1. The effect of supplementing pig diet with chestnut wood extract or hops on fresh meat and dry-cured productsUrška Tomažin, Martin Škrlep, Maja Prevolnik Povše, Nina Batorek Lukač, Danijel Karolyi, Matjaž Červek, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Oxidation is one of the major reasons for impaired quality of meat and meat products but can be prevented by the addition of antioxidants. In the present study, the effect of dietary sweet chestnut wood extract and hop cones on the quality and oxidative stability of meat and dry-cured products was investigated. Control pigs (N = 11) were fed a commercial diet (13.1 MJ metabolizable energy, 15.5% crude protein), while the other two experimental groups were supplemented with 3% of sweet chestnut wood extract (Tannin; N = 12) or 0.4% of hop cones (Hops; N = 11). The quality of meat and dry-cured products was evaluated by means of chemical composition, water holding capacity, objective color, and lipid and protein oxidation. No major effects of sweet chestnut wood extract or of hops supplementation were observed, nevertheless, some indications of improved water holding capacity could be attributed to antioxidants supplementation. The color evolution of dry-cured bellies from Tannin and Hops groups of pigs during refrigerated storage was also indicative of an improved oxidative stability. Keywords: pig meat, meat quality, pig diet, tannin extract, hops, dry-cured products, oxidation, pigs Published in DKUM: 23.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
Full text (8,88 MB) This document has many files! More... |
2. The effects of long-term moderate exercise and Western-type diet on oxidative/nitrosative stress, serum lipids and cytokines in female Sprague Dawley ratsMaria Donatella Semeraro, Gunter Almer, Melanie Kaiser, Sieglinde Zelzer, Andreas Meinitzer, Hubert Scharnagl, Simon Sedej, Hans-Jürgen Gruber, Markus Herrmann, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose: Regular exercise reduces obesity and the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, health-promoting benefits of physical activity are commonly associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Here, we tested whether constant moderate exercise is able to prevent or attenuate the oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and serum lipids in lean and obese rats.
Methods: Four-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats received standard or a high-fat diet. Animals were subjected to a physical activity protocol, consisting of 30 min forced treadmill exercise for 5 consecutive days per week during 10 months. Baseline and sedentary (non-exercised) rats were used as controls. Lipids, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, nitric oxide metabolites, and pro- and anti-inflammatory markers were measured in blood collected upon euthanasia.
Results: At variance to young baseline control rats, 14-month-old animals fed normal diet had increased plasma lipid levels, including total cholesterol and triglycerides, which were further elevated in rats that consumed a high-fat diet. While treadmill exercise did not lower the amount of serum lipids in standard diet group, forced physical activity reduced non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in response to high-fat diet feeding. Exercised rats fed standard diet or high-fat diet had lower abundancy of nitric oxide metabolites, which coincided with increased levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Accordingly, the amount of nitric oxide metabolites correlated inversely with oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homo-arginine. Exercise significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines in high-fat diet fed rats only.
Conclusion: Our study suggests that regular exercise alters the equilibrium between oxidative and anti-oxidative compounds and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines. Keywords: long-term moderate exercise, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, oxidized LDL, Sprague Dawley rats, western-type diet Published in DKUM: 10.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 2
Full text (1,30 MB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Effects of cardiac rehabilitation and diet counselling on adherence to the mediterranean lifestyle in patients after myocardial infarctionMarko Novaković, Uroš Rajkovič, Daniel Košuta, Jure Tršan, Zlatko Fras, Borut Jug, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle—as captured by the Medlife Index Questionnaire (i.e., encompassing a Mediterranean diet as well as other aspects of healthy living, such as food preparation, physical activity, and socializing)—has been associated with reduced cardiovascular events in healthy individuals. In the present study, we sought to determine the adherence to, and the effect of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation on, Mediterranean lifestyle adherence in patients after myocardial infarction. We included 121 patients (mean age, 55 years; women, 37%) undergoing comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation—i.e., exercise training 3 times per week for 12 weeks plus dedicated workshops promoting the Mediterranean lifestyle. Before and after cardiac rehabilitation, patients completed the Medlife Index Questionnaire. High baseline adherence was associated with favourable glucose (5.39 vs. 6.1 mmol/L; p < 0.001), triglycerides (1.1 vs. 1.5 mmol/L; p = 0.002), and HDL cholesterol levels (1.32 vs. 1.12 mmol/L; p = 0.032). More importantly, the Medlife Score significantly improved following comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in patients with low baseline adherence (from 13.8 to 16.7 points; p < 0.001), but not in patients with high baseline adherence (from 19.4 to 18.8 points; p = 0.205). Our findings suggested that Mediterranean lifestyle promotion during cardiac rehabilitation improved adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle, especially in low-adherence patients. Keywords: mediterranean diet, mediterranean lifestyle, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, cardiac rehabilitation, lipid status, physical activity Published in DKUM: 29.11.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 2
Full text (1,37 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Application of transmission electron microscopy to detect changes in pancreas physiologyMaša Skelin, Jurij Dolenšek, Ismael Valladolid-Acebes, Andraž Stožer, Saška Lipovšek Delakorda, 2022, independent scientific component part or a chapter in a monograph Keywords: pancreas physiology, exocrine cells, endocrine cells, ultrastructure, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, western diet Published in DKUM: 24.09.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 7
Full text (5,05 MB) This document has many files! More... |
5. Predictors of meat reduction : the case of SloveniaAndrej Kirbiš, Vanesa Korže, Maruša Lubej, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Health, environmental, and animal advocacy organisations emphasise reducing or eliminating high meat consumption due to its adverse effects on health, sustainability, climate change, and animal welfare. Increasingly, people are deciding to reduce their meat consumption frequency. Our study aimed to examine predictors of meat reduction among Slovenian consumers, focusing on gender, age, partner and children status, size of residential settlement, socioeconomic status, and political orientation. We conducted a survey using non-probability sampling. We examined demographic, socioeconomic, and political predictors of individuals’ self-assessed intent to reduce meat consumption in the month following the survey. Additionally, we analysed respondents’ meat reduction during the three years prior. A correlation analysis revealed that higher age and education levels were significantly positively correlated with meat reduction patterns. An ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that age was the only significant predictor of meat reduction intentions and past behaviour. Our findings suggest that middle-aged and elderly individuals are more likely than younger adults to report meat reduction behaviours. Future public health interventions should tailor approaches to different age groups, and, in particular, target younger individuals. Educational campaigns should highlight the health and environmental benefits of reducing meat and animal product consumption, particularly in primary and secondary schools. Keywords: meat consumption, meat reduction, food, health, diet Published in DKUM: 20.08.2024; Views: 106; Downloads: 9
Full text (300,72 KB) This document has many files! More... |
6. Effect of Bifidobacterium breve on the intestinal microbiota of coeliac children on gluten free diet : a pilot studyAndrea Quagliariello, Irene Aloisio, Nicole Bozzi Cionci, Donata Luiselli, Giuseppe D'Auria, Llúcia Martinez-Priego, David Pérez-Villarroya, Tomaž Langerholc, Maša Pintarič, Dušanka Mičetić-Turk, Diana Di Gioia, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Coeliac disease (CD) is associated with alterations of the intestinal microbiota. Although several Bifidobacterium strains showed anti-inflammatory activity and prevention of toxic gliadin peptides generation in vitro, few data are available on their efficacy when administered to CD subjects. This study evaluated the effect of administration for three months of a food supplement based on two Bifidobacterium breve strains (B632 and BR03) to restore the gut microbial balance in coeliac children on a gluten free diet (GFD). Microbial DNA was extracted from faeces of 40 coeliac children before and after probiotic or placebo administration and 16 healthy children (Control group). Sequencing of the amplified V3-V4 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA gene as well as qPCR of Bidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Bacteroides fragilis group Clostridium sensu stricto and enterobacteria were performed. The comparison between CD subjects and Control group revealed an alteration in the intestinal microbial composition of coeliacs mainly characterized by a reduction of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, of Actinobacteria and Euryarchaeota. Regarding the effects of the probiotic, an increase of Actinobacteria was found as well as a re-establishment of the physiological Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Therefore, a three-month administration of B. breve strains helps in restoring the healthy percentage of main microbial components. Keywords: coeliac disease, gluten free diet, probiotic, Bifidobacterium breve, intestinal microbiota, qPCR, next generation sequencing Published in DKUM: 22.06.2017; Views: 2591; Downloads: 273
Full text (5,19 MB) This document has many files! More... |
7. Dietary intake in adult female coeliac disease patients in SloveniaMarija Aja Kocuvan, Dušanka Mičetić-Turk, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess dietary intake of coeliac disease (CD) patients and to determine if they are meeting the dietary reference values for a balanced diet.
Subjects/Methods: 40 women with CD, aged from 23 to 76 participated in our study. Total daily intake was assessed by a three-day food diary. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was calculated using Harris-Benedict equation. Considering physical activity level (PAL) 1.4, the recommended total energy expenditure (TEE) value was determined. The data was evaluated with professional evaluation software Prodi and statistically analysed.
Results: 40 participants returned the food diary. The average energy intake was significantly too low to ensure the meeting of all-day energy needs (p<0.05). The meals contained a recommended proportion of protein, but a statistically significantly higher proportion of fat (p<0.05), lower proportion of carbohydrates and a significantly lower intake of dietary fibre (p<0.05). Regarding macro-, micro- elements and vitamins, there was a significant lack in the intake of calcium and iodine, folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin A (p<0.05), meanwhile iron intake was at the lower limit of the recommended intake, whereas zinc, potassium and vitamin K intake were significantly higher according to the recommended values, but were comparable with the intake of the general population in the Central European area.
Conclusion: Even in subjects with adequate or low daily energy intake, their meals contained too much fat, too few carbohydrates and dietary fibre as well as inorganic substances. The patients with CD should get regular nutritional monitoring and education on the quality and balance of a gluten-free diet Keywords: coeliac disease, dietary intake, gluten, gluten-free diet Published in DKUM: 05.04.2017; Views: 1830; Downloads: 448
Full text (1,19 MB) This document has many files! More... |