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Journal Article 2011; 32(Suppl 2): 17-20 PubMed PMID: 22101876 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Animals, Blood Pressure:physiology, Body Mass Index, C-Reactive Protein:metabolism, Carps, Cholesterol, HDL:blood, Cholesterol, LDL:blood, Czech Republic, Diet, Fatty Acids, Omega-3:blood, Female, Humans, Lipids:blood, Male.   

OBJECTIVES: Omega-3 fatty acids (FA) have been shown to be protective against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The effect of the consumption of carp meat on CVD risk factors has not yet been examined in detail. We ascertained the influence of a diet enriched with carp meat with an elevated content of omega-3FA (200 g twice weekly for 4 weeks) in a group of subjects after cardiac revascularization surgery for ischemic heart disease with a follow-up spa treatment.

DESIGN: After cardiac revascularization surgery, the probands consumed either a standard spa diet (56 individuals, 41 males, 15 females, age 41-80 years) or a diet enriched with two portions of carp meat (87 individuals, 64 males, 23 females, age 50-82 years). The differences in body mass index (kg/m²), blood pressure, plasma lipids and C-reactive protein (CRP) of the groups were analyzed.

RESULTS: In the group with a higher consumption of carp meat, significantly greater improvements in lipid parameters in comparison to the standard spa diet were detected (total cholesterol p<0.001, triglycerides p<0.001, LDL-C p<0.001, CRP p<0.001, HDL-C p<0.001). No differences between these groups in blood pressure and body mass index were found.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that the diet enriched with carp meat significantly improved plasma lipid parameters in patients after major cardiac revascularization surgery....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(Suppl 2): 13-16 PubMed PMID: 22101875 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Alcoholic Beverages:statistics & numerical data, Animals, Beer:statistics & numerical data, Beverages, Coffee, Czech Republic:epidemiology, Diet Surveys, Energy Intake, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Milk, Sex Factors, Surveys.   

BACKGROUND: Food intake is a commonly monitored issue in many studies. In contrast, almost no information has been published on beverage intake in adults.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: To evaluate beverage intake, we studied a population of 1, 200 adults (656 males and 544 females, aged 18-54 years). The volumes and types of beverages were obtained from self-reported questionnaires.

RESULTS: The mean beverage intake was highly variable, with a minimum of 450 mL/day and a maximum of 5,330 mL/day. A mean of 1,575 mL/day was found in the entire population (2,300 mL in males and 840 mL in females). Different patterns in the consumption of beverage types were observed between the males and females. For both males and females, the most common beverage consumed was water followed by tea. The next preferable beverages were alcoholic beer, coffee, and non-alcoholic beer in males and coffee, milk, and alcoholic beer in females. The estimated caloric intake from beverages covers, in most individuals, 10-30% of the recommended daily caloric intake.

CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variation among individuals, both in beverage intake and in caloric intake through beverages. The caloric intake from beverages reaches, in some individuals, one-third of the recommended daily caloric rate....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(Suppl 2): 3-8 PubMed PMID: 22101873 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Carps:genetics, Czech Republic, Diet, Dietary Fats, Unsaturated, Environment, Fatty Acids:genetics, Humans, Lipid Metabolism, Muscle, Skeletal:metabolism, alpha-Linolenic Acid:metabolism,.   

: There is evidence that n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 HUFA), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are beneficial for human health, especially for the cardiovascular system. The sources of n-3 HUFA, including EPA and DHA, are scarce in diet consumed by the Czech population. Thus, it would be beneficial to generally increase fish consumption and also to increase the content of the beneficial fatty acids (FA) in locally produced fish and other products. Therefore the overall aim of this paper was to review factors influencing lipid content and composition in common carp, which is the major cultured fish in the Czech Republic, and to identify long term sustainable ways for increasing the beneficial fatty acids in the carp flesh. We conclude that there are several ways to improve the FA composition of common carp in the traditional pond production. High amount of natural food, good supplemental diet containing high level of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and suitable processing and cooking were identified as the most important ones....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(4): 510-517 PubMed PMID: 21876486 Citation  Keywords:  Animal Feed, Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena:physiology, Animals, Animals, Suckling:growth & development, Colostrum:metabolism, Dietary Supplements, Esters:pharmacokinetics, Eukaryota, Fatty Acids:pharmacokinetics, Female, Iodine:pharmacokineti.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare iodine utilization from different sources by sows and their progeny and the levels of T3 and T4 in their serum.

DESIGN: Pregnant Czech Large White × Landrace sows were fed with an experimental KPK diet (a diet for lactating sows) 14 days before parturition until weaning (at a piglet age of 28 days). In group A (n=50, 10 sows, 40 piglets) the feed was supplemented with KI (0.6 mg of iodine per kg of feed). Iodine enriched alga Chlorella spp. (0.6 mg of iodine per kg of feed) was used as a supplement in group B (n=50, 10 sows, 40 piglets). In group C (n=50, 10 sows, 40 piglets) the sows were injected i.m. with IFAE at a dose of 100 mg of iodine per sow. Iodine, T3 and T4 were measured in each group for comparison of iodine utilization.

RESULTS: The use of IFAE resulted in higher serum concentrations in sows compared to KI and alga. In contrast, iodine concentrations in milk and piglets were lower when IFAE were used. We found a wide variation in the concentrations of T3 and T4 in the serum of piglets in all groups.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a good utilization of iodized oil by sows. However, its transfer into milk is lower compared to the other iodine sources....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 301-307 PubMed PMID: 21712789 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aldosterone:blood, Blood Pressure:physiology, Diet, Sodium-Restricted, Female, Goiter, Nodular:drug therapy, Graves Disease:drug therapy, Humans, Hyperthyroidism:blood, Hypothyroidism:blood, Potassium:blood, Renin:blood, Sodium:blood, Thyroid Funct.   

OBJECTIVE: The influence of thyroid hormones upon renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is poorly understood. Under basal conditions, individuals belong to normal, low or high plasma renin activity (PRA) subjects. The study was designed to evaluate basal and poststimulatory PRA and serum aldosterone (Aldo) level in patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism during therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 73 women with hyperthyroidism, 27 women with hypothyroidism and 36 healthy controls. The patients were investigated before initiation of therapy and after attainment of euthyroid state. All subjects were investigated under basal conditions (normal-sodium diet) and after application of a low-sodium diet for three days and upright position for 3 hr. PRA, serum Aldo level, blood pressure, serum sodium, potassium and thyroid hormone levels were determined in all subjects. The subjects were classified as low PRA (<1.0 ng/ml/h), normal PRA (1.0-4.0 ng/ml/h) and high PRA (>4.0 ng/ml/h) individuals according to results obtained under basal conditions.

RESULTS: Relatively higher poststimulatory enhancement in PRA was found in patients with hyperthyroidism, especially those with low basal PRA, than in those with hypothyroidism. In women with thyroid dysfunctions poststimulatory increase in Aldo were relative lower than poststimulatory enhancement of PRA. After therapy these difference disappeared. The poststimulatory changes in PRA depended on the basal PRA.

CONCLUSIONS: Poststimulatory PRA is higher in hyperthyroid women, especially those with low basal PRA. In women with hypothyroidism, basal and poststimulatory PRA is low. Blood pressure and severity of thyroid dysfunction was found to be similar in the patients with low, normal or high basic PRA. In women with thyroid dysfunctions, serum Aldo level and its relative poststimulatory increments are inadequate to changes of PRA; it is suggested that the dissociation in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system occurs in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid women....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(Suppl 2): 120-123 PubMed PMID: 21187818 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Ascorbic Acid:blood, Carotenoids:blood, Czech Republic, Diet, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Military Personnel, Nutritional Status, Vitamin A:blood, Vitamins:blood, alpha-Tocopherol:blood, beta Carotene:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: The work objective was to monitor nutritional habits in the observed group of professional soldiers with the focus on eating food with the content of antioxidant carriers. Then to show present state of health and nutrition in the group on the basis of anthropometric measurements and biochemical examinations and finally to observe the level of antioxidant vitamins in the observed group of professional soldiers.

METHODS: The group included 171 healthy individuals, 152 men and 19 women. Their average age was 34.2±7.9 years. The venous blood was taken for biochemical examinations in all individuals on a fast. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, caliperation, waist circumferences), blood pressure and pulse were taken continually in all individuals. Simple questionnaires were administered to all participants for the complete evaluation of present health and for the registration of eating habits of the observed persons.

RESULTS: The study results show that retinol and a-tocoferol levels in the observed group were within a normal range. The average concentration of vitamin C in this group was 54 mmol/l and reached nearly the values given in other European countries. But concentrations of β-caroten and lycopen in serum were up to 50% lower in comparison with concentrations in population in the countries of West Europe. Higher vitamin C and β caroten serum levels were found in individuals who respond in a questionnaire they eat fruit and vegetables or supplements of vitamin preparations every day. Statistically lower levels of vitamin C, β karoten and lycopen in the group of obese people (compared with the group of normal weight people) show decreased level of antioxidant protection of the organism and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that it is necessary to ensure optimal food not only with an energetic diet value but also with a proper input of antioxidant carriers in the form of fresh vegetables and fruit every day....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(2): 198-202 PubMed PMID: 20424589 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Body Temperature, Fasting:adverse effects, Fibroblast Growth Factors:deficiency, Hypothalamus:metabolism, Hypothermia:etiology, Ketogenic Diet:methods, Liver:metabolism, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Motor Activity, Neuropeptide.   

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a key metabolic regulator that is induced by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) activation in response to fasting. We recently reported that bezafibrate, a pan-agonist of PPARs, decreases body temperature late at night through hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) activation and others have shown that mice overexpressing FGF21 are prone to torpor.

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether FGF21 is essential for fasting-induced hypothermia using FGF21 knockout (KO) mice.

RESULTS: Acute fasting decreased body temperature late at night accompanied by the induction of hepatic FGF21 and hypothalamic NPY expression in wild-type mice. A deficiency of FGF21 affected neither fasting-induced hypothermia nor hypothalamic NPY induction. Fasting enhanced locomotor activity in both genotypes. On the other hand, a deficiency of FGF21 significantly attenuated chronic hypothermia and hypoactivity induced by a ketogenic diet (KD).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that FGF21 is not essential for the hypothermia that is associated with the early stages of fasting, although it might be involved in the adaptive response of body temperature to chronic starvation....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(1): 19-39 PubMed PMID: 20150886 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Behavior:physiology, Behavior Therapy:methods, Diet Therapy:psychology, Exercise:physiology, Exercise Therapy:methods, Humans, Models, Biological, Neurobiology, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena:physiology, Relaxation Therapy:psychology, Stress.   

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stress is natural and belongs to life itself. To sustain it and even grow with it biology invented different mechanisms, since stress resistance is obligatory. These pathways, we surmise, can be activated and learned intentionally, through professional stress management training or 'mind-body medicine', or endogenously and automatically through autoregulation. Since the primary goal of various stress-reducing approaches is corresponding, we expect to find an overlapping physiology and neurobiological principle of stress reduction. These common pathways, as we speculate, involve some of the very same signalling molecules and structures.

METHODS: Concepts of stress and stress management are described and then associated with underlying molecular and neurobiological pathways. Evidence is gathered from different sources to substantiate the hypothesis of an overlapping neurobiological principle in stress autoregulation.

RESULTS: Stress describes the capacity and mechanisms to sustain and adjust to externally or internally challenging situations. Therefore, organisms can rely on the endogenous ability to self-regulate stress and stressors, i.e., autoregulatory stress management. Stress management usually consists of one to all of the following instruments and activities: behavioral or cognitive, exercise, relaxation and nutritional or food interventions (BERN), including social support and spirituality. These columns can be analyzed for their underlying neurobiological and autoregulatory pathways, thereby revealing a close connection to the brain's pleasure, reward and motivation circuits that are particularly bound to limbic structures and to endogenous dopamine, morphine, and nitric oxide (NO) signalling. Within this work, we demonstrate the existence of opioid, opiate, dopamine and related pathways for each of the selected stress management columns.

DISCUSSION: Stress management techniques may possess specific and distinct physiological effects. However, beneficial behaviors and strategies to overcome stress are, as a more general principle, neurobiologically rewarded by pleasure induction, yet positively and physiologically amplified and reinforced, and this seems to work via dopamine, endorphin and morphine release, apart from other messenger molecules. These latter effects are unspecific, however, down-regulatory and clearly stress-reducing by their nature.

CONCLUSIONS: There seems to exist a common neurobiological mechanism, i.e., limbic autoregulation, that involves dopamine, morphine and other endogenous signalling molecules, e.g., other opioid receptor agonists, endocannabinoids, oxytocin or serotonin, many of which act via NO release, and this share seems to be of critical importance for the self-regulation and management of stress: stress management is an endogenous potential....

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