The recently observed circadian oscillations of the intestinal microbiota underscore the profound... more The recently observed circadian oscillations of the intestinal microbiota underscore the profound nature of the human–microbiome relationship and its importance for health. Together with the discovery of circadian clocks in non-photosynthetic gut bacteria and circadian rhythms in anucleated cells, these findings have indicated the possibility that virtually all microorganisms may possess functional biological clocks. However, they have also raised many essential questions concerning the fundamentals of biological timekeeping, its evolution, and its origin. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent literature in molecular chronobiology, aiming to bring together the latest evidence on the structure and mechanisms driving microbial biological clocks while pointing to potential applications of this knowledge in medicine. Moreover, it discusses the latest hypotheses regarding the evolution of timing mechanisms and describes the functions of peroxiredoxins in c...
Chronic diseases, most notably diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disea... more Chronic diseases, most notably diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, thyroid diseases, and allergic diseases are major causes of death, disability, and a lower quality of life in various populations [...]
This study aimed to assess the relationship between the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC)... more This study aimed to assess the relationship between the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as well as healthy diet quality, in a representative sample (n = 5690) of the whole Polish adult population (WOBASZ II study). Daily food consumption was estimated by the single 24 h dietary recall method. Antioxidant vitamins (C, E, and β-carotene) and minerals (Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu) from the diet and supplements were calculated using 5D Diet software, and dietary total polyphenol intake (DTPI) was determined using the Phenol-Explorer database and our database. Total diet quality was measured by the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI) based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the prevention of CVD. DTAC was calculated using the data on food consumption and the antioxidant potential of foods measured by the FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential) method. It was shown that higher DTAC was associated with a higher in...
Sleep is a cyclically occurring, transient, and functional state that is controlled primarily by ... more Sleep is a cyclically occurring, transient, and functional state that is controlled primarily by neurobiological processes. Sleep disorders and insomnia are increasingly being diagnosed at all ages. These are risk factors for depression, mental disorders, coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and/or high blood pressure. A number of factors can negatively affect sleep quality, including the use of stimulants, stress, anxiety, and the use of electronic devices before sleep. A growing body of evidence suggests that nutrition, physical activity, and sleep hygiene can significantly affect the quality of sleep. The aim of this review was to discuss the factors that can affect sleep quality, such as nutrition, stimulants, and physical activity.
Dietary cholesterol has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Phyt... more Dietary cholesterol has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Phytosterols, present in food or phytosterol-enriched products, can reduce cholesterol available for absorption. The present study aimed to investigate the association between habitual intake of total and individual plant sterols (β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) or a diet combined with phytosterol-enriched products and CVD in a cross-section of Polish adults, participants of the Multicenter National Health Survey II (WOBASZ II). Among men (n = 2554), median intakes of plant sterols in terciles ranged between 183–456 mg/d and among women (n = 3136), 146–350 mg/d in terciles. The intake of phytosterols, when consumed with food containing phytosterols, including margarine, ranged between 184–459 mg/d for men and 147–352 mg/d for women. Among both men and women, beta-sitosterol intake predominated. Plant sterol intake was lower among both men and women with CVD (p = 0.016) compared ...
Background: Several factors predispose people with epilepsy to cardiovascular diseases. Among the... more Background: Several factors predispose people with epilepsy to cardiovascular diseases. Among them nutrition and lifestyle have not been sufficiently studied. Methods. The study involved 60 epileptic male and female volunteers and 70 healthy controls, corresponding to age and gender. Medical information was collected during the study and a detailed questionnaire survey concerning eating and lifestyle habits was conducted. Physical activity was evaluated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Nutritional status was assessed by bioelectric impedance. Venous blood samples were taken for lipid and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) analyses. Results. A tendency to an increase in LDL cholesterol was found in epileptics. Significantly higher body fat and insignificantly higher visceral fat was found in epileptic men compared to healthy men. In epileptic women a tendency to lower lean body mass was found. Patients with epilepsy were more sedentary, had lower consumption o...
Beta-glucans comprise a group of polysaccharides of natural origin found in bacteria, algae, and ... more Beta-glucans comprise a group of polysaccharides of natural origin found in bacteria, algae, and plants, e.g., cereal seeds, as well as microfungi and macrofungi (mushrooms), which are characterized by diverse structures and functions. They are known for their metabolic and immunomodulatory properties, including anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral. Recent reports suggest a potential of beta-glucans in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In contrast to β-glucans from other sources, β-glucans from mushrooms are characterized by β-1,3-glucans with short β-1,6-side chains. This structure is recognized by receptors located on the surface of immune cells; thus, mushroom β-glucans have specific immunomodulatory properties and gained BRM (biological response modifier) status. Moreover, mushroom beta-glucans also owe their properties to the formation of triple helix conformation, which is one of the key factors influencing the bioactivity of mushroom beta-glucans. This review summ...
BackgroundAdequate nutrition is a public health challenge due to the increase in the incidence of... more BackgroundAdequate nutrition is a public health challenge due to the increase in the incidence of diet-related diseases. The aim of this study was to examine food and nutrient intakes in the light of the current dietary guidelines of Poland and Norway. This is a suitable model for studying the diet quality in countries with different degrees of government intervention in the food market, which may affect food diversity available for citizens.MethodsThe food diversity on the market was assessed using national food balance sheets. To show the actual food and nutrient intake within countries, data from 24-h recalls from the national surveys, NORKOST 3 from Norwegians and WOBASZ II from Poles, were used. In order to evaluate whether dietary patterns comply with nutritional and dietary recommendations, the Norwegian and Polish recommendations for nutrition and the national food based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) were analyzed.ResultsSignificant differences between the national supplies for...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Mushroom beta-glucans show immunomodulatory, anticancer and antioxidant features. Numerous papers... more Mushroom beta-glucans show immunomodulatory, anticancer and antioxidant features. Numerous papers have been published in the last years on fungal polysaccharides, especially beta-glucans, demonstrating their various biological activities. However substantial data about beta-glucan contents in many mushroom species, especially wild mushrooms, are still missing. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to evaluate β-glucans in 18 species of wild mushrooms and three species of commercial mushrooms for comparison purposes. The contents of β-glucans were determined by the Megazyme method and with the Congo red method, which differ in analytical procedure. Among wild mushrooms, the highest mean β-glucan content assessed with the Megazyme method was found in Tricholoma portentosum (34.97 g/100 g DM), whereas with the Congo red method in Lactarius deliciosus (17.11 g/100 g DM) and Suillus grevillei (16.97 g/100 g DM). The β-glucans in wild mushrooms assessed with the Megazyme method w...
Obesity predisposes to such health conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes... more Obesity predisposes to such health conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, osteoarthritis. Poor diet is among the common causes of obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intake of macro- and micronutrients in obese Polish men and women in accordance with the recommended intakes. Two hundreds ninety seven obese men (BMI > 30) and 412 obese women, aged 45–65 years, participants of the population-based cross-sectional Polish National Multicenter Health Examination Surveys - WOBASZ (2003–2005) and WOBASZ II (2013–2014) were selected for the study. Nutritional data were collected using a single 24-hour dietary recall method. Nutrient content in the diet was calculated according to national tables of food composition and compared to the current dietary recommendations. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standard anthropometric procedures. Descriptive statistics were used for the determination of means, standard deviat...
The aim of this study was to estimate dietary habits and dietary antioxidant intake in a Polish a... more The aim of this study was to estimate dietary habits and dietary antioxidant intake in a Polish adult population in relation to socioeconomic status. The subjects (4774) were participants in the Polish National Multi-Centre Health Examination Survey (the WOBASZ II study) performed in 2013–2014. Socioeconomic status (SES) scores were calculated by multiplying ordinal numerical values assigned to consecutive categories of education level and monthly income per capita in a family. In the Polish adult population, a higher socioeconomic status was significantly associated with a better lifestyle (more physical activity and less smoking), a better health status (lower occurrence of overweight individuals and metabolic syndrome in both genders, and lower occurrence of central obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in women), and better dietary habits, including a higher intake of dietary antioxidants.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
The aims of this study were to determine Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content in wild mushrooms collected f... more The aims of this study were to determine Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content in wild mushrooms collected from unpolluted areas of the eastern Green Lungs of Poland (GLP) territory, to compare them to some popular species of cultivated mushrooms, evaluate mushroom contribution to the daily intake of the studied bioelements, and to determine their possible toxic effect resulting from potentially excessive mushroom consumption from areas recognized as ecologically uncontaminated. Bioelements were determined in 21 species of edible mushrooms: eighteen species of wild mushrooms and three species of popular cultivated mushrooms. The mean Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content (in µg/g, dry mass DM) ranged from 10.6–123.1, 12.2–41, 0.13–13.3, and 68.3–184, respectively. A comparison with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Cu, Se, and Zn as well as adequate intake (AI) for Mn demonstrated that a 100 g fresh mass (FM) portion of mushroom species with the highest content of a given element can meet the deman...
Purpose: To determine the level of physical activity in young and early adults with type 1 diabet... more Purpose: To determine the level of physical activity in young and early adults with type 1 diabetes in comparison with their healthy counterparts and to determine whether the use of insulin pump facilitates physical activity. Materials and methods: This study included 40 type 1 diabetes (T1D) subjects of both sexes treated with a personal insulin pump therapy, and 30 healthy controls. The diagnostic survey included questions about nutrition, knowledge about the disease and whether the patient can control diabetes through physical activity, diet and self-monitoring. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire – long form (IPAQ-L), was used to assess the level of physical activity of both diabetic and control individuals. Results: 87.5% T1D subjects believe that using an insulin pump facilitates their physical activity. The level of physical activity associated with cycling (p=0.038) and vigorous physical activity (p=0.008) was higher in T1D than in the control group. Statistica...
In recent years, the concept of the health benefits of synergistic dietary patterns as opposed to... more In recent years, the concept of the health benefits of synergistic dietary patterns as opposed to individual foods or food constituents has been developed. The aim of this study was to determine whether nut consumption is associated with healthier nutrition and lifestyle. The research was based on complete data obtained during two Polish National Multi-Centre Health Examination Surveys—WOBASZ (2003–2005) and WOBASZ II (2013–2014). Of the 12,946 participants who completed dietary assessments, 299 subjects reported consuming any quantity of whole nuts. A control group of 1184 non-nut consumers from both surveys was randomly selected for the study, with age, gender, study (WOBASZ, WOBASZ II), educational level, and season-related interactions taken into account. In this study, nut consumption was associated with favorable food and lifestyle choices, excluding smoking. Better dietary quality consisted of having a higher Healthy Diet Indicator score, an increased intake of polyphenols an...
The recently observed circadian oscillations of the intestinal microbiota underscore the profound... more The recently observed circadian oscillations of the intestinal microbiota underscore the profound nature of the human–microbiome relationship and its importance for health. Together with the discovery of circadian clocks in non-photosynthetic gut bacteria and circadian rhythms in anucleated cells, these findings have indicated the possibility that virtually all microorganisms may possess functional biological clocks. However, they have also raised many essential questions concerning the fundamentals of biological timekeeping, its evolution, and its origin. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent literature in molecular chronobiology, aiming to bring together the latest evidence on the structure and mechanisms driving microbial biological clocks while pointing to potential applications of this knowledge in medicine. Moreover, it discusses the latest hypotheses regarding the evolution of timing mechanisms and describes the functions of peroxiredoxins in c...
Chronic diseases, most notably diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disea... more Chronic diseases, most notably diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, thyroid diseases, and allergic diseases are major causes of death, disability, and a lower quality of life in various populations [...]
This study aimed to assess the relationship between the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC)... more This study aimed to assess the relationship between the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as well as healthy diet quality, in a representative sample (n = 5690) of the whole Polish adult population (WOBASZ II study). Daily food consumption was estimated by the single 24 h dietary recall method. Antioxidant vitamins (C, E, and β-carotene) and minerals (Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu) from the diet and supplements were calculated using 5D Diet software, and dietary total polyphenol intake (DTPI) was determined using the Phenol-Explorer database and our database. Total diet quality was measured by the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI) based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the prevention of CVD. DTAC was calculated using the data on food consumption and the antioxidant potential of foods measured by the FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential) method. It was shown that higher DTAC was associated with a higher in...
Sleep is a cyclically occurring, transient, and functional state that is controlled primarily by ... more Sleep is a cyclically occurring, transient, and functional state that is controlled primarily by neurobiological processes. Sleep disorders and insomnia are increasingly being diagnosed at all ages. These are risk factors for depression, mental disorders, coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and/or high blood pressure. A number of factors can negatively affect sleep quality, including the use of stimulants, stress, anxiety, and the use of electronic devices before sleep. A growing body of evidence suggests that nutrition, physical activity, and sleep hygiene can significantly affect the quality of sleep. The aim of this review was to discuss the factors that can affect sleep quality, such as nutrition, stimulants, and physical activity.
Dietary cholesterol has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Phyt... more Dietary cholesterol has been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Phytosterols, present in food or phytosterol-enriched products, can reduce cholesterol available for absorption. The present study aimed to investigate the association between habitual intake of total and individual plant sterols (β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) or a diet combined with phytosterol-enriched products and CVD in a cross-section of Polish adults, participants of the Multicenter National Health Survey II (WOBASZ II). Among men (n = 2554), median intakes of plant sterols in terciles ranged between 183–456 mg/d and among women (n = 3136), 146–350 mg/d in terciles. The intake of phytosterols, when consumed with food containing phytosterols, including margarine, ranged between 184–459 mg/d for men and 147–352 mg/d for women. Among both men and women, beta-sitosterol intake predominated. Plant sterol intake was lower among both men and women with CVD (p = 0.016) compared ...
Background: Several factors predispose people with epilepsy to cardiovascular diseases. Among the... more Background: Several factors predispose people with epilepsy to cardiovascular diseases. Among them nutrition and lifestyle have not been sufficiently studied. Methods. The study involved 60 epileptic male and female volunteers and 70 healthy controls, corresponding to age and gender. Medical information was collected during the study and a detailed questionnaire survey concerning eating and lifestyle habits was conducted. Physical activity was evaluated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Nutritional status was assessed by bioelectric impedance. Venous blood samples were taken for lipid and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) analyses. Results. A tendency to an increase in LDL cholesterol was found in epileptics. Significantly higher body fat and insignificantly higher visceral fat was found in epileptic men compared to healthy men. In epileptic women a tendency to lower lean body mass was found. Patients with epilepsy were more sedentary, had lower consumption o...
Beta-glucans comprise a group of polysaccharides of natural origin found in bacteria, algae, and ... more Beta-glucans comprise a group of polysaccharides of natural origin found in bacteria, algae, and plants, e.g., cereal seeds, as well as microfungi and macrofungi (mushrooms), which are characterized by diverse structures and functions. They are known for their metabolic and immunomodulatory properties, including anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral. Recent reports suggest a potential of beta-glucans in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In contrast to β-glucans from other sources, β-glucans from mushrooms are characterized by β-1,3-glucans with short β-1,6-side chains. This structure is recognized by receptors located on the surface of immune cells; thus, mushroom β-glucans have specific immunomodulatory properties and gained BRM (biological response modifier) status. Moreover, mushroom beta-glucans also owe their properties to the formation of triple helix conformation, which is one of the key factors influencing the bioactivity of mushroom beta-glucans. This review summ...
BackgroundAdequate nutrition is a public health challenge due to the increase in the incidence of... more BackgroundAdequate nutrition is a public health challenge due to the increase in the incidence of diet-related diseases. The aim of this study was to examine food and nutrient intakes in the light of the current dietary guidelines of Poland and Norway. This is a suitable model for studying the diet quality in countries with different degrees of government intervention in the food market, which may affect food diversity available for citizens.MethodsThe food diversity on the market was assessed using national food balance sheets. To show the actual food and nutrient intake within countries, data from 24-h recalls from the national surveys, NORKOST 3 from Norwegians and WOBASZ II from Poles, were used. In order to evaluate whether dietary patterns comply with nutritional and dietary recommendations, the Norwegian and Polish recommendations for nutrition and the national food based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) were analyzed.ResultsSignificant differences between the national supplies for...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Mushroom beta-glucans show immunomodulatory, anticancer and antioxidant features. Numerous papers... more Mushroom beta-glucans show immunomodulatory, anticancer and antioxidant features. Numerous papers have been published in the last years on fungal polysaccharides, especially beta-glucans, demonstrating their various biological activities. However substantial data about beta-glucan contents in many mushroom species, especially wild mushrooms, are still missing. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to evaluate β-glucans in 18 species of wild mushrooms and three species of commercial mushrooms for comparison purposes. The contents of β-glucans were determined by the Megazyme method and with the Congo red method, which differ in analytical procedure. Among wild mushrooms, the highest mean β-glucan content assessed with the Megazyme method was found in Tricholoma portentosum (34.97 g/100 g DM), whereas with the Congo red method in Lactarius deliciosus (17.11 g/100 g DM) and Suillus grevillei (16.97 g/100 g DM). The β-glucans in wild mushrooms assessed with the Megazyme method w...
Obesity predisposes to such health conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes... more Obesity predisposes to such health conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, osteoarthritis. Poor diet is among the common causes of obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intake of macro- and micronutrients in obese Polish men and women in accordance with the recommended intakes. Two hundreds ninety seven obese men (BMI > 30) and 412 obese women, aged 45–65 years, participants of the population-based cross-sectional Polish National Multicenter Health Examination Surveys - WOBASZ (2003–2005) and WOBASZ II (2013–2014) were selected for the study. Nutritional data were collected using a single 24-hour dietary recall method. Nutrient content in the diet was calculated according to national tables of food composition and compared to the current dietary recommendations. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standard anthropometric procedures. Descriptive statistics were used for the determination of means, standard deviat...
The aim of this study was to estimate dietary habits and dietary antioxidant intake in a Polish a... more The aim of this study was to estimate dietary habits and dietary antioxidant intake in a Polish adult population in relation to socioeconomic status. The subjects (4774) were participants in the Polish National Multi-Centre Health Examination Survey (the WOBASZ II study) performed in 2013–2014. Socioeconomic status (SES) scores were calculated by multiplying ordinal numerical values assigned to consecutive categories of education level and monthly income per capita in a family. In the Polish adult population, a higher socioeconomic status was significantly associated with a better lifestyle (more physical activity and less smoking), a better health status (lower occurrence of overweight individuals and metabolic syndrome in both genders, and lower occurrence of central obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in women), and better dietary habits, including a higher intake of dietary antioxidants.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
The aims of this study were to determine Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content in wild mushrooms collected f... more The aims of this study were to determine Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content in wild mushrooms collected from unpolluted areas of the eastern Green Lungs of Poland (GLP) territory, to compare them to some popular species of cultivated mushrooms, evaluate mushroom contribution to the daily intake of the studied bioelements, and to determine their possible toxic effect resulting from potentially excessive mushroom consumption from areas recognized as ecologically uncontaminated. Bioelements were determined in 21 species of edible mushrooms: eighteen species of wild mushrooms and three species of popular cultivated mushrooms. The mean Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content (in µg/g, dry mass DM) ranged from 10.6–123.1, 12.2–41, 0.13–13.3, and 68.3–184, respectively. A comparison with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Cu, Se, and Zn as well as adequate intake (AI) for Mn demonstrated that a 100 g fresh mass (FM) portion of mushroom species with the highest content of a given element can meet the deman...
Purpose: To determine the level of physical activity in young and early adults with type 1 diabet... more Purpose: To determine the level of physical activity in young and early adults with type 1 diabetes in comparison with their healthy counterparts and to determine whether the use of insulin pump facilitates physical activity. Materials and methods: This study included 40 type 1 diabetes (T1D) subjects of both sexes treated with a personal insulin pump therapy, and 30 healthy controls. The diagnostic survey included questions about nutrition, knowledge about the disease and whether the patient can control diabetes through physical activity, diet and self-monitoring. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire – long form (IPAQ-L), was used to assess the level of physical activity of both diabetic and control individuals. Results: 87.5% T1D subjects believe that using an insulin pump facilitates their physical activity. The level of physical activity associated with cycling (p=0.038) and vigorous physical activity (p=0.008) was higher in T1D than in the control group. Statistica...
In recent years, the concept of the health benefits of synergistic dietary patterns as opposed to... more In recent years, the concept of the health benefits of synergistic dietary patterns as opposed to individual foods or food constituents has been developed. The aim of this study was to determine whether nut consumption is associated with healthier nutrition and lifestyle. The research was based on complete data obtained during two Polish National Multi-Centre Health Examination Surveys—WOBASZ (2003–2005) and WOBASZ II (2013–2014). Of the 12,946 participants who completed dietary assessments, 299 subjects reported consuming any quantity of whole nuts. A control group of 1184 non-nut consumers from both surveys was randomly selected for the study, with age, gender, study (WOBASZ, WOBASZ II), educational level, and season-related interactions taken into account. In this study, nut consumption was associated with favorable food and lifestyle choices, excluding smoking. Better dietary quality consisted of having a higher Healthy Diet Indicator score, an increased intake of polyphenols an...
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Papers by Anna Witkowska