The aim of this research was to assess climbers'adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and to explore its associationwith climbing background and demographic characteristics of this athletic population. The research was conducted as ananalytical cross-sectional study using a modified PREDIMED questionnaire disseminated in four climbing gyms in Lisbon,Portugal. The study included 278 climbers, 188 males and 90 females, with a mean age of 30.8 +/- 7.4 years. On average,participants had been climbing for 1 to 3 years, with a frequency of 2.4 sessions per week. Results indicated a mediumlevel of adherence, with a mean score of 8.47 +/- 2.08 out of 14 points, with, low daily consumption of fruits and lowweekly consumption offish/shellfish. Thesefindings underscore the need to improve climbers'awareness of appropriatedietary choices, particularly by promoting adequate consumption offish and fruit as important components of a balanceddiet. Future studies should adopt interventional designs to elucidate the specific effects of the MD on recovery and per-formance in climbing.

Physical exercise significantly influences the redox balance, with its intensity, duration, and type affecting the produc-tion of free radicals, including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. An excess of free radicals can lead to oxidative stress. Elite athletes, due to rigorous training and often insufficient rest, are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress, which can negatively affect their health and sports performance. Plant-based superoxide dismutase (SOD), combined with gliadin isolated from wheat, is a relatively new dietary supplement known for its antioxidant proper-ties. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of SOD/gliadin supplementation among athletes. We exam-ined the impact of this supplementation on redox status, inflammatory markers, indicators of muscle damage, and sports performance. Overall, the analysis of the data indi-cated some beneficial effects on all observed aspects of athletes' health and performance. The effects of supple-mentation appear to depend on the type of sport, the ath-lete's training status, and the design of the supplementa-tion study. However, very few studies have been published on this topic; therefore, further research is needed to clarify the potential benefits of SOD/gliadin supplementation for athletes. Future studies should include a larger number of participants and implement controlled conditions with stan-dardised dosage regimens, enabling more robust, compa-rable, and reliable outcomes.

Socioeconomic factors such as income, education, and occupation strongly influence nutrition and household food choices. In Serbia, this relationship is reflected in the national moderate-cost shopping basket, which includes 73 food items grouped into nine categories. Present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of this basket in relation to dietary recommendations. Food composition analysis was conducted using the harmonized CAPNUTRA database and FoodData Central. Daily quantities of each food in the basket were multiplied by nutrient content/energy value of the food and summed to derive an estimate of daily consumption of each nutrient/calorie. Overall, the diet appears unbalanced when assessed against the European Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, showing excessive consumption of bread, flour, and processed meats, and insufficient intake of fruits, vegetables and fish, which may increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies and chronic health problems. Comparison with reference energy intakes for adults (set at 2000 kcal per day for an average adult, as established by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011) shows up to 40% higher calorie consumption. Although energy from carbohydrates, protein, and fat falls within recommended proportions (in line with the first principle of a rational diet), total intake of macronutrients and calories exceeds daily needs, indicating that the Serbian moderate-cost shopping basket provides more nutrients than required for a standard diet. Strengthening nutrition education and raising awareness of healthier food choices, actively supported by institutions and the food sector, could play a key role in encouraging more balanced diets and promoting long-term population health.

Plants are sources of compounds with important effects on health, but plant-based food industry generates substantial waste amounts, especially in oil production. This study aimed to characterize flours derived from oilseed by-products, pumpkin, sunflower, and apricot seed residues, and compare them with conventional grain flours (white and whole wheat). Nutritional composition was analyzed with emphasis on amino acid profiles performed by ion chromatography. Mineral profiles were determined by ICP-MS. Total phenolics and antioxidant activity were assessed using in vitro colorimetric microassays. Oil press cake flours showed significantly higher levels of protein and fiber compared to wheat flours (p < 0.05), while the latter contained more carbohydrates. Among the examined flours, pumpkin and apricot seed flours stood out with the highest potassium, while sunflower seed flour led in calcium content. Despite higher polyphenol content in wheat flours, apricot seed flour exhibited the greatest antioxidant activity, likely due to its diverse profile of hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactive compounds. These findings highlight oil press cakes as nutritionally valuable ingredients for protein-enriched and other innovative food products, aligning with circular economy principles and promoting resource efficiency in the agri-food sector.

The replacement of animal fat with unsaturated lipid sources in processed meats enhances nutritional value but introduces challenges regarding oxidative stability and sensory acceptability. In this study, the effects of replacing pork back fat with pre-emulsified walnut, linseed, or algal oils on the proximate composition, fatty acid profile, nutritional indices, lipid oxidation, and sensory properties of chicken frankfurters were investigated. Four formulations were prepared: a control group (25% pork fat) and three groups that were completely reformulated using oil emulsions (ratio inulin/water/oil 1:2:1). The fat substitute significantly reduced total fat, SFA, cholesterol (up to 30%), and calorie density, while Ʃn-3 fatty acids were enriched (p < 0.05). The linseed oil samples had the highest levels of α-linolenic acid (47.53%), while the algal oil had the highest levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (10.98%) and docosahexaenoic acid (64.73%) and the most favourable Ʃn-6/Ʃn-3 ratio (p < 0.05). All reformulated groups showed significantly improved atherogenic and thrombogenic indices and increased hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratios, which reached 17.43 in the algal oil samples (p < 0.05). Lipid oxidation was increased in the linseed and algal oil treatments, with the walnut oil group showing moderate TBARS levels and minimal accumulation of secondary oxidation products. Principal component analysis revealed that walnut oil offered the most balanced compromise between nutritional improvement, oxidative stability and sensory acceptability. These findings support a healthier reformulation of meat products by identifying oil-based fat substitutes that improve nutritional value without compromising sensory quality, which is beneficial for both research and industry.

Background and objectives: Plant material is a real treasure of compounds possessing a spectrum of bioactivities. Their extraction is usually performed using toxic organic solvents, which causes serious environmental problems. For this reason, there is an aspiration to replace widely used organic solvents with greener ones. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were suggested at the beginning of this century as non-toxic, non-flammable and ecologically safe alternatives. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the extraction efficiency of choline chloride (Ch)-based NADES (Ch with citric acid, molar ratio of 2:1, 30% of water, ChCit) in obtaining valuable extracts from grape skin. Materials and Methods: Eight different red grape varieties were collected. Skin separation was performed manually. Extraction was performed in an ultrasound bath under defined conditions (plant material/solvent ratio—1:10; time—30 min; temperature—50 °C). In parallel, acidified ethanol (EtOH) was used as a positive control. The total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the prepared extracts were explored. TPC investigations were performed using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. For antioxidant activity evaluation, four different in vitro assays were employed (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS and CUPRAC). Cytotoxic properties were tested against three cell lines (MRS-5, HeLa and LS 174T). Results and Discussion: TPC had a wide range (10.10–45.10 and 17.69–62.34 mg GAE/, for ethanol and ChCit, respectively), suggesting the strong influence of grape variety. ChCit showed higher efficiency in extracting polyphenols from grape skin compared with EtOH, probably since la ow ChCit pH potentiates anthocyanin extraction. Antioxidant activities displayed a strong correlation with TPC values (p < 0.05), confirming that phenols strongly contribute to the antioxidant properties of grape skin. The results for cytotoxicity were more heterogeneous. ChCit extracts inhibited cell growth (IC50 between 70.4 and 400 µg/mL), while EtOH extracts had no effect for the tested concentrations. There is no clear relationship between the polyphenol content and cytotoxic effects. Conclusion: Considering all of the mentioned result, it is concluded that the synergy between induced cell acidity and the present bioactives resulted in a cytotoxic effect of grape skin, but there is still a need to identify the specific compounds responsible for this.

Emerging evidence suggests that there is an interplay between the effects of diet and lipid-lowering therapy in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. All prevention strategies focus on modifiable risk factors, with special attention on dietary behavior. Lifestyle and dietary recommendations usually precede or accompany the prescription of statins. However, there is limited evidence of patients’ adherence to dietary recommendations. The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary behavior of statin users, taking into account the intake of specific food groups. Data on clinical, demographic, health, and lifestyle factors were collected using a series of interviewer and self-completion questionnaires. Food group intake was calculated using 24 h dietary recalls for three non-consecutive days. The average daily intake for each subject was calculated as the mean of the three 24 h recalls. Food groups of interest included vegetables, fruits, grains, protein foods, and dairy products. Data were analyzed for 30 participants aged > 40 years. Patients with hypertension, diabetes, and current smokers represented 90%, 17%, and 27% of the study population, respectively. Almost 65% of the patients had a history of ischemic heart disease and were eligible for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Mean daily dietary intake was 3.8 servings of protein, 4.1 servings of grains, 1.7 servings of vegetables, 1.4 servings of fruit, and 1.2 servings of dairy products. Red and processed meats contribute 50% of total protein intake and are the main source of protein in the patients’ diets. In terms of grain consumption, only one-quarter of intake comes from wholegrain products. The reported consumption of fruits and vegetables ranged from 1.6 to 5.9 servings per day, but still, their average intake was below the recommendation of 4.5 servings per day. However, at the individual level, 20% of the study population met the fruit and vegetable consumption recommendations. The obtained results suggest sub-optimal dietary behaviors in people undergoing chronic statin therapy. Thus, public health efforts, along with ongoing diet monitoring, are definitely needed to improve the current knowledge on the impact of massive dietary habits on the overall health of cardiovascular patients.

The inadequate intake of essential micronutrients remains a huge public health issue that carries significant social, economic, and health consequences. Although deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, and iodine are well-documented, there is growing recognition of deficiencies in folate, vitamin B12, zinc, calcium, and other micronutrients among disadvantaged populations. A national shopping basket (also known as a food basket or food basket survey) is a list of foods and beverages that represent the typical dietary requirements of a population in a given country. The items in the food basket are chosen based on their frequency of consumption, nutritional value, and availability in the market. This study was designed to assess the intake of certain micronutrients using the food items of a moderate-cost shopping basket in Serbia. The structure of a moderate-cost shopping basket for a family of three in Serbia is published on a monthly basis by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications. The food list includes 73 food items categorized into nine groups, such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, fats and oils, dairy products, non-alcoholic beverages, and miscellaneous other foods. The food composition database CapNUTRA was used for the calculation of the iron, vitamin A, iodine, folate, and zinc content in all food items in the basket. The monthly quantities, intended for a family of three, of each food item were characterized by their micronutrient contents and the values were summed to derive an estimate of the average intake. When comparing the obtained estimates with the recommended daily intakes, it was noticed that the requirements were met for iron and zinc, but, when it came to vitamin A, the intake was around 20% lower than the recommended value. The iodine and folate intake would be higher than is recommended in the Serbian population, based on such an assessment. The evaluation of nutrient intake using a national shopping basket is one way to estimate the adequacy of a population’s diet and essential nutrient supply. However, it is important to note that this approach has some limitations and may not capture the full complexity of an individual’s dietary intake.

Diets high in fat and sugar lead to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related chronic diseases. We investigated the effects of commercially available, cold-pressed polyphenol-rich black currant (BC) and cornelian cherry (CC) juices on the prevention of MetS in Wistar rats induced by a 10-weeks high-fat high-fructose (HFF) diet. Juice consumption, either BC or CC, with a HFF diet resulted in lower serum triglycerides compared to only the HFF consumption. Both juices also mitigated the effects of HFF on the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue, by preserving liver and pancreas histomorphology and reducing visceral fat and adipocyte size. Furthermore, supplementation with both juices reduced glucagon and up-regulated insulin expression in the pancreas of the rats on the HFF diet, whereas the BC also showed improved glucose regulation. BC juice also reduced the expression of IL-6 and hepatic inflammation compared to the group only on HFF diet. Both juices, especially BC, could be a convenient solution for the prevention of MetS in humans.

Dietary supplements (DS) are manufactured products consisting of one or more dietary ingredients; they are intended to supplement the diet and provide additional nutrients or other beneficial compounds that are lacking or insufficient in a regular diet. Dietary supplements containing antioxidant compounds have been shown to have positive effects in various (pato)physiological processes, i.e., any condition that is fundamentally redox imbalanced (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, aging, intense exercise). The most common antioxidants in dietary supplements are clearly antioxidant micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium, but also various secondary plant compounds, including polyphenols and carotenoids. The dosage of antioxidants administered through dietary supplements may not always be optimal, so some dietary interventions through supplementation with antioxidant compounds have been shown to have an effect that it is limited, or completely absent. Therefore, any dietary supplementation should be done only under appropriate guidance from health care professionals to ensure that it is safe, effective, and appropriate for the individual's condition and needs.

A Western-style diet, rich in fat and simple sugars, is the main risk factor for a significant number of chronic diseases and disorders, as well as for a progression of metabolic syndrome (MetS). One of the key mechanisms involved in MetS development is increased oxidative stress caused by the accumulation of body fat. Some dietary polyphenols have shown a protective role in preventing oxidative-stress-induced damage. We investigated the difference in the oxidative response of plasma, liver, and visceral adipose tissue in rats fed with a high-fat high-fructose (HFF) diet for ten weeks, and the effectiveness of polyphenol-rich juices (black currant (BC) and cornelian cherry (CC)) in HFF-diet-induced oxidative stress prevention. The most prominent impact of the HFF diet on redox parameters was recorded in the liver, whereas adipose tissue showed the most potent protection mechanisms against oxidative stress. Consumption of both juices decreased advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) level in plasma, increased paraoxonase1 (PON1) activity in the liver, and significantly decreased total oxidative status (TOS) in adipose tissue. BC exerted stronger antioxidative potential than CC and decreased the superoxide anion radical (O2•−) level in the liver. It also reduced TOS, total antioxidative status (TAS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in adipose tissue. The multiple linear regression analysis has shown that the best predictors of MetS development, estimated through the increase in visceral adiposity, were superoxide dismutase (SOD), AOPP, TOS, and TAS. The consumption of polyphenol-rich juices may provide a convenient approach for the systemic reduction of oxidative stress parameters.

Plants are considered the major sources of biologically active compounds, which provide unlimited opportunities for their use either as medical treatments or as novel drug formulations. Cocoa powder is frequently used in nutrition and is known to have many benefits thanks to its wide range of biological activities. The presented study was focused on the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory potential of extracts obtained from cocoa powder. In vitro assays were employed to evaluate the level of inhibition of cyclooxygenases-1 and -2 activities (COX-1 and COX-2) by tested extracts. Molecular docking was used for in silico prediction of cyclooxygenase isoforms inhibition by selected cocoa powder constituents. The results showed that all tested extracts exerted much higher potential in inhibiting COX-2 activity and may be considered in use as selective inhibitors of COX-2 enzyme. On the other hand, in silico study shows quercetin and clovamide as the compounds with the highest potential to inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2.

The disposal of waste generated in the agri-food industry is one of the greatest challenges in achieving sustainable development. Although agri-food residues are a potential source of bioactive compounds with proven health benefits, they are largely unused and disposed of as organic waste. The recovery of bioactive compounds from agri-food waste to obtain products with high biological value, such as functional foods and nutraceuticals, is an idea that stems from the concept of bioeconomy and combines environmental issues with economically viable production. Some of the main agri-food wastes in Serbia that have the potential to be recycled into value-added products are apple, plum, grape, tomato, and beet pomace, and oilseed cakes. Bioactive compounds isolated from these wastes include polyphenols, fibers, essential fatty acids, minerals, various volatiles and pigments. This article focuses on the most common food wastes and the potential reuse of these undervalued material to produce value-added products such as functional foods, nutraceuticals or food additives.

Winemaking generates large quantities of grape waste consisting of seeds, skin and stalks. Given that grape seeds are a rich source of different bioactive compounds, the main goal of this research was to optimize grape seed phenol extraction using a Box–Behnken design. The following conditions were derived from the optimization process: sample:solvent ratio of 1:10 w/v, extraction time of 30 min and extraction temperature of 50 °C. In addition, a sustainable (green) approach for obtaining extracts was developed by comparing choline chloride:citric acid-ChCit (natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)) and ethanol extraction methods with respect to phenol profiles and antioxidant activity. This study was conducted on seeds from eight different red grape varieties. Phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols and procyanidins were characterized using HPLC–MS/MS, and the concentration of procyanidin B1 was above 1 mg/g of dry weight in all analyzed samples. The contents of all phenol classes and antioxidant activities were found to not differ significantly between the solvents, but NADES was found to offer valuable advantages. Importantly, ChCit showed a strong affinity toward procyanidins and a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and quantified phenolic compounds.

Besides iodine deficiency, autoimmune Hashimoto thyroiditis is the leading cause of hypothyroidism globally, characterized by the increased titer of thyroid autoantibodies and destruction of thyroid cells. Graves' disease is the most common etiology of hyperthyroidism worldwide. Patients with thyroid dysfunction often require dietary modifications. Popular interventions include supplementation with certain vitamins and minerals, as well as trace elements such as iodine and selenium. The intake of food containing goitrogens should be limited. Goitrogens are substances of plant origin that interfere with the production of thyroid hormones, increasing the risk for goiter and hypothyroidism. The primary dietary sources of goitrogens are cruciferous vegetables, soy products, starchy plants, and some fruits. Beyond essential nutrients, there has been an increasing interest in using specific nutraceuticals, including myoinositol, Lcarnitine, melatonin, and resveratrol, as potential preventive and therapeutic agents in thyroid diseases. Even though current evidence promotes some beneficial outcomes of these nutraceuticals, further investigations are needed to clarify dose-dependent effects, duration of supplementation, combination in different clinical settings, and the exact mechanism of their action in thyroid disorders.

Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic plant that has recently been showed to have a remarkable abundance of stigmasterol in leaves and stalks. The supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of E. crassipes parts was performed for the first time in this work, covering total yield (ηtotal), stigmasterol yield (ηstig), and its concentration in extracts (cstig). Several experiments were performed at 200 bar, two temperatures (40 and 60 °C), and three cosolvent amounts (0, 5, 10 wt.% ethanol). Moreover, two cumulative extraction curves were measured (200 bar and 40 or 60 °C). The results showed that ηtotal ranged from 0.64 to 0.73 wt.% after 6 h of extraction, eventually reaching 1.88 wt.% if the extraction time is extended four times and ethanol is included. For ηstig, 6 h of SFE yielded 0.20–0.22 wt.% with no noticeable advantage in extending the run time and/or adding ethanol. In comparison to Soxhlet results, the performance of SFE in both ηtotal and ηstig fell below dichloromethane results. Nonetheless, when stigmasterol concentration was analyzed, a significant selectivity gain was observed on SFE, which originated extracts up to 3:1 richer in stigmasterol. This was also confirmed after estimating practical stigmasterol selectivities, whose values attained 1.14 at 200 bar and 40 °C, while at 60 °C they reached ca. 0.90 at most. Modeling suggested intraparticle diffusion as the apparently dominant mass transport mechanism of the process. In the whole, the results encourage the valorization of E. crassipes through a green technology such as SFE.

Cardiotoxicity is a frequent undesirable phenomenon observed during oncological treatment that limits the therapeutic dose of antitumor drugs and thus may decrease the effectiveness of cancer eradication. Almost all antitumor drugs exhibit toxic properties towards cardiac muscle. One of the underlying causes of cardiotoxicity is the stimulation of oxidative stress by chemotherapy. This suggests that an appropriately designed diet or dietary supplements based on edible plants rich in antioxidants could decrease the toxicity of antitumor drugs and diminish the risk of cardiac failure. This comprehensive review compares the cardioprotective efficacy of edible plant extracts and foodborne phytochemicals whose beneficial activity was demonstrated in various models in vivo and in vitro. The studies selected for this review concentrated on a therapy frequently applied in cancer, anthracycline antibiotic-doxorubicin-as the oxidative stress- and cardiotoxicity-inducing agent.

The immune system defends the host from many pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, including a large number of specific cell types, interrelated molecules, and biological responses. Due to infections, heightened immune system activity is accompanied by expanded metabolic activities, requiring appropriate energy supply, precursors for biosynthesis and regulatory molecules. Numerous vitamins and minerals play a crucial role in supporting body's immunity and fighting against viral infections. Other bioactive compounds like omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics and antioxidants (alpha-lipoic acid, quercetin) are also important in the immune response. COVID-19 may develop mild symptoms to severe damage of the respiratory epithelium followed by a cytokine storm. Many studies show that vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and selenium are critical in defending against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intestinal dysbiosis is a feature of many infectious diseases, including COVID-19, so dietary approaches to establishing a healthy microbiota are essential for improving immune function. This paper reviews the data on the roles and potential effectiveness of selected nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.