Healthy eating index and different fruit dietary habits in Slovak adult female

The healthy index is a tool for evaluation of nutrition recommendation aimed at prevention of chronic diseases. A lot of studies have been devoted to HEI of different aged groups of people but dates about Slovak population have been still missed. The goal of the study was to evaluate the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) in nutrition of adult female, determine their components in relation of parameters of anthropometry and body composition. Secondly, the research work was also aimed at the comparison of partial score HEI among groups of female with different fruit intake. Daily nutrition was evaluated by 24 hours dietary recalls. In set of female (average age 31.1 ±9.1 years) the average HEI index reached up 53.0 ±8.8 points in accord with medium degree of diet, it means dietary improvement has been highly recommended. In respect of all assayed components of index the best results achieved the variety of diet (8.8 ±1.3 points) and the worst the natrium intake (0.7 ±2.0 points). The average score for the individual components pointed to neccesary of increase in the grain intake and vegetable, on the other hand the intake of cholesterol, saturated fats and especially natrium should be decreased. The differences between groups with various intake of fruit (with recommended intake and insufficient intake) in the rest 9 components have not been proved as significant. The occurrence of risk values of body index, body fats determined by bioelectric impedance and android risk based on circumference of hips can not be considered between groups as significant. Average HEI has been in significance correlation with age (r = 0.240; p <0.05), circumference of hips (r = 0.2312; p <0.05) and body weight r = 0.1748; p <0.05). Future studies have been needed to evaluate diet according to the HEI in different groups of population in Slovakia

Benefits of sea buckthorn juice consumption in women of productive age with hypercholesterolemia

Background. Sea buckthorn contains almost 200 nutrients and bioactive substances, including phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, vitamins, proteins, amino acids, minerals, alkaloids, chlorophyll derivatives, amines, organic acids, fatty acids and phytosterols. Human and animal studies suggest that sea buckthorn may have a variety of beneficial effects: cardioprotective, antiatherogenic, antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antiinflammatory. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of regular consumption of 100% sea buckthorn juice on the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in women of productive age with hypercholesterolemia. Material and Methods. A clinical study involved 19 women with a mean age of 54.06 ±2.97 years who consumed 50 mL of sea buckthorn juice daily for 8 weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters in blood serum were monitored before the start of sea buckthorn consumption and after 8 weeks of consumption. Body composition was determined using an multifrequency analyzer InBody720. Routine biochemical analyzes were performed by standard methods in an accredited laboratory of the University Hospital by automatic biochemical analyzer BioMajesty JCA-BM6010/C. Statistical comparison between individual measurements was performed using a paired t-test, using Statistica Cz version 10 (TIBCO Software, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA). Results. We observed significant decrease of body weight, body mass index (P0.05). After the intervention, we observed decrease of orosomucoid, immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M (P<0.001) and C-reactive protein (P<0.01). Conclusions. The obtained results support the hypothesis that the daily consumption of sea buckthorn juice for eight weeks could contribute to the beneficial effects of reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as the reduction of body and visceral fat, LDL-C, CRP and the increase of HDL-C

The comparative study of medicinal plants utilization as herbal antibiotics by college students

The medicinal plant utilization has become more and more popular and increasing number of consumers prefer alternative medicine to synthetic antibiotic. Research dealing with evaluation of medicinal plant usage as herbal antibiotics including the sample of 584 quizzed college students aged 19 - 25 years (337 women, 217 men) originated from Slovak Republic (n = 338), Czech Republic (n = 112) and Hungary (n = 134). According to university and the study programme the following groups were evaluated: Constantine the Philosopher University CPU (PEES - Pre-school and elementary education in Slovak language, PEEH - Pre-school and elementary education in Hungarian language, BI - Biology, RT - Regional Tourism), Mendel University in Brno MU (H - Horticulture), Slovak University of Agriculture SUA (H - Horticulture), University of Pécs UP (PE - Physical education), Comenius University CU (PE - Physical education). The study was aimed at the evaluation of the significance of the country and the study programme for the use of the most commonly used herbs: plantain, elderberry, stinging nettle, ginger and coneflower (Echinacea). Our results showed that the choice of preferred medicinal plants as herbal antibiotics during illness had not been clearly influenced by country or field of study programme. Plantain was the most frequently used herb by students of UP/PE (51.5%), CPU/PEES and CPU/PEEH (47.9%; 41.1%). Elderberry was the most popular herb among the students CPU/BI (52.9%), CPU/RT and SUA/H (37.8%). Stinging nettle was preferred as the most popular herb in groups of CPU/RT (46%). The significantly lower consumption of Echinacea was noticed in MU/H 4.5% in comparison with groups, CU/PE 26.4% (p < 0.05), CPU/PEEH 27.4% (p < 0.01), UP/PE 17.2% (p < 0.05) and CPU/RT 28% (p < 0.05). Regularly, all the year round the highest utilization of Echinacea was evident in CPU/BI 30.0%. The highest percentage formed respondent's utilized Echinacea only during illness. Otherwise, the differences between the frequencies of Echinacea usage cannot be considered as statistically significant. Generally, a significantly higher level of ginger usage was assayed within groups SUA/H 80.0% (p < 0.001), CPU/PEEH 66.3% (p < 0.001), UP/PE 36.6% (p < 0.001), CPU/BI 58.8% (p < 0.001), CPU/RT 56.0% (p < 0.001), MU/H 78.6% (p < 0.001) and CPU/PEES 77.1% (p < 0.001) in comparison with the rest of the groups. Daily the respondents from CU/PE 20.8% consumed ginger significantly more often than students belonging to CPU/BI 0.0% (p < 0.05) and MU/H 0.0% (p < 0.05). Respondents from CPU/PEEH consumed statistically significantly more ginger once a week in comparison with students belonged to MU/H 0.9% (p < 0.05). To sum up the research results, we can claim that state or study programme had no clear statistically significant evidence on the regular consumption of medicinal plants as herbal antibiotics. © 2019 Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences

The morphological and antioxidant characteristics of inflorescences within wild-growing genotypes of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)

The aim of this study was to determine the basic morphological characteristics (weight, length) and antioxidant activity (using DPPH method) of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) inflorescences as well as some elderberry-derived food products prepared from fresh (honey, alcoholic extract, tea infusions) and dried inflorescences (syrup). For the study of problematic, it was used 113 wild-growing genotypes of elderberry from 56 locations in Slovakia growing at an altitude of 98.15 - 712.32 m. The weight of fresh inflorescences ranged from 0.45 to 57.59 g (75.65% coefficient of variation value), the total length of inflorescences ranged from 19.0 to 282.0 mm (22.42%), the length of inflorescence&acute;s stems from 9.0 to 197.0 mm (31.51%), a number of petals predominated pentanumerous petals. Variability in primary and secondary branching reported a&nbsp;low to high degree of variability among as well as within the genotypes. Results showed significant differences in the shape of inflorescences and the colour of flowers among each genotype. Antioxidant activity by DPPH method in elderberry inflorescence water extract was between 85.12 and 89.29%. Activation of tea infusions and beverages was ensured using a&nbsp;mechanism Kalyxx based on galvanic effect. In beverages made from 10% diluted honey prepared from fresh inflorescences in the carbohydrate-based extract, anti-radical activity was determined in the range of 16.81 - 24.16%. In an alcoholic extract from fresh inflorescences, anti-radical activity was between 90.99 and 93.16%. In beverages acquired from the syrup of flowers, we identified antioxidant activity ranging from 37.92 (10%) to 62.82% (40%). Results indicated that elderberry inflorescences and elderberry-derived food products can be attractive to consumers and in future can increase the assortments of healthy products. <br /

COMPONENTS OF THE HEALTHY EATING INDEX IN NUTRITION OF ADULT FEMALES

<p>To assess and monitor the nutriton and dietary status, the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed the Healthy Eating Index - HEI. The index consists of 10 components, each representing different aspects of a&nbsp;healthful diet. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutrition in adult females and to analyze the actual nutrition according to selected four components (no. 6-9) of the Healthy Eating Index. Components 6 and 7 measure total fat and saturated fat consumption, respectively, as a&nbsp;percentage of total food intake (maximal 30 % and 10 % of total energy daily content respectively; in case of 31,3 % and 58,62 % females respectively). Components 8 and 9 measure total cholesterol (daily maximal 300 mg in case of 69,54 % participants) and sodium intake (maximal 2400 mg a&nbsp;day in case of 22,99 % probands).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;"><strong>doi:10.5219/106</strong></span></p