Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor of Preeclampsia during Pregnancy.

A balanced diet is achieved not only via the consumption of a variety of food products but also by ensuring that we take in sufficient quantities the micronutrients necessary for the adequate functioning of the human body, such as vitamins, an important one of which is vitamin D. Vitamin D has been closely linked to bone health. Vitamin D deficiency has often been associated with negative effects concerning several pregnancy adverse outcomes, the most important of which are the birth of SGA newborns, premature birth, and, finally, preeclampsia, which are discussed in this work. The aim of this review is to critically summarize and scrutinize whether the concentration of vitamin D in the blood serum of pregnant women in all its forms may be correlated with the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy and whether vitamin D levels could act both as a protective agent or as a risk factor or even a prognostic measure of the disease. The association of vitamin D levels with the onset of preeclampsia was examined by searching the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. A total of 31 clinical trials were identified and included in this review, with the aim of summarizing the recent data concerning vitamin D levels and the risk of preeclampsia. Among them, 16 were published in the last five years, and 13 were published within the last a decade. Most studies showed a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia risk. It was also found that the higher the dose, the lower the risk of disease. Of the 31 articles, only 7 of them did not show a significant difference between vitamin D levels and preeclampsia regardless of comorbidity. The results of this review suggest that there is indeed an association between the concentration of vitamin D during pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia; however, further studies are strongly recommended to derive conclusive evidence.

Vitamin D and Calcium in Osteoporosis, and the Role of Bone Turnover Markers: A Narrative Review of Recent Data from RCTs.

Osteoporosis is a common disease, defined primarily by a low measured bone density, which is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures. Low calcium intake and vitamin D deficiency seem to be positively correlated with the prevalence of osteoporosis. Although they are not suitable for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, the biochemical markers of bone turnover can be measured in serum and/or urine, enabling the assessment of the dynamic bone activity and the short-term effectiveness of the osteoporosis treatment. Calcium and vitamin D are essential for maintaining bone health. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation separately and in combination, on bone density and circulating serum and blood plasma vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone levels, markers of bone metabolism concentrations, and clinical outcomes, such as falls and osteoporotic fractures. We searched the PubMed online database to find clinical trials from the last five years (2016-April 2022). A total of 26 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included in this review. The present reviewed evidence suggests that vitamin D alone or in combination with calcium increases circulating 25(OH)D. Calcium with concomitant vitamin D supplementation, but not vitamin D alone, leads to an increase in BMD. In addition, most studies did not detect significant changes in circulating levels of plasma bone metabolism markers, nor in the incidence of falls. Instead, there was a decrease in blood serum PTH levels in the groups receiving vitamin D and/or Ca supplementation. The plasma vitamin D levels at the beginning of the intervention, and the dosing regimen followed, may play a role in the observed parameters. However, further study is needed to determine an appropriate dosing regimen for the treatment of osteoporosis and the role of bone metabolism markers.

Ceramides in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: Existing Evidence and Therapeutic Considerations for Diet as an Anticeramide Treatment.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) constitute a set of connective tissue disorders and dysfunctions with akin clinical manifestations and autoantibody responses. AIRD treatment is based on a comprehensive approach, with the primary aim being achieving and attaining disease remission, through the control of inflammation. AIRD therapies have a low target specificity, and this usually propels metabolic disturbances, dyslipidemias and increased cardiovascular risk. Ceramides are implicated in inflammation through several different pathways, many of which sometimes intersect. They serve as signaling molecules for apoptosis, altering immune response and driving endothelial dysfunction and as regulators in the production of other molecules, including sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P). With lipid metabolism being severely altered in AIRD pathology, several studies show that the concentration and variety of ceramides in human tissues is altered in patients with rheumatic diseases compared to controls. As a result, many in vitro and some in vivo (animal) studies research the potential use of ceramides as therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia syndrome, primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, myositis, systemic vasculitis and psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, the majority of ceramide synthesis is diet-centric and, as a result, dietary interventions may alter ceramide concentrations in the blood and affect health. Subsequently, more recently several clinical trials evaluated the possibility of distinct dietary patterns and nutrients to act as anti-ceramide regimes in humans. With nutrition being an important component of AIRD-related complications, the present review details the evidence regarding ceramide levels in patients with AIRDs, the results of anti-ceramide treatments and discusses the possibility of using medical nutritional therapy as a complementary anti-ceramide treatment in rheumatic disease.

Investigating the Tocopherol Contents of Walnut Seed Oils Produced in Different European Countries Analyzed by HPLC-UV: A Comparative Study on the Basis of Geographical Origin.

A rapid HPLC-UV method was developed for the determination of tocopherols in walnut seed oils. The method was validated and the LODs ranged between 0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg, while the LOQs were calculated over the range of 0.50 to 1.00 mg/kg. The accuracy values ranged between 90.8 and 97.1% for the within-day assay (n = 6) and between 90.4 and 95.8% for the between-day assay (n = 3 × 3), respectively. The precision of the method was evaluated and the RSD% values were lower than 6.1 and 8.2, respectively. Overall, 40 samples of walnuts available on the Greek market, originating from four different European countries (Greece, Ukraine, France, and Bulgaria), were processed into oils and analyzed. One-way ANOVA was implemented in order to investigate potential statistically significant disparities between the concentrations of tocopherols in the walnut oils on the basis of the geographical origin, and Tukey's post hoc test was also performed to examine exactly which varieties differed. The statistical analysis of the results demonstrated that the Ukrainian walnut seed oils exhibited significantly higher total concentrations compared to the rest of the samples.

Quercetin: A Molecule of Great Biochemical and Clinical Value and Its Beneficial Effect on Diabetes and Cancer.

Quercetin belongs to the broader category of polyphenols. It is found, in particular, among the flavonols, and along with kaempferol, myricetin and isorhamnetin, it is recognized as a foreign substance after ingestion in contrast to vitamins. Quercetin occurs mainly linked to sugars with the most common compounds being quercetin-3-O-glucoside or as an aglycone, especially in the plant population. The aim of this review is to present a recent bibliography on the mechanisms of quercetin absorption and metabolism, bioavailability, and antioxidant and the clinical effects in diabetes and cancer. The literature reports a positive effect of quercetin on oxidative stress, cancer, and the regulation of blood sugar levels. Moreover, research-administered drug dosages of up to 2000 mg per day showed mild to no symptoms of overdose. It should be noted that quercetin is no longer considered a carcinogenic substance. The daily intake of quercetin in the diet ranges 10 mg-500 mg, depending on the type of products consumed. This review highlights that quercetin is a valuable dietary antioxidant, although a specific daily recommended intake for this substance has not yet been determined and further studies are required to decide a beneficial concentration threshold.

Nutritional and Nutrition-Related Biomarkers as Prognostic Factors of Sarcopenia, and Their Role in Disease Progression.

Due to the multifactorial pathogenesis of sarcopenia, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that are risk factors for sarcopenia, and which therefore have a prognostic function. Aim: This narrative review aims to define a set of biomarkers associated with nutrition and sarcopenia. These biomarkers could contribute to individualized monitoring and enable preventive and therapeutic methods. Methods: Two electronic databases, PubMed and Google Scholar, were used. The search strategy was based on a controlled vocabulary (MeSH) and includes studies published up to February 2022. Discussion: Higher levels of serum uric acid are associated with higher handgrip strength and better muscle function in elderly people and, thus, may slow the progression of sarcopenia. Leptin, an adipokine secreted by adipose tissue, promotes the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which in turn lead to sarcopenia. This makes leptin a significant indirect biomarker for physical disability and sarcopenic obesity. Additionally, creatinine is a reliable biomarker for muscle mass status because of its easy accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Vitamin D status acts as a useful biomarker for predicting total mortality, hip fractures, early death, and the development of sarcopenia. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in dietary antioxidants and their effects on age-related losses of muscle mass and function. On the other hand, 3-Methylhistidine is a valuable biomarker for detecting increased muscle catabolism, as it is excreted through urine during muscle degradation. In addition, IGF-1, whose concentration in plasma is stimulated by food intake, is associated with the loss of skeletal muscle mass, which probably plays a crucial role in the progression of sarcopenia. Conclusions: Many nutritional biomarkers were found to be associated with sarcopenia, and can therefore be used as prognostic indexes and risk factors. Nutrition plays an important role in the prevention and management of sarcopenia, affecting muscle mass, strength, and function in elderly people.

The Potential Impact of Blood System on Dietary Habits and Smoking.

The 'Blood-Type' diet advises individuals to eat according to their ABO blood group to improve their health and decrease the risk of chronic diseases. However, the food preferences of individuals with different blood groups have not been examined. The aim of our study was to investigate, in healthy regular blood donors (rBDs), the associations of smoke, alcohol, caffeine, vitamin and fat intake with their different blood groups and if ABO groups could be a potential predictor tool for disease prevention. A total of 329 volunteers were divided into four groups according to their ABO types: Group 1 (A) comprised 141 rBDs; Group 2 (B), 65 rBDs; Group 3 (O), 96 rBDs; and Group 4, 27 rBDs. Additionally, they were divided into two groups according to their rhesus types and their preferences for smoke, too. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day food recall and the Food Processor computer program for nutrient analysis. Alcohol, caffeine, sugar and Vitamin D consumption were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the O group. The A group presented statistically significantly (p < 0.05) greater preferences for cholesterol intake and a higher trend for smoking (25%) habits compared with all the other groups, whereas Group B preferred more fatty foods. The blood group AB appeared to be the most controlled food intake group. Regarding the rhesus comparisons, alcohol; caffeine; and Vitamin C, D, E and K consumptions were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in rhesus-positive individuals than their rhesus-negative counterparts. For the non-smoker group, compared with the smokers, a higher consumption of Vitamin D and fibers was found. In conclusion, in the present study, statistically significant correlations of the ABO and rhesus system with some dietary parameters were found, indicating a consequent influence of these preferences on the progression of different diseases.

A green molecular imprinted solid-phase extraction protocol for bisphenol A monitoring with HPLC-UV to guarantee the quality and safety of walnuts under different storage conditions.

Monitoring the residual toxicant concentrations in foods is the key step for minimizing potential hazards. The huge interest about food contamination and exposure to endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A has emerged the development of sensitive analytical methodologies to guarantee the safety and quality of foods. In this work, a green molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction protocol coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was optimized following the principles of green analytical chemistry. An imprinted sol-gel silica-based hybrid inorganic-organic polymeric sorbent was used to monitor the leaching of bisphenol A from different packaging materials (glass vessels, cans, and polypropylene containers) in walnuts stored within a period of 6 months at 25 and 4°C. Extraction parameters including loading time (5-20 min), solvent type (acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol, acetone, acetonitrile:methanol, 50:50, v/v), and elution flow rate (0.2-1 mL/min) were optimized with one-factor-at-a-time method. The selected extraction optimum parameters incorporated elution with acetonitrile at 0.2 mL/min flow rate, for 10 min sample holding time. The imprinting factor was equal to 4.55 ± 0.26 (n = 3). The optimized method presented high recovery (94.3 ± 4.2%, n = 3), good linearity (>0.999), intra-assay repeatability (90.2-95.6%, n = 3), and interassay precision (86.7-93.1%, n = 3).

Relationship between dietary fats and serum antioxidants with atheromatic index in regular blood donors.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Nutritional choices, which include dietary fatty acids (FA), vitamins and sugars, have an important significant impact on the development of atheromatic index levels. Controversial opinions exist in the literature regarding the role of different fat types and their association with atheromatic index. We investigated the relationship between dietary intake with different atheromatic index groups of volunteer regular blood donors (rBDs) recognizing them as a healthy population excluding drug and supplements intake and we correlated their values with serum total antioxidant status (sTAS). MATERIAL & METHODS: 150 individuals used in this study were divided in 3 groups according to their atheromatic index (AI = Total cholesterol/HDL) (AI): Group 1 (AI < 3.5) comprised of 50 rBDs, Group 2 (AI 3.5-4.49) of 52 rBDs and Group 3 of 48 rBDs (AI > 4.5). Dietary intake was assessed using the 3 day food recall and the Food Processor, computer program for nutrient analysis. sTAS was measured in all samples and correlated with atheromatic index too. RESULTS: Our study showed that rBDs with low dietary intake of all vitamins, Ω3 fatty acids, trans fatty acids and dietary cholesterol presented an increased atheromatic index. On the other hand rBDs with high dietary intake of saturated fat, total fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and sugar showed increased atheromatic index. In addition, groups with the higher atheromatic index presented statistically significant higher total antioxidant status. Trans FA are also positively associated with sTAS and on the other hand dietary cholesterol is negatively associated with sTAS and positively in groups B and C. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that dietary intake of different types of fatty acids should be used separately as atheromatic index predictors. Moreover, sTAS is correlated with dietary intake of SFA, MUFA, PUFA, Cholesterol, Trans FA and sugar. Finally, the measurement of each fatty acid would be of great value for the screening of lipid metabolism disorders in atheromatic index control.

Estudio piloto de la prevalencia de obesidad materna en condados griegos seleccionados / A pilot study on the prevalence of maternal obesity in selected Greek counties

OBJETIVO: Notificar una prevalencia piloto de sobrepeso, obesidad y bajo peso maternos en condados griegos seleccionados. MÉTODOS: Para este estudio transversal se reclutó a un total de 441 mujeres adultas fértiles de maternidades de seis condados griegos. El estado ponderal pregrávido se definió de acuerdo con los puntos de corte de la OMS, y el estado ponderal grávido se diagnosticó con la tabla de ganancia de peso de Mardones y Rosso. RESULTADOS: Durante la gestación, la mayoría de las participantes (34,0%) tenían peso corporal (PC) normal. El 25,6% de la muestra tenía obesidad, el 23,8% bajo peso, y el 16,6% restante tenía sobrepeso. Globalmente, el embarazo triplicaba la prevalencia de bajo peso, aumentaba la prevalencia de obesidad (el 388,0%) y reducía el número de participantes en la categoría PC normal (p≤0,001 para todos) La mayoría de las participantes clasificadas en cada categoría de peso pregrávida permanecieron en la misma categoría de peso durante la gestación. Todas las mujeres obesas antes del embarazo siguieron siéndolo durante éste. El peso bajo fue más prevalente en Kavala (37,5%), y la obesidad fue más frecuente en Tesalónica (30,8%). Las mujeres con sobrepeso antes de la concepción tenían muchas probabilidades de presentar sobrepeso u obesidad durante el embarazo (OR: 23,8, IC: 11,1-51,0). CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados indican una prevalencia alta de sobrepeso, obesidad y bajo peso en las mujeres griegas embarazadas

OBJECTIVE: To report a pilot prevalence of maternal overweight, obesity and underweight in selected Greek counties. METHODS: A total of 441 adult childbearing women were recruited from maternity clinics in 6 Greek counties for this cross-sectional study. Pre-gravid weight status was defined according to the WHO cut-offs and gravid weight status was diagnosed with the Mardones and Rosso weight gain chart. RESULTS: During gestation the majority of the participants were of normal body weight (BW) (34.0%), obesity was apparent in 25.6% of the sample, 23.8% of the participants were underweight, and the remaining 16.6% were overweight. Overall, pregnancy tripled the prevalence of underweight, increased the prevalence of obesity (by 388.0%) and decreased the number of participants in the normal BW category (p ≤ 0.001 for all). The majority of participants classified in each pre-gravid weight-category remained in the same weight category during their gestation. All the pre-gravidly obese women were also obese during pregnancy. Underweight was more prevalent in Kavala (37.5%) and obesity was more frequent in Thessaloniki (30.8%). Women who were overweight prior to conception were highly likely to be overweight/obese during pregnancy (OR: 23.8, CI: 11.1-51.0). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a high prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight among pregnant women in Greece

A pilot study on the prevalence of maternal obesity in selected Greek counties.

OBJECTIVE: To report a pilot prevalence of maternal overweight, obesity and underweight in selected Greek counties. METHODS: A total of 441 adult childbearing women were recruited from maternity clinics in 6 Greek counties for this cross-sectional study. Pre-gravid weight status was defined according to the WHO cut-offs and gravid weight status was diagnosed with the Mardones and Rosso weight gain chart. RESULTS: During gestation the majority of the participants were of normal body weight (BW) (34.0%), obesity was apparent in 25.6% of the sample, 23.8% of the participants were underweight, and the remaining 16.6% were overweight. Overall, pregnancy tripled the prevalence of underweight, increased the prevalence of obesity (by 388.0%) and decreased the number of participants in the normal BW category (p≤0.001 for all). The majority of participants classified in each pre-gravid weight-category remained in the same weight category during their gestation. All the pre-gravidly obese women were also obese during pregnancy. Underweight was more prevalent in Kavala (37.5%) and obesity was more frequent in Thessaloniki (30.8%). Women who were overweight prior to conception were highly likely to be overweight/obese during pregnancy (OR: 23.8, CI: 11.1-51.0). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a high prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight among pregnant women in Greece.

Sunflower seed oil and oleic acid utilization for the production of rhamnolipids by Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The potential production of rhamnolipids was demonstrated using the thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 and sunflower seed oil or oleic acid as carbon sources. Sunflower seed oil was directly hydrolyzed by secretion of lipase and became a favorable carbon source for rhamnolipids production. Rhamnolipids levels were attainted high values, comparable to those produced by Pseudomonas strains from similar sources. Rhamnolipids synthesis in oleic acid exhibited a long period of induction, while in sunflower seed oil, the synthesis is more rapid. Glucose resulted in a more protracted period of rhamnolipids production after exhaustion of each or both carbon sources. Both mono- and di-rhamnolipids were identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in the total rhamnolipids extract. The molecular composition of the produced biosurfactant was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and LC-MS analysis. Furthermore, secretion of rhamnolipids was confirmed on agar plates. The antimicrobial activity of rhamnolipids was detected against the bacterium Micrococcus lysodeikticus using a lysoplate assay. These results demonstrate that rhamnolipids produced in these substrates can be useful in both environmental and food industry applications by using cheap oil wastes. The alternative use of this thermophilic microorganism opens a new perspective concerning the valorization of wastes containing plant oils or frying oils to reduce the cost of rhamnolipids production.