1. Sarcopenia, obesity, and their association with selected behavioral factors in active older adultsKaja Teraž, Miloš Kalc, Manca Peskar, Saša Pišot, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Primož Pori, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: The number of obese people in the world is increasing, as is the number of sarcopenic people among the older adults. Although both states are concerning, they can be positively influenced by selected behavioral factors such as adequate nutrition and physical activity. We were interested in the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in active older people and the influence of behavioral factors on this phenomenon.
Methods: The study included 38 older adults (21 women) with a mean age of 75.3 ± 5.0 years. Sarcopenic parameters were determined with different tests: Handgrip Test, Chair Stand Test, Gait Speed, Timed Up and Go Test, and Short Physical Performance Battery. Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Physical activity level was measured using accelerometers, and nutritional status was assessed using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment and MEDLIFE Index questionnaire.
Results: Of all included active participants (the average number of steps per day was 8,916 ± 3,543), 47.4% of them were obese. Of all included women, 52.4% were obese. Sarcopenic obesity was found in three (7.9%) participants. Nutritional status correlated with strength of lower extremities and physical performance tests (gait speed, Timed Up and Go Test and Short Physical performance battery). Higher number of steps per day positively correlates with physical performance.
Discussion: Interestingly, we did not find any correlation between the main obesity parameter such as percent body fat or body mass index (and thus sarcopenic obesity) and any of the selected behavioral factors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, or dietary habits). In conclusion, reaching the recommended levels of physical activity in older adults may not be sufficient to prevent the occurrence of obesity and sarcopenic obesity.
Keywords: aging, physical activity, nutrition, healthy lifestyle, body composition, sarcopenia
Published in DKUM: 27.05.2024; Views: 174; Downloads: 14
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2. Resveratrol food supplement products and the challenges of accurate label information to ensure food safety for consumersMaja Bensa, Irena Vovk, Vesna Glavnik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The food supplement market is growing as many consumers wish to complement their nutrient intake. Despite all the regulations in place to ensure food supplements safety, there are still many cases of irregularities reported especially connected to internet sales. Twenty resveratrol food supplement products sold on the Slovenian market were evaluated on their compliance of declared vs. determined resveratrol content, as well as the compliance of labels with the European Union (EU) and Slovenian regulatory requirements. Both the ingredient contents and food information are important parts of food safety. Analyses of 20 food supplements performed using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) coupled with densitometry showed that 95% of products had contents different from what was declared and 55% of products contained higher contents than declared. In 25% of the products the determined content per unit exceeded the maximum level (150 mg/day) specified in EU novel food conditions for food supplement with trans-resveratrol. Evaluation of the 20 food supplement labels included mandatory and voluntary food information, food supplement information, novel food information, health claims and nutrition claims. Most labels contained the necessary information, but multiple errors were observed ranging from typos to misleading practices. From a food safety perspective there is still a lot of improvement needed in the field of food supplements.
Keywords: trans-resveratrol, dietary supplements, food safety, regulation, labels, health claims, nutrition claims, novel foods, high-performance thin-layer chromatography, HPTLC
Published in DKUM: 15.04.2024; Views: 199; Downloads: 15
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3. FORMULATION, PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOEMULSIONS FOR PARENTERAL NUTRITION : doctoral disertationDušica Mirković, 2019, doctoral dissertation Abstract: The aim of this doctoral research was to develop and optimize parenteral nanoemulsions as well as the total parenteral nutrition (TPN) admixture containing a nanoemulsion obtained in the course of the optimization process (hereinafter referred to as optimal nanoemulsion), and to examine their physicochemical and biological quality as well. In addition, the quality of the prepared nanoemulsions was compared with the quality of the industrial nanoemulsion (Lipofundin® MCT/LCT 20%), and, in the end, the TPN admixture initially prepared was also compared with the admixture into which the industrial emulsion was incorporated.
Parenteral nanoemulsions that were considered in this dissertation were prepared by the high-pressure homogenization method. This method is the most widely applied method for the production of nanoemulsions due to the shortest length of homogenization time, the best-obtained homogeneity of the product and the smallest droplet diameter.
For the nanoemulsion formulation, preparation and optimization purposes, by using, firstly, the concept of the computer-generated fractional design, and, after that, the full experimental design, the assessment of both direct effects of different formulation and process parameters (the oil phase type, the emulsifier type and concentration, a number of homogenization cycles and the pressure under which homogenization was carried out) as well as the effects of their interactions on the characteristics of prepared nanoemulsions was performed.
Monitoring the nanoemulsion physical and chemical stability parameters was carried out immediately after their preparation, and then after 10, 30 and 60 days. It included the visual inspection, the measurement of the droplet diameter (the mean and volume droplet diameter), the polydispersity index, the ζ-potential, the pH value, the electrical conductivity, and the peroxide number. After the preparation and after 60 days, the biological evaluation (the sterility test and the endotoxic test) of the prepared nanoemulsions was carried out. As far as the characterization of the TPN admixture is concerned, it included practically the same parameters. The dynamics of monitoring the characteristics of the TPN admixture was determined on the basis of practical needs of hospitalized patients (0h, 24h and 72h).
The scope and comprehensiveness of this issue indicated the need to divide the doctoral dissertation into three basic stages. The first stage was preliminary. Using the 24-1 fractional factorial design, nanoemulsions for the parenteral nutrition were prepared. They contained either a combination of soybean and fish oil, or a combination of medium chain triglycerides and fish oil. In addition, the type and the amount of an emulsifier used, a number of high-pressure homogenization cycles, and the homogenization pressure, were also varied. The measurement of the above-mentioned parameters for the industrial nanoemulsion was parallely carried out (Lipofundin® MCT/LCT 20%). The objective of this part of the research was to identify critical numerical factors having the most significant effect on the characteristics that define the prepared parenteral nanoemulsions. Parameters that were singled out as the result of this stage of the research (the emulsifier concentration and a number of homogenization cycles) were used as independent variables in the second stage of the research.
Keywords: nanoemulsions, total parenteral nutrition admixtures, high pressure homogenization, design of experiments, optimization, analysis of variance, artificial neural networks
Published in DKUM: 07.06.2019; Views: 11996; Downloads: 19
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4. Grain amaranth as an alternative and perspective crop in temperate climateSilva Grobelnik Mlakar, Matjaž Turinek, Manfred Jakop, Martina Bavec, Franc Bavec, 2010, review article Abstract: As a consequence of globalisation and industrialisation of agriculture, global food security has become increasingly dependent on only a handful of fertilisation and energy high demanding plant species. This involution has increased the vulnerability of agriculture, reduced genetic diversity, provoked some environmental problems and impoverished the human diet. The mentioned facts stimulate the retrieving of alternative crops into the production. The present paper briefly describes crop importance, botany, nutritional value and utilisation of grain amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), one of the alternative crops discussed in the book Organic Production and Use of Alternative Crops. The immediate objective of this paper is to present information gained as a result of a national project on grain amaranth.
Keywords: grain amaranth, nutrition value, utilisation
Published in DKUM: 29.03.2018; Views: 1436; Downloads: 146
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5. The effect of dietary fibre content on skatole and indole production in faeces of immunocatrsted male pigsMartin Škrlep, Nina Batorek Lukač, Maja Prevolnik Povše, Urška Tomažin, Etienne Labussière, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, 2015, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The effect of dietary fibre content on intestinal production of indolic compounds was studied in immunocastrated pigs (IC). In addition, entire males (EM) and IC were compared on control diet (with low fibre content). For the study 32 crossbred pigs were assigned, within a litter to 4 treatment groups; 24 pigs were immunocastrated (at the age of 77 and 112 days) and 8 pigs were kept as entire males (EM). IC were split into three groups (IC_H, IC_M and IC_L) fed three diets differing in crude fibre (34, 60 and 80 g/kg dry matter, respectively) and net energy (NE) (10.0, 9.3, 8.5 MJ NE/kg/DM, respectively). EM were fed high NE i.e. low fibre diet. The experiment started when pigs were 84 days old and finished at the age of 172 days, when pigs were sent to slaughter. Skatole and indole concentrations were determined in the samples of intestinal content taken from caecum (CE), ascending (AC) and descending colon (DC). The concentration of indole was the highest in CE and proximal part of the colon, while skatole concentration increased in the distal parts of the large intestine. Concentrations of indolic compounds did not differ between EM and IC that were fed the same diet. Lowering dietary NE by inclusion of high fibre ingredients reduced the production of indole in the intestinal content of IC pigs, whereas the production of skatole was not affected.
Keywords: indole, skatole, dietary fibres, pig, entire males, immunocastrates, pig nutrition, immunocastration
Published in DKUM: 20.07.2017; Views: 1023; Downloads: 194
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7. Influence of fertirigation with nitrogen on iron, copper and boron content in leaf and cropping of 'Jonagold' and 'Golden Delicious' apple treesZlatko Čmelik, Stanislav Tojnko, 2001, original scientific article Abstract: Two apple (Malus domestica Borkh) cultivars grafted on M9 rootstock were grown on high density ('Jonagold' 2500 trees/ha, 'Golden Delicious' 3000 trees/ha). There were five treatments for each cultuvar (fertirigation with 45kg N/ha, 60 kg N/ha, 120 kg N/ha, irrigation without fertilisers, and control- without irrigation and without fertilisers), and two timing variants (treatments during vegetation period from 1 May to 20 June - variant A, and treatments from 1 May to 1 August - variant B). The treatments were impossed beginning in the second year after planting and lasted seven years (1992-1998). Concentration of microelements in leaf was determined over the 7th and 8th growing season. During the season 1997/98 effects of the applied treatments on leaf mineral content were notable, but these effects often were not consistent. There were no significant timing effect on leaf nutrient concetration of both cultivars. During the cropping years (1993-1998) there were no consistent treatment effects for cumulative yield and cumulative yield efficiency. The highest cumulative yield achieved 'Jonagold' in the control, while 'Golden Delicious' performed best when it was fertilised with 45 and 60 kg N/ha.__
Keywords: Malus domestica, mineral nutrition, Fe, Cu, B, Malus domestica, mineralna ishrana, Fe, Cu, B
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2015; Views: 1271; Downloads: 44
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