Possible Biochemical Processes Underlying the Positive Health Effects of Plant-Based Diets-A Narrative Review.

Plant-based diets are becoming more popular for many reasons, and epidemiological as well as clinical data also suggest that a well-balanced vegan diet can be adopted for the prevention, and in some cases, in the treatment of many diseases. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the relationships between these diets and various conditions and their potential biochemical background. As whole plant foods are very rich in food-derived antioxidants and other phytochemicals, they have many positive physiological effects on different aspects of health. In the background of the beneficial health effects, several biochemical processes could stand, including the reduced formation of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) or decreased serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and altered signaling pathways such as mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). In addition, the composition of plant-based diets may play a role in preventing lipotoxicity, avoiding N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), and reducing foodborne endotoxin intake. In this article, we attempt to draw attention to the growing knowledge about these diets and provide starting points for further research.

[Plant-based diets: a review]. / A növényi alapú étrendrol.

Plant-based diet is an old-new trend in nutrition. In this review based on a historical context, we wish to introduce this popular nutritional trend. Our aim is to present plant-based diet as a primary measure for prevention. We intend to critically analyse some past stereotypes related to plant-based diet - whose main components include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds - according to the literature (e.g. protein, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron intake) by doing so we wish to create an adequate conceptual basis for its interpretation. We discuss positive physiological effects of plant-based diet and its possible role in diseases risk reduction. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases developing due to obesity could be prevented by a properly compiled plant-based diet. For patients with cancer minimizing the intake of foods of animal origin - as opposed to plant-based ones - has proved to have positive effects. Our review suggests this diet can be used in a number of diseases and it also provides long-term sustainable solutions for the health care challenges of the newest era. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(47), 1859-1865.

Marked diversity of IL23R gene haplotype variants in rheumatoid arthritis comparing with Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondylitis.

Haplotype tagging SNPs of interleukin-23 receptor gene rs1004819, rs7517847, rs7530511, rs2201841, rs1343151 and rs10889677 were determined in 396 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 190 patients with Crohn's disease, 206 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 182 controls. Using regression analysis models the rs1004819, rs2201841, and rs10889677 SNPs were found to confer risk for Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondylitis, while rs1343151 had a protective effect in both of these diseases, and the rs2201841 and rs10889677 SNPs showed susceptibility nature for rheumatoid arthritis. Using these SNPs we could study the susceptibility haplotype profiles in these diseases with special attention to the rheumatoid arthritis, first in the literature. Seven different haplotypes could be differentiated. We found that the SNPs exert their susceptibility character in specific haplotype blocks: thus, for rheumatoid arthritis the rs1343151 SNP was risk factor only in a specific haplotype surrounding; this can explain the controversial results published so far about this variant. More importantly, we observed, that while a specific haplotype can confer risk for rheumatoid arthritis, the same haplotype tended to protect against the development of the other two diseases. The data presented here serve evidence for the need of haplotype analysis instead of just single standing SNP analysis when susceptibility to or protection against a certain disease are interpreted.

Difference of interleukin-23 receptor gene haplotype variants in ulcerative colitis compared to Crohn's disease and psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: Polymorphisms of the interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) gene have been found to play a role in the development of several autoimmune diseases. Our aim was to examine the possible effect of not only simple individual variants, but of haplotypes composed of them. SUBJECTS: We analysed 263 patients with psoriasis, 199 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 282 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 253 controls for rs1884444, rs11805303, rs7517847, rs2201841, rs10889677 and rs11209032 variants. METHODS: The genotypes were determined by using PCR/RFLP assay. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the genotype distribution of the polymorphisms and haplotypes between the examined autoimmune diseases and healthy controls. RESULTS: Rs1884444 was found to confer risk for UC and psoriasis, rs10889677 for CD and psoriasis, while rs2201841 and rs7517847 had effect only in CD. Using these SNPs we could study the susceptibility haplotype profiles in these diseases with special attention to UC. Eight different haplotypes could be differentiated. We found that the SNPs exert their susceptibility character in specific haplotype blocks, and the frequency of one haplotype differed significantly in UC compared with both other diseases and also with healthy controls. This haplotype conferred risk for UC, even while it had a somewhat lower frequency in the other diseases than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented here serve as evidence for the need of haplotype analysis instead of just single standing SNP analysis when susceptibility is interpreted.

Results of nutritional screening in institutionalized elderly in Hungary.

Dietetics contributes to life-long, sustainable health and optimal life quality of people. The knowledge of the nutritional state can be informative and normative in order to optimize personal care. The aims of this study were to summarize the relevant legislative considerations of nourishing the elderly in different long-term residential social institutions and to screen the nutritional state of those living there. No investigation of this type has ever been carried out in Hungary or in central eastern Europe before. We used the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) screening program for the evaluation of nutritional status. Our survey was done in 20 Hungarian nursing homes in 2006. The sample (n=1381) was representative of regional distribution and number of residents. In our study population 38.2% of the patients were endangered in point of malnutrition. The results of our survey call attention to the elevated number of elderly people at risk of malnutrition in nursing homes. As malnutrition has serious consequences regarding also quality of life, nutritional screening of nursing home residents is not only a basic economical interest, but is also in full harmony with the idea "not only to feed, but to nourish" and it is a basic moral duty.

No association of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated gene CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphisms with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in Hungarian population samples.

AIM: The goal of the current work was to analyse the prevalence of the +49A/G variant of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 gene (CTLA4) in Hungarian patients with Crohnos disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: A total of 130 unrelated subjects with CD and 150 with UC, and 170 matched controls were genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The genotypes were determined by using PCR/RFLP test. RESULTS: The G allele frequency and the prevalence of the GG genotype were 38.1% and 12.3% in the CD group, 40.6% and 18.6% in the UC patients, and 37.4% and 15.9% in the control group, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study show that carriage of the +49G SNP in heterozygous or in homozygous form does not confer risk either for CD or for UC in the Hungarian population.

Plasma carnitine ester profiles in Crohn's disease patients characterized for SLC22A4 C1672T and SLC22A5 G-207C genotypes.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder caused by environmental and genetic factors. The purpose of this study was to analyse the possible influence of functional variants of genes of OCTN cation transporters on the carnitine ester profile of patients with CD. Genotyping for SLC22A4 1672C --> T, SLC22A5-207G --> C mutations and three common NOD2 variants (R702W, G908R and 1007finsC) were performed in 100 adult CD patients and in ninety-four healthy controls by direct sequencing. The carnitine ester profile was determined using ESI triple quadrupole tandem MS. Contrary to the NOD2/CARD15 mutations, none of the SLC variants showed increased prevalence in the CD group, the prevalence of TC haplotype did not differ between the patients and the controls. In the mixed group of CD patients the fasting propionyl- (0.243 (sem 0.008) v. 0.283 (sem 0.014) micromol/l), butyryl- (0.274 (sem 0.009) v. 0.301 (sem 0.013)) and isovalerylcarnitine (0.147 (sem 0.006) v. 0.185 (sem 0.009)) levels were decreased; while the level of octenoyl- (0.086 (sem 0.006) v. 0.069 (sem 0.005)), myristoleyl- (0.048 (sem 0.003) v. 0.037 (sem 0.003)), palmitoyl- (0.140 (sem 0.005) v. 0.122 (sem 0.004)) and oleylcarnitine (0.172 (sem 0.006) v. 0.156 (sem 0.008); P < 0.05 in all comparisons) were increased. After sorting the patients into SLC22A genotype-specific subgroups, no significant differences could be observed between them. The carnitine ester profile data suggest selective involvement of the carnitine esters in CD patients, probably due to their altered metabolism.

Association of n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma lipid classes with inflammatory bowel diseases.

In order to establish the biochemical basis for dietary interventions, we investigated the fatty acid composition of plasma lipid classes in patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease. In this cross-sectional study thirty patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), twenty-one with Crohn disease (CD) and twenty-four controls were investigated (mean age: UC, 40.8 (sd 12.1); CD, 37.6 (sd 11.0); control, 31.5 (sd 8.4) years). Fatty acid composition of plasma lipids was determined by high-resolution capillary GLC. In plasma phospholipids, significantly higher values of eicosapentaenoic (20 : 5n-3), docosapentaenoic (22 : 5n-3) and gamma-linolenic (18 : 3n-6) acids were found in control patients and patients with UC as compared to patients with CD [median % (weight by weight), control v. UC v. CD : 20 : 5n-3, 0.09 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.05) v. 0.14 (IQR 0.10) v. 0.16 (IQR 0.10), P < 0.05; 22 : 5n-3, 0.14 (IQR 0.10) v. 0.27 (IQR 0.16) v. 0.31 (IQR 0.10), P < 0.001; 18 : 3n-6, 0.02 (IQR 0.02) v. 0.03 (IQR 0.02) v. 0.05 (IQR 0.03), P < 0.05]. When compared to the control, values of the principal n-3 and n-6 long-chain PUFA, arachidonic acid (20 : 4n-6) and DHA (22 : 6n-3) were significantly higher in patients with UC but not in patients with CD [median % (w/w), UC v. control: 20 : 4n-6, 8.43 (IQR 3.23) v. 6.92 (IQR 2.96), P < 0.05; 22 : 6n-3, 1.22 (IQR 0.56) v. 0.73 (IQR 0.39), P < 0.05]. As seen there are considerable differences between the long-chain PUFA status of patients suffering from UC or CD. The data obtained in the present study do not support the concept of eicosapentaenoic acid or DHA deficiency in patients with either UC or CD.

Involvement of serum retinoids and Leiden mutation in patients with esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers in Hungary.

AIM: To analyze the serum levels of retinoids and Leiden mutation in patients with esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. METHODS: The changes in serum levels of retinoids (vitamin A, alpha- and beta-carotene, alpha- and beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein) and Leiden mutation were measured by high liquid performance chromatography (HPLC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 107 patients (70 males/37 females) with esophageal (0/8), gastric (16/5), liver (8/7), pancreatic (6/4), and colorectal (30/21 including 9 patients suffering from in situ colon cancer) cancer. Fifty-seven healthy subjects (in matched groups) for controls of serum retinoids and 600 healthy blood donors for Leiden mutation were used. RESULTS: The serum levels of vitamin A and zeaxanthin were decreased significantly in all groups of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tumors except for vitamin A in patients with pancreatic cancer. No changes were obtained in the serum levels of alpha- and beta-carotene, alpha- and beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein in patients with GI cancer. The prevalence of Leiden mutation significantly increased in all groups of patients with GI cancer. CONCLUSION: Retinoids (as environmental factors) are decreased significantly with increased prevalence of Leiden mutation (as a genetic factor) in patients before the clinical manifestation of histologically different (planocellular and hepatocellular carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma) GI cancer.

[Prevalence of Leiden mutation in various gastrointestinal disorders]. / A Leiden-mutáció prevalenciája a különbözó gastrointestinalis kórképekben.

Molecular biological examinations have been carried out by the authors from 1995 in patients with different haemostasis, very recently these types of the studies were done in patients with different gastrointestinal (Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis, hepatitis C infection, ileitis terminalis, ulcerative colitis, colon polyposis and adenocarcinoma in polyps) disorders. AIM, PATIENTS, METHOD: The Leiden mutation was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 1354 healthy persons and patients with different GI disorders. RESULTS: The results of Leiden prevalence in patients with different gastrointestinal disorders were compared to those obtained in patients with venous thrombosis and familiar thrombophilia. The authors indicated that the prevalence of heterozygous Leiden positive persons was 5.9% in healthy (n = 87) and blood donors (n = 600). The prevalence of heterozygous Leiden mutation was 27% in patents who under went venous thrombosis (n = 300; P < 0.001), 38% in patients with familial thrombophilia (n = 116; P < 0.001). The prevalence of Leiden mutation was 0 in patients with Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis (n = 24), 8% in hepatitis C infections (n = 75), 14.28% in Crohn's disease, (n = 49; P < 0.01), 27.5% in ulcerative colitis (n = 35; P < 0.001), 44% in colon polyposis (n = 59; P < 0.001) and 55% in situ adenocarcinomas (in polyposis) (n = 9; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The presented results suggest that the Leiden mutation is involved in patients with different inflammatory bowel disease, colon polyposis, as one of the suggested genetic factors.