Dietary Patterns and Metabolic Disorders in Polish Adults with Multiple Sclerosis.

Diet plays a major role in the aetiopathogenesis of many neurological diseases and may exacerbate their symptoms by inducing the occurrence of metabolic disorders. The results of research on the role of diet in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) are ambiguous, and there is still no consensus concerning dietary recommendations for patients with MS. The aim of this study was to analyse the dietary patterns (DPs) of patients with MS and to assess the relationships between these DPs and the metabolic disorders. The study participants were comprised of 330 patients aged 41.9 ± 10.8 years. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data related to diet, lifestyle and health. The DPs were identified using a principal component analysis (PCA). Three DPs were identified: Traditional Polish, Prudent and Fast Food & Convenience Food. An analysis of the odds ratios adjusted for age, gender, smoking and education showed that a patient's adherence to the Traditional Polish and the Fast Food & Convenience Food DPs increased the likelihood of abdominal obesity and low HDL-cholesterol concentration. Conversely, adherence to the Prudent DP was not significantly associated with any metabolic disorder. The results of this study confirmed that an unhealthy diet in patients with MS is connected with the presence of some metabolic risk factors. There is also an urgent need to educate patients with MS on healthy eating, because the appropriate modifications to their diet may improve their metabolic profile and clinical outcomes.

Analysis of the Nutritional Status in Homeless People in Poland Based on the Selected Biochemical Parameters.

The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of adult homeless people using both anthropometric and biochemical measurements. The analysis comprised anthropometric indicators, i.e., body mass index and waist circumference, and the following biomarkers: red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, white blood cells, complete lymphocyte count, neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelets-to-lymphocytes ratio, platelets-to-leukocytes ratio, C reactive protein level, serum iron concentration, serum albumin concentration, total serum protein, fasting lipids and blood glucose level. There were representative Polish homeless people enrolled (n = 580). The analysis of the conducted studies proved that there is a greater frequency of overweight and obesity than underweight in the target population. The major problem was abdominal obesity that was present statistically more frequently in women than men (p < 0.001). In the majority of cases, homeless people were found to have normal complete blood count parameters. In obese people, there were statistically significant both elevated and decreased hematocrit levels, a significant decrease in red blood cells, elevated serum glucose, triglycerides and total protein level (p < 0.05). The presence of abdominal obesity, elevated glucose concentration, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum together with smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.