment of disease burden in Poland, evaluate changes in population health between 1990-2017, and compare Poland with other Central European (CE) countries. METHODS: The results of GBD 2017 for 1990 and 2017 for Poland and CE were used to assess rates and trends in years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Data came from cause-of-death registration systems, population health surveys, disease registries, hospitalization databases, and the scientific literature. Analytical approaches have been used to adjust for missing data, errors in cause-of-death certification, and differences in data collection methodology. Main estimation strategies were ensemble modelling for mortality and Bayesian meta-regression for disability. RESULTS: Between 1990-2017, age-standardized YLL rates for all causes declined in Poland by 46.0% (95% UI: 43.7-48.2), YLD rates declined by 4.0% (4.2-4.9), DALY rates by 31.7% (29.2-34.4). For both YLLs and YLDs, greater relative declines were observed for females. There was a large decrease in communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disease DALYs (48.2%; 46.3-50.4). DALYs due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) decreased slightly (2.0%; 0.1-4.6). In 2017, Poland performed better than CE as a whole (ranked fourth for YLLs, sixth for YLDs, and fifth for DALYs) and achieved greater reductions in YLLs and DALYs than most CE countries. In 2017 and 1990, the leading cause of YLLs and DALYs in Poland and CE was ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and the leading cause of YLDs was low back pain. In 2017, the top 20 causes of YLLs and YLDs in Poland and CE were the same, although in different order. In Poland, age-standardized DALYs from neonatal causes, other cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, and road injuries declined substantially between 1990-2017, while alcohol use disorders and chronic liver diseases increased. The highest observed-to-expected ratios were seen for alcohol use disorders for YLLs, neonatal sepsis for YLDs, and falls for DALYs (3.21, 2.65, and 2.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was relatively little geographical variation in premature death and disability in CE in 2017, although some between-country differences existed. Health in Poland has been improving since 1990; in 2017 Poland outperformed CE as a whole for YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. While the health gap between Poland and Western Europe has diminished, it remains substantial. The shift to NCDs and chronic disability, together with marked between-gender health inequalities, poses a challenge for the Polish health-care system. IHD is still the leading cause of disease burden in Poland, but DALYs from IHD are declining. To further reduce disease burden, an integrated response focused on NCDs and population groups with disproportionally high burden is needed.

Preliminary assessment of exposure of children and adolescents to acrylamide originating from food.

The objective of the tests was to make preliminary assessment of acrylamide intake from the diet in the category of children and adolescents falling into 7-18 age bracket. For the purposes of assessment the our analytical test results were used of acrylamide content in potato crisps and French fries in samples taken randomly from all over Poland, whereas the intake level was estimated on the basis of a 24-hour recalls leading by National Food and Nutrition Institute in 2000. In the population of consumers eating potato crisps and French fries the average intake of acrylamide in the population of children aged 7-13 amounted to 63.4 microg/person/day, meanwhile in adolescents population aged 14-18-- 69.5 microg/person/day. The conversion of rest results into kg of body mass showed that acrylamide intake in the children population aged 7-13 lat was 1.78 microg per kg of body mass, whereas the acrylamide intake in adolescents population aged 14-18 was 1.17 microg/kg of body mass. Due to disadvantageous health effect of acrylamide it is necessary to reduce the content of this compound in diet.

Acrylamide content in heat-treated carbohydrate-rich foods in Poland.

The objective of the study was to determine the content of acrylamide in randomly selected samples of potato crisps and French fries using GC/MS/MS. The mean content of acrylamide in tested crisps amounted to 998 microg/kg (range from 352 to 3647 microg/kg) and was almost three times higher than in French fries--337 microg/kg (range from 88 to 799 microg/kg). Differences (even ten times) in the level of acrylamid in individual product samples, testifying the impact of raw materials and technological process running conditions on the content of acrylamide in the final product. The results of our study were close to those obtained in other countries.

[Acrylamide content in potato crisps in Poland]. / Zawartosc akryloamidu w chipsach ziemniaczanych w Polsce.

The main source of acrylamide in the diet are thermally processed carbohydrate-rich products, mainly those obtained from potatoes. Acrylamide is a substance with neurotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as a potential human carcinogen in 1994. The purpose of this study was to assess acrylamide content in 24 samples of crisps randomly collected in Poland in 2004. Acrylamide was determined in the form of brominated derivatives by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The average acrylamide content in the crisp samples examined was 998 mg/kg of the product, ranging from 352 to 3647 microg/kg, depending on the type of the crisps. The factor determining the differences in acrylamide content in the product was also the manufacturer. The average content of acrylamide in the crisps produced by three different manufacturers (manufacturers 1-3) was ca. 600-900 microg/kg, and in the crisps produced by manufacturer 4 was ca. 3 times higher. Moreover, substantial differences were found between the same types of crisps produced by the same manufacturers but originating from different manufacturing batches. The results obtained suggest the effects of various technological processes and raw material types on the level of acrylamide in crisps.

[Influence of maternal nutrition on infant birthweight]. / Wplyw stanu odzywienia matki na mask ciala noworodka.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine relation between maternal prepregnancy BMI, pregnancy weight gain and infant birthweight. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1998 the questionnaire was sent to 227 women who were pregnant in 1993. RESULTS: 56.4% of the women under study responded the questionnaire. We excluded 33 answers because of miscarriage, stillbirths, twin pregnancies and also missing data. In the remaining 95 women 37.9% had low prepregnancy BMI (< 19.8 kg/m2). 83 women gave birth to a child at term. There was a statistically significant difference in mean birthweight of infants born by women of various prepregnancy BMI (BMI < 19.8 kg/m2, 19.8-26 kg/m2, > 26 kg/m2) and also of various pregnancy weight gain (according to IOM recommendations). Underweight women gave birth to infants of lower mean birthweight than women of normal or excessive weight (p<0.05). 10.7% of underweight women gave birth to infants of low birthweight (< 2500 g). None of the women who were not underweight before pregnancy gave birth to a child of low birthweight. Women of low pregnancy weight gain gave birth to infants of lower mean birthweight than women of normal or excessive weight pregnancy weight gain. It seems that lower birth weight of infants could result from lower maternal energy, protein, calcium and iron consumption. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Large proportion (37.8%) of women under study were underweight before pregnancy. 2) Birthweight was related to maternal prepregnancy BMI and pregnancy weight gain. Women who were underweight before pregnancy and those whose weight gain was too low gave birth to smaller infants than women who were not underweight before pregnancy and those who gained more weight during pregnancy.

[Dietary intake elderly subjects in rural and urban area in Poland]. / Sposób zywienia osób w wieku podeszlym na wsi i w miescie w Polsce.

In this paper the authors tried to evaluate and compare the dietary habits of elderly people living in rural and urban areas. The data were collected from 591 men and women aged 61-96 years, using 24-h dietary recall. Energy and selected nutrients content in daily diet was calculated basing on these data. The energy and macronutrients content in daily diet of rural and urban residents was similar. However, the intake of some vitamins and minerals, especially beta-carotene and ascorbic acid, in men and women and potassium and magnesium in women, was lower in rural than in urban population. Daily energy intake in men was higher, and in women adequate to the recommended values. The per cent of energy from fat was high, while that from carbohydrates was relatively low in the daily diet of men and women. The study subjects had high intake of sodium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and insufficient intake of calcium, zinc, copper, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and women had also low intake of iron, potassium, thiamin and niacin in comparison with Polish dietary allowances. Improper dietary habits significantly increase the risk of development of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and osteoporosis among the studied subjects.

[Health Polish foods as the chance for Polish agriculture in the united Europe]. / Zdrowa polska zywnosc szansa polskiej wsi w jednoczacej sie Europie.

This paper discuss the matter of food quality and safety which is available for whole population in Poland in 2001. The results of the nation wide control survey of food safety in 2001 conducted by the State Sanitary Inspection, where used as the source of data. Those results concerned 233.249 samples of foodstuffs taken from the market to assess. Based on the results of laboratory analysis of microbiological, chemical and physical contaminations in food and regarding organoleptic quality and labelling, the samples of foodstuffs were assessed. There were 24 of foodstuffs assortment in the survey distinguished. The result of this survey were discussed in the background of the changes in food industry in Poland during the last decade of XX century. The results show that over 88% of whole examined samples of food available for consumers in 2001 came from the health safety food. Generally the reason of the call in question of food safety were microbiological contaminations. It concerned 11% of examined samples. Chemical contaminants were detected in 3.48% of food samples and biological contaminants--in 1.77%. More over 1.13% samples because of inappropriate organoleptic food features where the reason of withdrawal them from the trade. Incorrect labelling was the reason of disqualification in 1.5% samples. Appearance of extraneous elements detected in 0.5% of samples. As result from gathering dates many of contaminated food samples were disqualified from a few reasons. From among 24 of foodstuffs assortment the samples of meat processing products were most often disqualified. The smallest percentage of disqualified food samples was observed in the group of foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses for infants. Strengthening of internal control system in production and processing establishment, rapid implement of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in establishment and improve official control of foodstuffs system are the most important directions of activities in order to improve food safety in our country.

[Folic acid fortified food and their importance in health promotion]. / Produkty wzbogacane w kwas foliowy i ich rola w promocji zdrowia.

In recent years great attention has been focused on the role of folates in public health. Folates prevent the development of neural tube defects and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, some kinds of cancer and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review the dietary source of folates and daily dietary intake was presented. The role of fortified products in consumption in model diets is also discussed. In the typical Polish diet folic acid source is from normal foodstuffs such as: cereals and potatoes (48%), vegetables and fruits (28%) and from meat, fish and eggs about 10%. The consumption of folic acid fortified products increase the intake of folic acid of about 26%. The source of folic acid were foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses and food supplements.

[Estimation of the intake of food additives--methods applied in the European Union]. / Metody oceny pobrania z zywnoscia substancji dodatkowych stosowane w krajach Unii Europejskiej.

Guidelines for estimation of food additives intake were prepared by Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) in 1989. During the period 1994, 1995 three specific directives have been adopted, each of them including an obligation for Member States to introduce systems to monitor the usage and consumption of food additives and to report their findings to the Commission. Recommendations of Commission's experts which should be taken into account for preparing the monitoring system by Member States are based on decision tree, which systematizes proceeding procedures. Above mentioned decision tree might be a tool for elimination of the food additive which intake does not pose a health hazard. ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) plays the essential role in the risk assessment of food additives intake. The food additives, which were not eliminated during the decision tree considerations require detailed revision of the conditions of their use. Poland, as a Candidate Country for EU, after the accession will also be obligated to introduce the system to monitor the usage and consumption of food additives and to report relevant report to the Commission.

Estimation of the dietary acrylamide exposure of the Polish population.

The objective of our study was to determine acrylamide content in the Polish foods and to assess the average dietary acrylamide exposure of the Polish population. We analysed the acrylamide content in Polish food using GCQ-MS/MS method. The daily dietary acrylamide exposure was computed using a probabilistic approach for the total Polish population (1-96 years) and for the following age groups: 1-6, 7-18 and 19-96, using Monte Carlo simulation technique. To assess the Polish population exposure to acrylamide present in food, food consumption data was taken from the 'Household Food Consumption and Anthropometric Survey in Poland'. The mean content of acrylamide in tested 225 samples of foodstuffs taken randomly all over Poland, ranged widely from 11 to 3647 microg/kg of product. For the total Polish population (1-96 years) the estimated acrylamide mean exposure is 0.43 microg/kg of body weight per day. The main sources of dietary acrylamide in Polish population were as follow: bread--supplied 45% of total dietary acrylamide intake, French fries and potato crisps--23%, roasted coffee--19%.

Intake of selected nutrients from foods, from fortification and from supplements in various European countries.

BACKGROUND: Recent European Union regulation requires setting of maximum amount of micronutrients in dietary supplements or foods taking into account the tolerable upper intake level (ULs) established by scientific risk assessment and population reference intakes. OBJECTIVE: To collect and evaluate recently available data on intakes of selected vitamins and minerals from conventional foods, food supplements and fortified foods in adults and children. Intake of calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, folic acid, niacin and total vitamin A/retinol, B(6), D and E was derived from nationally representative surveys in Denmark, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. Intake of high consumers, defined as the 95th percentile of each nutrient, was compared to the UL. RESULTS: For most nutrients, adults and children generally consume considerably less than the UL with exceptions being retinol, zinc, iodine, copper and magnesium. The major contributor to intakes for all nutrients and in all countries is from foods in the base diet. The patterns of food supplements and voluntary fortification vary widely among countries with food supplements being responsible for the largest differences in total intakes. In the present study, for those countries with data on fortified foods, fortified foods do not significantly contribute to higher intakes for any nutrient. Total nutrient intake expressed as percentage of the UL is generally higher in children than in adults. CONCLUSION: The risk of excessive intakes is relatively low for the majority of nutrients with a few exceptions. Children are the most vulnerable group as they are more likely to exhibit high intakes relative to the UL. There is a need to develop improved methods for estimating intakes of micronutrients from fortified foods and food supplements in future dietary surveys.