[Safety of intensive sweeteners]. / Az intenzív édesítoszerek biztonságossága.

Nowadays low calorie or intesive sweeteners are getting more and more popular. These sweeteners can be placed to the market and used as food additives according to the recent EU legislation. In the meantime news are coming out one after the other stating that many of these artificial intensive sweeteners can cause cancer - the highest risk has been attributed to aspartam. Low calorie sweeteners, just like all the other additives can be authorized after strickt risk assessment procedure according to the recent food law. Only after the additive has gone through these procedure can be placed to the list of food additives, which contains not only the range of food these additives can be used, but also the recommended highest amount of daily consumption. European Food Safety Authority considering the latest scientific examination results, evaluates regularly the safety of sweeteners authorized earlier. Until now there is no evidence found to question the safety of the authorized intensive sweeteners. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(Suppl. 1), 14-28.

[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey -- the OTAP2009 study. II. Energy and macronutrient intake of the Hungarian population]. / Országos Táplálkozás és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat - OTÁP2009. II. A magyar lakosság energia- és makrotápanyag-bevitele.

UNLABELLED: The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey is the fourth in the row of the Hungarian national dietary surveys conducted by the Institute for Food and Nutrition Science. AIMS: The present study was performed to provide valid, up-to-date data on energy and nutrient intakes and dietary habits of the Hungarian adult population. METHODS: The energy and nutrient intakes were calculated on validated three-day dietary records of a representative sample by age and gender of the Hungarian population aged ≥ 18 ys. RESULTS: The energy percentage of fat was too high (39 E% for men and 36 E% for women), that of carbohydrate was too low (45 E% for men and 48 E% for women), whereas that of protein met the recommendation (15 E% for men and 15 E% for women). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of the nutritional risk factors would greatly reduce the mortality and morbidity rates of nutrition-related diseases.

[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey -- the OTAP2009 study. III. Vitamin intake of the Hungarian population]. / Országos Táplálkozás és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat - OTÁP2009. III. A magyar lakosság vitaminbevitele.

UNLABELLED: For the healthy status the adequate intake of vitamins is essential. AIM AND METHOD: The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - joining to the European Health Interview Survey - studied the dietary habits of the Hungarian population. This work presents the vitamins intake. RESULTS: The intake of all water soluble vitamins, vitamin E and D were significantly higher in men than in women. Favourable phenomena were the increased ß-carotene and vitamin C intakes in men and women compared to the earlier data. Intakes of vitamin C, B1-, B2-, B6- and B12, and niacin meet the recommendations. Crucially low intakes of vitamin D and folate were calculated in both genders, particularly in the elders, mainly in case of vitamin D. Imperfect intakes of panthotenic acid and biotin were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: For maintaining the adequate vitamin supply and for prevention of vitamin deficiency, diversified nutrition, information of the population on the basic principles of healthy nutrition and availability of healthy food are essential.

[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - the OTAP2009 study. IV. Macroelement intake of the Hungarian population]. / Országos Táplálkozás és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat - OTÁP2009. IV. A magyar lakosság makroelem-bevitele.

UNLABELLED: The adequate intake of minerals is basically important for healthy nutrition. AIM AND METHOD: The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - joining to the European Health Interview Survey - studied the dietary habits of the Hungarian population. The present publication describes the macroelement intake. RESULTS: The salt intake is unusually high (17.2 g in men and 12.0 g in women), the potassium intake remains well below the recommendation. These factors substantially increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases including high blood-pressure. The calcium intake stays below the recommendation except in the youngest males, the oldest men and women are at risk from this point of view. While magnesium intake suited the recommendation, the intake of phosphorus exceeded it twice. CONCLUSIONS: Focusing on marcroelements, high sodium/salt intake represents the highest public health risk. The implementation of STOP SALT! National Salt Reducing Programme, i.e. decrease the salt content of processed food and provide proper information to the population about excessive salt consumption, should result in a beneficial change of salt intake and ameliorate the public health conditions.

[Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey -- the OTAP2009 study. V. Intake of microelements in the Hungarian population]. / Országos Táplálkozás és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat - OTÁP2009. V. A magyar lakosság mikroelem-bevitele.

UNLABELLED: For a healthy status the adequate intake of microelements is vital. AIM AND METHOD: The Hungarian Diet and Nutritional Status Survey - joining to the European Health Interview Survey - studied the dietary habits of the Hungarian population. The present paper demonstrates the microelement intake. RESULTS: While the intake of iron, copper and zinc was sufficient in males, it was deficient in females according to the Hungarian recommendations. Especially women in their reproductive age ingested iron below the recommendation, thus representing a health risk. In comparison to earlier Hungarian data, zinc and chromium intake decreased unfavorable. CONCLUSIONS: Since in Hungary the consumption of the whole grain products with high trace element content is traditionally low, as also reflected in the present study, it would be desirable to increase the contribution of these foods in the diet in order to enhance the intake of microelements.

[Hungarian diet and nutritional status survey -- the OTAP2009 study. I. Nutritional status of the Hungarian population]. / Országos Táplálkozás- és Tápláltsági Állapot Vizsgálat - OTÁP2009. I. A magyar lakosság tápláltsági állapota.

UNLABELLED: Obesity is a leading public health problem, but representative data on measured prevalence among Hungarian adults has been missing since the late eighties. AIM AND METHOD: Joining in European Health Interview Survey the aim of the OTAP2009 study was to provide data representative by age and gender on the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among Hungarian adults based on their measured anthropometric data. RESULTS: Participation rate was 35% (n = 1165). Data shows that nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. 26.2% of men and 30.4% of women are obese. Prevalence of morbid obesity is 3.1% and 2.6% in men and women, respectively. Abdominal obesity is more prevalent among women than men (51.0% vs. 33.2%), and rate is increasing parallel with age in both gender. In elderly, 55% of men and almost 80% of women are abdominally obese. CONCLUSIONS: Besides interventions of population level for tackling obesity, individual preventive measures are indispensable.

[Food supplements on the domestic market in Hungary: nutritional assessment of the ingredients, risks and benefits, the role of food supplements in human nutrition]. / Étrend-kiegészítok a hazai piacon: az összetevok táplálkozás-élettani értékelése, elonyök és kockázatok; az étrend-kiegészítok szerepe a táplálkozásban.

Food supplements are foods that are concentrated sources of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals and other substances with a physiological or nutritional effect. Since joining to the European Union, the distribution of food supplements in Hungary has not been bound to pre-market authorisation; products can be placed to the market after a formal notification at the National Institute for Food and Nutrition Science. Distribution, ingredients, and all information on the label are determined by numerous regulations but at the same time, the lack of harmonized legislation at Community level may cause a lot of problems. In the second part of the review authors introduce the evaluation process of components from the point of view of nutritional and physiological effects and the possible role of food supplements in human nutrition.

[Food supplements on the Hungarian market: regulations of marketing and of the composition of the products]. / Etrend-kiegészítôk a hazai piacon: a termékek forgalmazását, összetételét meghatározó jogszabályi elôírások.

According to recent legislation, food supplements are foodstuffs with the purpose of supplementing normal diet. Food supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals and other substances with a physiological or nutritional effect. In Hungary, marketing of food supplements has not been bound to pre-market authorization since joining to the European Union. The food business operator, who is responsible for production or distribution of the product, must notify it at National Institute for Food and Nutrition Science latest at the time when the product has been placed on the market and it can be distributed simultaneously. Distribution, ingredients, and all those information which appear on the label are determined by numerous regulations and prescriptions but at the same time the lack of harmonized legislation at certain places may cause a lot of problems on Community level. The first part of the study shows the laws and regulations influencing the distribution and ingredients of food supplements, while the main target of the second part is to introduce the evaluation process of components from nutritional and physiological point of view, and the role played by the food supplements in nutrition.

Safety assessment of botanicals and botanical preparations used as ingredients in food supplements: testing an European Food Safety Authority-tiered approach.

This article describes results obtained by testing the European Food Safety Authority-tiered guidance approach for safety assessment of botanicals and botanical preparations intended for use in food supplements. Main conclusions emerging are as follows. (i) Botanical ingredients must be identified by their scientific (binomial) name, in most cases down to the subspecies level or lower. (ii) Adequate characterization and description of the botanical parts and preparation methodology used is needed. Safety of a botanical ingredient cannot be assumed only relying on the long-term safe use of other preparations of the same botanical. (iii) Because of possible adulterations, misclassifications, replacements or falsifications, and restorations, establishment of adequate quality control is necessary. (iv) The strength of the evidence underlying concerns over a botanical ingredient should be included in the safety assessment. (v) The matrix effect should be taken into account in the safety assessment on a case-by-case basis. (vi) Adequate data and methods for appropriate exposure assessment are often missing. (vii) Safety regulations concerning toxic contaminants have to be complied with. The application of the guidance approach can result in the conclusion that safety can be presumed, that the botanical ingredient is of safety concern, or that further data are needed to assess safety.

[Iodine content of mother's milk--Hungarian representative survey, 2006]. / A magyarországi anyatejminták jódtartalma--reprezentatív felmérés 2006.

UNLABELLED: In Hungary, except for some small area, iodine content of soil, cultivated crops and potable water is low; therefore the iodine intake of Hungarian population is lower than the amount recommended by international organizations. The high iodine intake for pregnant and nursing women is important to ensure the appropriate iodine intake of fetus and nursing babies, as well. AIM: The objective of the study was to get a comprehensive picture of iodine content of mother's milk and to make recommendation for the level of iodine supplementation for pregnant and nursing women. METHODS: Following a country-wide sampling, iodine content of 72 human milk samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Iodine intake in 42 percent of babies is lower than the recommended amount which could remarkably influence the physical and mental development of infants. CONCLUSIONS: Iodine supplementation and consumption of food with high iodine content is highly recommended during pregnancy and nursing.

[Foods fortified with phytosterins: their role in decreasing serum cholesterol level, their European Community authorization and requirements for placing them on the market]. / Fitoszterinekkel dúsított élelmiszerek: szerepük a szérumkoleszterin-szint csökkentésében, európai közösségi engedélyezésük, piacra kerülésük feltételei.

Phytosterols are isoprene compounds that may be found in a great variety of different food products. The most important phytosterol compounds are beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. Plant sources of phytosterols are oily seeds, nuts, plant oils, grains, and pulses. Many controlled clinical studies have demonstrated their ability to reduce blood cholesterol levels in hyper- and normo-cholesterolaemic subjects. Investigators report that phytosterol intakes of 2 to 3 g/d reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by about 7-11% in human subjects, while LDL and TG levels do not change. Phytosterol intake higher than 3 g daily does not result in higher decrease of LDL level, but about consumption of 8.6 g per day does not have any detrimental effect on human health. A documented side effect of elevated phytosterol intake is the reduced level of certain carotenoids in sera but this effect can be balanced by increased consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids. Subjects having hereditary sitosterolemia are highly advised to refrain from consuming foods supplemented with phytosterols. While dietary intake of phytosterols is too low to achieve significant reduce of cholesterol level, based on the Community legislation of 258/97/EC regulation related to novel foods and novel food ingredients, the European Union authorized to use phytosterols in certain food products at a concentration which resulted in a daily phytosterol intake less than 3 g. A European survey of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) shows that only 10-15% of the population consume foods supplemented with phytosterols, and phytosterol intake is less than the effective dose. Based on this survey it is supposed that the risk of phytosterols overdose is low. EFSA also stated that--based on the relevant scientific information--regular intake of foods supplemented with phytosterols/phytostanols is in significant correlation with reduced serum cholesterol level. Based on this statement, authorized foods supplemented with phytosterols will be the first food group legally having health claim for reduced risk of disease since the new Community legislation on nutritional and health claim on foods 1924/2006/EC exists. Consumers will have a scientifically substantiated health claim on the label of these foods: "Plant sterols/stanols have been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. Blood cholesterol lowering may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease."

Functional food. Product development, marketing and consumer acceptance--a review.

It was mainly the advances in understanding the relationship between nutrition and health that resulted in the development of the concept of functional foods, which means a practical and new approach to achieve optimal health status by promoting the state of well-being and possibly reducing the risk of disease. Functional foods are found virtually in all food categories, however products are not homogeneously scattered over all segments of the growing market. The development and commerce of these products is rather complex, expensive and risky, as special requirements should be answered. Besides potential technological obstacles, legislative aspects, as well as consumer demands need to be taken into consideration when developing functional food. In particular, consumer acceptance has been recognized as a key factor to successfully negotiate market opportunities. This paper offers a brief overview of the current functional food market situation in USA, Japan and some European countries completed with some comments on functional food future potential. It explores the main challenges of such product development focusing on the different factors determining the acceptance of functional food. Furthermore it discusses some prominent types of these food products currently on the market.

[Nutritional and antioxidant status of colorectal cancer patients]. / Colorectalis tumorban szenvedô betegek tápláltsági állapota és antioxidáns-státusza.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress is one of the risk factors of colorectal carcinogenesis. In inflammatory reactions the activated leucocytes product mutagenic and mitogenic free radicals, hereby promoting tumor formation. Obesity, hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia increases the energy supply of epithelial cells, thus leads to deregulation of mitochondrial electron transport chain. The latter leads to increased free radical production that causes troubles in cell cycle regulation, mutations, and unrestricted proliferation of damaged cells. AIM: Evaluation of some parameters of antioxidant and nutritional status in patients with benign or malignant colorectal neoplasm. METHODS: Assessment of nutrient intake, measurement of some anthropometric parameters (body height, body weight, waist, hip and arm circumference, waist/hip ratio), determination of serum prealbumin level, evaluation of the biomarkers of antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity, levels of uric acid and albumin, total antioxidant status, free radical scavenger capacity), determination the concentration of oxidated product and malondialdehyde. RESULTS: In patients with malignant tumor the dietary fiber, folate and vitamin A intake was under the optimal level, and the serum prealbumin concentration was lower than in patients with benign lesion. There was a high incidence of overweight and obesity among patients. Significant difference was found between diseased subjects and healthy controls in terms of the biomarkers of antioxidant status, such as free radical scavenger capacity, concentration of advanced oxidation protein products and malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase activity. CONCLUSIONS: The insufficient folate and vitamin A intake, the high incidence of overweight and obesity, and the abnormal values of the biomarkers of antioxidant status observed in the study groups seem to support the correlation between colorectal tumor, nutritional and antioxidant status.

Liver-protecting effects of table beet (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) during ischemia-reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE: Table beet (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) contains important bioactive agents (betaine and polyphenols), which have a wide range of physiologic effects. Because nutritive antioxidants may reduce the occurrence of complications and postoperative mortality, dietary intake of polyphenols and vitamins before surgery may greatly contribute to the survival of patients. Our aim was to determine the liver-protecting properties of bioactive substances of table beet in a model of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rat. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into two groups: non-treated (n = 24) and fed with table beet (n = 8). For 10 days the second group was treated with lyophilized table beet (2 g/kg body weight daily) mixed into the rat chow. Hepatic ischemia was maintained for 45 min, followed by 15 min of reperfusion. Ischemia-reperfusion was carried out on animals from both groups. Chemiluminescent intensity, H-donating ability, reducing power, free SH group concentration, Randox-total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were determined by luminometry and spectrophotometry. Fatty acid (Shimadzu GC) and metal ion (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) concentrations were observed in the liver. RESULTS: As a result of feeding, global parameters (H-donating ability, reducing power, free SH group concentration) and enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) of the liver were found to increase significantly, which indicated that the treatment had a positive effect on its redox state. The increase found in zinc and copper content may protect the hepatocytes against oxidative stress because these elements are required for the function of superoxide dismutase enzymes. In the table beet group the concentration of short-chain fatty acids decreased, whereas that of long-chain fatty acids increased. The changes in metal element and fatty acid concentrations confirmed that these elements have an essential function in cellular pathways. CONCLUSION: It may be stated that a natural antioxidant-rich diet has a positive effect on redox homeostasis during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion.

[Non-nutritive biologically active plant components: glucosinolates, their sources and their nutritional significance]. / Nem nutritív bioaktív növényi komponensek: a glükozinolátok étrendi forrásai és táplálkozás-élettani jelentoségük.

Numerous epidemiological studies as well as experimental animal studies suggest that a high intake of cruciferous vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of various forms of cancer. This protective effect has been linked to the high glucosinolate content of these vegetables. Glucosinolate breakdown products, particularly isothiocyanates and nitriles have been shown to modulate carcinogen metabolising enzyme systems, induce cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. The anticancer potential of the different glucosinolate metabolites is diverse and their effect on the above mentioned cellular mechanisms is also affected by the model system employed. Results of in vivo studies with isolated glucosinolates or isothiocyanates compared to those with cruciferous vegetables demonstrate that the chemopreventive effect of cruciferous vegetables is due to combined effect of the different glucosinolate metabolites and the optimal combination of these compounds found in Cruciferae provide the beneficial health effects.

Effects of citrus flavonoids on redox homeostasis of toxin-injured liver in rat.

In order to evaluate the effect of diosmin-hesperidin containing drug on redox balance and Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations of toxin-injured liver, Wistar albino rats were subjected to thioacetamide administration (500 mg TAA/l in their drinking water) with and without drug (425 mg/kg body weight/day). Animals were treated for 30 days. No significant change in the concentration of Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe in the liver was measured in TAA-treated animals compared to control. Diosmin-hesperidin mixture treatment increased levels of Fe and Zn and decreased concentration of Cu of the liver in TAA-treated animals. These alterations were not significant. Decrease of both the total scavenger capacity (TSC) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver homogenates were observed in TAA-treated rats. The diosmin-hesperidin-supplemented diet also significantly decreased the TSC and activity of SOD in liver of both the control and toxin-treated animals. On the basis of results it seems that high dosage of the diosmin-hesperidin mixture induces slight changes in the Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe content of the liver, however it may decrease the scavenger capacity and the activity of SOD when applied either alone or together with thioacetamide.

[A comparison of chemical composition and nutritional value of organically and conventionally grown plant derived foods]. / Az ökológiai (bio) és konvencionális termesztésu növényi élelmiszerek beltartalmának, táplálkozási értékének összehasonlítása.

The consumption of organic food has been increasing all over the world. Due to this fact, there are growing numbers of scientific studies examining the nutritional value of organic food. The aim of this review is to provide an overall picture of the beneficial and harmful nutritional content of organically and conventionally produced crops based on existing international comparative surveys. Furthermore, the authors attempt to define the relationship between organic and conventional food production systems and the nutritional value of food products as well as the consumption of organic and conventional diets which have important human health implications. Organic crops contain a significantly higher amount of certain antioxidants (vitamin C, polyphenols and flavonoids) and minerals, as well as have higher dry matter content than conventional ones. Moreover, there is a lower level of pesticide residues, nitrate and some heavy metal contaminations in organic crops compared to conventional ones. There is a relationship between the different fertilisation and plant protection methods of these two plant production systems and the nutritional composition of crops. Consequently, it can be concluded that organically produced plant derived food products have a higher nutritional value, including antioxidants than conventional ones. Furthermore, due to the fact that there is a lower level of contamination in organic crops, the risk of diseases caused by contaminated food is significantly reduced.

Antioxidant effect of squeezed juice from black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var niger) in alimentary hyperlipidaemia in rats.

Black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. niger) root has been used in folk medicine since antiquity as a natural drug for the stimulation of bile function. According to in vitro studies the squeezed juice from black radish root exhibited significant antioxidant properties. In the present study, the beneficial effect of the black radish juice on some free radical reactions in rats fed with a diet rich in lipids (20% sunflower oil, 2% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid in normal chow) was examined. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and conjugated diene concentrations were significantly higher, while the antioxidant enzyme activities and the free radical scavenging capacity were lower in hyperlipidaemic rats compared with normal controls. Supplementation of the lipid-rich diet with black radish juice resulted in a significant improvement of the parameters mentioned above. Although the exact mechanism of the biologically active compounds in black radish on the lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation is not clear yet, a beneficial effect of the drug was evident in alimentary hyperlipidaemia.

[Cultural history of wine, the theoretical background of wine therapy]. / A bor kultúrtörténete, a borterápia elméleti háttere.

The knowledge of wine and grapes as old as the cultural history of human population. The small consumption of wine could be advantageous. Also it has been well established for several thousands of years, that it could cause acute and chronic injuries after higher consumption. Its antiinfectious effect in dermatological drugs had been known in the archeological ages. The unguents containing wine polyphenols are advantageous in some dermatological injuries and also in the treatment of muscular and articular alterations. Moderate consumption of wine may decrease the mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases. In healthy individuals consumption of one-two dl of wine can decrease the mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases. This quantity, however, may be injurious in pregnancy, in children, and in various organic diseases, especially in liver disease, as well as if combined with common drugs.