Associated between cognition, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and macronutrients in normal and overweight postmenopausal women.

BDNF is a protein associated with cognitive dysfunction. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between BDNF and cognitive functions and the intake of macronutrients in postmenopausal women. For this purpose, 72 postmenopausal women were recruited to the study and divided into two subgroups: overweight/obese and normal weight. Using a 3-day food record, nutrition was assessed. The markers studied were the level of BDNF, which was determined from the venous blood serum collected from women, and selected cognitive functions. We observed that in the normal BMI group macronutrient intake was correlated with BDNF levels, and only total fat and carbohydrate intake were inversely correlated with BDNF levels. There were inverse correlations observed among selected parameters of cognitive functioning. In the Ov/Ob group, macronutrient intake correlated with the BDNF level for several variables, e.g. vice versa with total protein, fat and carbohydrate intake, as well as dietary cholesterol. It has also been noted that there are links between the BDNF factor and excessive body weight.

Physical activity of women over 60 - methodology of activity measurement.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity has a positive effect on health. The level of physical activity changes with age. Elderly people often reduce their physical activity, among other things, due to deteriorating health or the belief that it is inappropriate to indulge in sports or be physically active at old agge. On the other hand, the lack of systematic physical activity in the elderly can lead to a reduction in the body's efficiency in many health aspects. Although there are many methods of measuring human physical activity, there is no ideal tool for measuring that activity. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the use of selected methods of measuring physical activity in the elderly, as well as to evaluate the influence of the measured activity on the nutritional status of women over 60 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out in the area of western Poland in a group of 110 generally healthy women above the age of 60, who were divided into 3 groups of intensity of undertaken physical activity (low active 30.00%, moderately active 41.82% and active 28.18%). A pedometer and a physical activity diary were used to measure physical activity. Body composition was assessed by the bioelectrical impedance method which uses a body composition analyzer. Body height and weight, lean mass of limbs and body, adipose tissue content, total water content, waist circumference to hip circumference (WHR), and BMI (Body Mass Index) were assessed. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between the methods of assessing physical activity, i.e. the number of minutes/day and the number of steps/day, was 0.92 and was statistically significant at the level of p<0.001. This was assumed to be a strict correlation. Based on the physical activity diary, it was estimated that women spent an average of 92.85 minutes a day on physical activity, while the data obtained from the pedometer showed that they performed an average of 4,462 steps a day. The average age of the respondents was 67.25 years, and average BMI - 28.07 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: A close correlation was demonstrated between the applied methods for assessing physical activity shows about the appropriate selection of methods, as well as, due to their ease of use, their use to assess physical activity in the elderly.

Natural Occurrence of Deoxynivalenol in Cereal-Based Baby Foods for Infants from Western Poland.

The study examined 110 samples of baby products based on rice, wheat, maize and multi-grains available on the western Polish market in order to detect the level of deoxynivalenol (DON) by means of HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). DON was detected in 9.09% of the infant food samples, with an average and maximum level of 107.8 ± 30 and 148 µg/kg, respectively. The highest concentration of DON was detected in food for infants: wheat-based (mean 121 ± 7.07, 4.8%), multi-grain (mean 118 ± 5.65, 4.25%) and maize-based (mean 100 ± 37.96; 35.30%). No high DON content and high estimated daily intake were observed in the analyzed products. However, in order to minimize the harmfulness associated with the presence of DON in food for infants and young children, a risk assessment should be performed based on the monitoring results.

Dietary and Physical Activity Habits in Adolescent Girls with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)-HAstudy.

The role of inappropriate lifestyle in the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its metabolic and reproductive complications has attracted much attention in recent years; however, most studies involve adult patients. Thus, the study aimed to compare dietary patterns, physical activity, metabolic, anthropometric and inflammatory markers of 14-18-year-old girls with and without PCOS (n = 61 and n = 35, respectively) as well as to assess correlations between concentrations of metabolic and inflammatory markers and macronutrient intake and to identify the independent predictors of PCOS, related to diet and physical activity (PA). Compared to the control group, PCOS girls consumed significantly more total fat (p = 0.0005), including both saturated (SFA) (p = 0.03), monounsaturated (MUFA) (p = 0.0003) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (p = 0.01). A significantly higher percentage of PCOS patients consumed high and medium glycemic index (GI) foods (p = 0.03) and represented a low level of PA, both during school and in leisure time (41.67 vs. 6.06%; p = 0.0001 and 32.79 vs. 5.71%; p = 0.003, respectively). The PCOS group had also significantly higher waist circumference (WC), C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.01), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.01), fasting insulin (p = 0.002) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.006) levels. There was an inverse correlation between fiber intake and fasting insulin, (p = 0.0002, r = -0.37), HOMA-IR (p = 0.0004, r = -0.35), WC (p = 0.029; r = -0.222) and a positive relationship between high and medium GI diet and insulin concentration (p = 0.003; r = 0.3). An increase of 10 g/day in total fat intake per day increases the probability of PCOS by 1.4 times. If the SFA or MUFA intakes increase by 10 g, the probability of PCOS increase 1.7-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively. The consumption of foods with a medium GI raises the probability of PCOS by more than 3 times, after adjusting for age. The odds ratio decreased for the moderate and high PA at school/work and in leisure time. Further research in girls with PCOS is needed to test whether low GI and dietary fatty acid reduction combined with increased PA is effective in the nonpharmacological treatment and prevention of PCOS complications. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT04738409.

The Association between Physical Activity and Selected Parameters of Psychological Status and Dementia in Older Women.

Physical activity has an unquestionable impact on broadly understood human health. One interesting issue related to this is the importance of movement on mental health and cognitive functioning. Research shows that regular physical activity improves the cognitive functioning of adults and people with mental disorders. Regular physical activity can be an important and powerful protective factor in cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly, and exercise is an important non-pharmacological treatment for mild cognitive impairment or neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to present the impact of physical activity on selected cognitive functions in physically active women over 60 years of age. The research was carried out in a group of 110 generally healthy women from the area of western Poland over 60 years of age, who were divided into four groups based on the intensity of their physical activity. A pedometer (sport watch) and a physical activity diary were used to measure physical activity. Body Mass Index was assessed. Selected cognitive functions were assessed using the MMSE test, motor and psychomotor skills were measured, and Luria's auditory memory test and recall test, a clock drawing test, and a GDS test were performed. There were statistically significant relationships between the level of physical activity and the effectiveness of cognitive processes. These results show that about 5000 steps a day is enough to see a positive effect on the mental health and cognitive functioning of this group of the elderly population. The women had an average BMI of 28.1 ± 4.7. BMI, indicating an overweight condition (over 30 kg/m2), was observed in 31% of women. The results of this study lead the authors to conclude that physical activity positively influences cognitive function and can be recommended for all seniors who do not have other serious comorbidities that would prevent them from playing sports.

The influence of Li+ ions on pepsin and trypsin activity in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The paper presents a study on the influence of different lithium carbonate and lithium citrate concentration on proteolytic enzymes, namely pepsin and trypsin, in vitro. Lithium can directly affect enzyme activity. Its influence on many bodily functions in both ill and healthy people has been proven. METHODS: To assess the influence of Li+ ions concentration and the substrate/enzyme ratio on pepsin and trypsin activity in vitro, 60 factorial experiments were conducted (each repeated 30 times). MAIN FINDINGS: For both enzymes, statistically significant changes in their activity under the influence of lihium carbonate and lithium citrate were observed. The biggest increase in enzyme activity reached even 198.6 % and the largest decrease in enzyme activity reached about 50 %. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that both organic and inorganic forms of lithium salts cause changes in the activity of digestive enzymes. Different concentrations of lithium carbonate and lithium citrate stimulate or inhibit the activity of trypsin and pepsin.

Comparison of deoxynivalenol and zearaleone concentration in conventional and organic cereal products in western Poland.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) and Zearalenone (ZEA) are mycotoxin contaminants of cereals and cereal products that pose a significant threat to food safety. The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of DON and ZEA in different organic and conventional unprocessed cereals and cereal products that are available on the Polish agricultural fields and market. A total of 78 unprocessed cereal and cereal product samples of organic and conventional production were sampled from agricultural fields situated in western Poland and from available on the Polish market packaged comercial products produced by different domestic manufacturers. All samples were analyzed for DON and ZEA by HPLC with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). RESULTS: Results. Co-occurrence of DON was detected in cereals from the organic production system, the average content was 285.25 ± 134,04 µg kg -1 and from the conventional system - 373.71 ± 171,20 µg kg -1 , In flour from organic farming, the average DON content was 213.80 ± 151,28 µg kg -1, in conventional flour the average was 336.29 ± 188,90 µg kg -1. The range of DON concentrations in samples of cereal products from organic and conventional farms was detected in 26.3% and 31.6%, whereas the average concentrations of DON in cereal products was 199.60 ± 149.82 µg kg -1 and 387.67 ± 250.24 µg kg -1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mycotoxins contamination seen in organic cereals and cereal products does not statistical differ from that witnessed in their conventional counterparts.