Background and aimsLong-chain omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) and vitamin D (VitD) are implicated in the modulation of immune responses and inflammatory processes within the body. The COMED study evaluated levels of DHA, EPA and DPA (expressed as a modified omega-3 index, mO3I, defined as the percentage of these FAs relative to total FAs in whole blood) and VitD in patients with COVID-19 in relation to mortality and severe disease, as well as additional morbidity-related outcomes, including probability of hospitalisation and length of hospital stay (LOS).MethodsA total of 160 patients were enrolled, of whom 28 died during follow-up. Associations between mO3I and VitD levels and clinical outcomes were analysed using logistic and linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.ResultsHigher mO3I levels (Q4 ≥ 6.39%) were associated with lower odds of death (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05–0.87) and lower probability of hospitalisation (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.09–0.91) compared with lower mO3I levels (Q1–Q3). Higher VitD levels (Q4 ≥ 71.9 nmol/L) were associated with a shorter LOS by 2.19 days compared with Q1–Q3, while higher levels (Q2–Q4 > 36.7 nmol/L) shortened LOS by 2.96 days compared with Q1. Age was the strongest predictor of mortality, severe disease, and LOS; BMI increased the probability of severe disease; smoking prolonged LOS.ConclusionHigher mO3I levels were associated with lower odds of death, with similar trends observed for hospitalisation, whereas higher VitD levels were associated with a shorter LOS. Nutritional biomarkers and modifiable lifestyle factors, such as body weight and smoking, were associated with differences in clinical outcomes in COVID-19. However, the observational design of the study precludes causal interpretations.

A mixture risk assessment (MRA) for four metals relevant to chronic kidney disease (CKD) was performed. Dietary exposure to cadmium or lead alone exceeded the respective reference values in the majority of the 10 European countries included in our study. When the dietary exposure to those metals and inorganic mercury and inorganic arsenic was combined following a classical or personalised modified reference point index (mRPI) approach, not only high exposure (95th percentile) estimates but also the mean exceeded the tolerable intake of the mixture in all countries studied. Cadmium and lead contributed most to the combined exposure, followed by inorganic arsenic and inorganic mercury. The use of conversion factors for inorganic arsenic and inorganic mercury from total arsenic and total mercury concentration data was a source of uncertainty. Other uncertainties were related to the use of different principles to derive reference points. Yet, MRA at the target organ level, as performed in our study, could be used as a way to efficiently prioritise assessment groups for higher-tier MRA. Since the combined exposure to the four metals exceeded the tolerable intake, we recommend a refined MRA based on a common, specific nephrotoxic effect and relative potency factors (RPFs) based on a similar effect size.

We performed a mixture risk assessment (MRA) case study of dietary exposure to the food contaminants lead, methylmercury, inorganic arsenic (iAs), fluoride, non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), all substances associated with declines in cognitive abilities measured as IQ loss. Most of these chemicals are frequently measured in human biomonitoring studies. A component -based, personalised modified reference point index (mRPI) approach, in which we expressed the exposures and potencies of our chosen substances as lead equivalent values, was applied to perform a MRA for dietary exposures. We conducted the assessment for four different age groups (toddlers, children, adolescents, and women aged 18-45 years) in nine European countries. Populations in all countries considered exceeded com-bined tolerable levels at median exposure levels. NDL-PCBs in fish, other seafood and dairy, lead in grains and fruits, methylmercury in fish and other seafoods, and fluoride in water contributed most to the combined exposure. We identified uncertainties for the likelihood of co-exposure, assessment group membership, endpoint -specific reference values (ESRVs) based on epidemiological (lead, methylmercury, iAs, fluoride and NDL-PCBs) and animal data (PBDE), and exposure data. Those uncertainties lead to a complex pattern of under-and overestimations, which would require probabilistic modelling based on expert knowledge elicitation for inte-gration of the identified uncertainties into an overall uncertainty estimate. In addition, the identified un-certainties could be used to refine future MRA for cognitive decline.

Fish, fish products and seafood are an important part of a healthy diet. They make an important contribution as a dietary source of iodine, but also of other substances that have a positive effect on the human body. On the other hand, they contain contaminants (especially mercury/methylmercury) whose toxic properties affect food safety. Based on the results of dietary exposure monitoring and specialised studies by the National Institute of Health - Centre for Health, Nutrition and Food and international activities it can be concluded that there are clear benefits in terms of human health from the consumption of fishery products. Women and children should take care to include these products in their diets. The mercury/methylmercury content of common products in the Czech Republic is under control and the concentration levels are practically below the legislative limits. Care should be taken with fish and fish products where mercury may accumulate. The response of the European Commission, which is currently calling for a review of the maximum permissible limits for mercury/methylmercury in various fish species, is appropriate. This could help to further reduce dietary exposure to mercury in food and encourage fish consumption.

The European Food Consumption Validation (EFCOVAL) project includes 600 men and women from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, and Norway, who had given serum and 24-hour urine samples, and completed 24-hour dietary recall (24-HDR) interviews. Consumption, according to 24-HDR, was matched against the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) databases of mycotoxin contaminations, via the FoodEx1 standard classifications, producing an indirect external estimate of dietary mycotoxin exposure. Direct, internal measurements of dietary mycotoxin exposure were made in serum and urine by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. For the first time, mycotoxin exposures were thoroughly compared between two 24-HDRs, and two 24-hour urine samples collected during the same days covered by the 24-HDRs. These measurements were compared to a single-time point serum measurement to investigate evidence of chronic mycotoxin exposure. According to 24-HDR data, all 600 individuals were exposed to between 4 and 34 mycotoxins, whereof 10 found to exceed the tolerable daily intake. Correlations were observed between two time points, and significant correlations were observed between concentrations in serum and urine. However, only acetyldeoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, and sterigmatocystin were found to have significant positive correlations between 24-HDR exposures and serum, while aflatoxin G1 and G2, HT-2 toxin, and deoxynivalenol were associated between concurrent 24-HDR and 24-hour urine. Substantial agreements on quantitative levels between serum and urine were observed for the groups Type B Trichothecenes and Zearalenone. Further research is required to bridge the interpretation of external and internal exposure estimates of the individual on a time scale of hours. Additionally, metabolomic profiling of dietary mycotoxin exposures could help with a comprehensive assessment of single time-point exposures, but also with the identification of chronic exposure biomarkers. Such detailed characterization informs population exposure assessments, and aids in the interpretation of epidemiological health outcomes related to multi-mycotoxin exposure.

A dietary exposure assessment to sum of deoxynivalenol (DON) forms, sum of T-2/HT-2 toxins (T2/HT2) and zearalenone (ZEA) was conducted for Czech children 4-6 years and Czech men and women 18-59 years. Retail foods (25 different commodities, n = 336) were assessed by LC-MS/MS methods. The 95th percentile chronic exposure to sum of DON forms was determined in children from 648 to 1030 ng/kg bw/day (LB/lower bound/and UB/upper bound/), in men from 362 to 923 ng/kg bw/day and in women from 272 to 490 ng/kg bw/day. The 95th percentile chronic exposure to sum T2/HT2 was determined in children from 6.5 to 31 ng/kg bw/day, in men from 1.9 to 11.2 ng/kg bw/day and in women from 2.5 to 11.5 ng/kg bw/day. The 95th percentile chronic exposure to ZEA was determined in children from 11.9 to 24.9 ng/kg bw/day, in men from 5.9 to 27.5 ng/kg bw/day and in women from 4.8 to 12.6 ng/kg bw/day. The risk linked with the mean and the 95th percentile chronic exposure (LB scenario) to the sum of DON forms, sum of T2/HT2 and ZEA is considered to be out of health concern for the selected population groups.

Potravin, ze kterých je možno přirozeně ziskat vitaminu D, neni mnoho. Za jeho hlavni zdroj je sice považovana synteza v kůži, ale ta je ovlivněna řadou faktorů, diky kterým se potraviny pro clověka mohou stat jeho jediným zdrojem. Výzkumy ukazuji, že pro spravne fungovani vsech organových systemů ho potřebujeme 3-4x vice, než se v minulosti udavalo. Z obvykle stravy přijima ceska populace starsi ctyř let 2,5-5,1 µg vitaminu D/den (středni hodnota) a vice jak 95 % jedinců nedosahuje dietou stanovených doporuceni (Bischofova et al, 2018). Cilem clanku je proto popsat některe potencialni zdroje vitaminu D, jejichž konzumaci by se dietarni přivod mohl podpořit, a to na urovni siroke populace. Půjde o tzv. nove potraviny a dale o potraviny fortifikovane. Ty sice na trhu existuji, ale jejich rozsiřeni neni v CR přilis velke. Přispěvek se nezabýva jinými bohatými zdroji vitaminu D - např. rybami, o nichž je znamo, že by se v jidelnicku měly objevovat casto, přesto jejich konzumace v CR zůstava nizka (kolem 5,5 kg/osobu/rok), ci doplňky stravy, jejichž uživani zavisi na tom, zda si je spotřebitel zakoupi a bude uživat.

The results of this study aimed at assessing the nutrient content of meals in the best rated school canteens did not show substantial differences in comparison with results of the previous Study of Nutrient Content of School Canteen Meals in the school year 2015/2016 conducted in randomly selected school canteens. In both cases there are slight differences to recommended intake values (i.e. 35% of daily energy and nutrient intake per lunch meal) set by legislation. In order to meet the recommendations, the legislation concerning nutritional requirements should be amended to better correspond with today's nutritional needs and energy and nutrient intake established by analyses.

The presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) was analysed in food samples from the Czech food markets. Four different types of food samples (soya beans, soya bean products, maize flour, and rice) were collected at twelve places in four terms in the years 2008–2013. It represents a total 1152 food samples. Soya and maize were chosen, because these are the major transgenic crops grown worldwide. Increased cultivation of GM rice in China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines has been observed. Polymerase chain reaction-based methods were applied to detect GMOs. GMOs were detected in 107 samples (9.3%). The results show that in food from the Czech food market GMOs mainly in maize flour and rice were found. GM maize was detected in 63 (21.9%) maize flour samples. Maize lines MON810, NK603, and Bt176 were detected in 14 (22%), 9 (14%), and 1 (1.6%) maize flour samples, respectively. Unauthorised GM rice was detected in 39 (13.5%) rice samples. Unauthorised rice Bt63 was detected in one sample of rice. Roundup Ready soya was detected in 4 (1.4%) soya bean samples and in 1 (0.35%) soya product sample. These results were compared with results of the world´s studies.