Sustainability of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods

Sustainability challenges and issues in nutraceuticals and functional foods arena have influenced both consumers and the industrial sector. Though the present day can be termed as an era of nutraceuticals and functional foods, the knowledge on sustainability among the people involved is limited in the pharma‐food industry. In this chapter, we provide a general overview of this subject, followed by discussion on the four pillars of sustainability and how these relate to the agricultural system, food safety and food security. Examples of nutraceuticals products, health benefits incurred, consumer trends and food choices as well as market values are all examined

Vitamin status and cognitive function in a long-term care population

BACKGROUND: Ageing can be associated with poor dietary intake, reduced nutrient absorption, and less efficient utilization of nutrients. Loss of memory and related cognitive function are also common among older persons. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of inadequate vitamin status among long-term care patients and determine if an association exists between vitamin status and each of three variables; cognitive function, vitamin supplementation, and medications which alter gastric acid levels. METHODS: Seventy-five patients in a long-term care hospital in Guelph, Ontario were recruited to a cross-sectional study. 47 were female and the mean age was 80.7 (+/-11.5) years, ranging from 48 to 100 years. Blood was used to measure levels of vitamins B12 (cobalamin), B6 (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate/PLP), erythrocyte folate, vitamin B3 (niacin) and homocysteine (Hcy). The Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) was administered to measure cognitive function. A list of medications and vitamin supplementation for each patient was provided by the pharmacy. RESULTS: The prevalence of low vitamin (B12, B6, erythrocyte folate, niacin) or high metabolite (homocysteine) levels among 75 patients were as follows: B12 <148 pmol/L in 5/75 (6.7%); B12 between 148 and 221 pmol/L in 26/75 (34.7%); B6 ≤30 nmol/L in 4/75 (5.3%); erythrocyte folate <370 nmol/L in 1/75 (1.3%); niacin ratio ≤1 in 20/75 (26.7%); homocysteine >13.3 μmol/L in 31/75 (41.3%). There was no significant difference among residents grouped into marked (n = 44), mild (n = 14), or normal (n = 9) cognitive function when evaluating the effect of vitamin status. There were no significant differences in mean B12 and homocysteine levels between users and non-users of drug therapy (Losec, Zantac, or Axid). Compared to vitamin supplement non-users, supplemented residents had significantly higher mean B12 (p < 0.0001) and erythrocyte folate (p < 0.05) concentrations and significantly lower mean homocysteine (p < 0.01) levels; 229.1 versus 423.6 pmol/L for B12, 882.9 versus 1043.6 nmol/L for erythrocyte folate and 14.4 versus 12.0 μmol/L for homocysteine. CONCLUSION: Given the prevalence data on vitamin status in this sample population, the possible benefits of vitamin supplementation should be considered in clinical intervention studies using these populations of elderly

General principles of changing civil contracts and their application in labour law. peculiarities of changing employment contracts

SUMMARY Labour contract play with civili contracts is pended to exhibit their analogies, differencies and general run of principles for contracts. Labour contract is important nor just in economical but either ir social way. It helps to lessen strain between social groups to match up different interest of various persons. All contracts either civil, neither labour have typical elements for contracts. Making either labour, neither civili contracts it is held that sides of contract are equal and free to decide with whom to it with. The main feature of either civil neither labour contract side's free will match. Resolving of any covenant sides are equal and free, only from them depends of what, how it will be agreed. Free will principle in labour law can be invoked as far as it doesn't disorder labour code, imperative norms improved in other labour laws and doesn't exacerbate the go to the employees. Before making contracts between the sides it originates particular precontractual relationships which reason is bargain - attemt to setle about conditions of the future contract. Exactly in the time of these relationships it manifests odds of side's possibilities, which is named like negotiation power odd. Such negotionation odd conditions that one contract side it is superior in economical power against other side and can dictate conditions of contract. In many occasions it is not negotitiating of conditions, because one side is less powerfull in it's experience, negotiation skills, quantity of information, doesn't interest purport of contract and unhesitatngly accepts offered conditions. So tying to drop these odds in the acts reglamenting civil contracts it is brought the weak side institute. Making labour contracts this odd is more felt. It is noted that the level of such odd depends very much of countries economical, social and political realias. In conditions of market ecnomics it is set a substatial attitude for contracts freedom: the sides must be free to settle of various conditions which are acceptible for both sides, the law must confine just in common terms describtion. On purpose to separate labour contract form civil contracts it must be set in what ammount service conveyour's made job is a part common practice of company or company sets work time and other labour conditions, in what ammount company - service accepter pursues a control of the work made by employee service conveyour, also labour discipline or company gives to service conveyour equipment, stuff, essential for right job to make and what ammount. It is nessecary to set: if the works were made regulary, or the company pays periodically liable fee to service conveyour or it is definabled by in early agreed tests; or service conveyour employee can get benefit or he risks to get damage related with his job, or service conveyour person works for one company - service accepter; or company extends career education for employee. Inspecting labour and civil contracts play we can make a conclusion that ecxept many similitudes, there exist many differences also

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicentre Trial of the Effects of a Shrimp Protein Hydrolysate on Blood Pressure

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel, 8-week study, the efficacy of a daily dose of 1200 mg of protein hydrolysate from Coldwater Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) on ambulatory and office blood pressure was investigated in 144 free-living adults with mild to moderate hypertension. The primary outcomes of the study were daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure and office blood pressure. During the 8-week intervention period and in the intention-to-treat analysis (n=144), there were significant reductions in the group consuming the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate relative to the placebo group in daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure at 4 weeks (p=0.014) and at 8 weeks (p=0.002), and in office systolic blood pressure at 2 weeks (p=0.031) and 4 weeks (p=0.010), with a trend toward significance at 8 weeks (p=0.087). By 8 weeks, significant and favourable improvements in the group consuming the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate relative to the placebo group were also observed for several secondary outcomes, including 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure, daytime ambulatory diastolic blood pressure, and daytime and 24-hour ambulatory mean arterial pressure. Also by Week 8, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in the distribution of subjects across National Institutes of Health-defined blood pressure categories (i.e., Normotensive, Prehypertensive, Stage 1 hypertension, and Stage 2 hypertension), with a more favourable distribution in the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate group than in the placebo group (p=0.006). Based on exploratory analyses conducted only in participants in the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate group, angiotensin II levels were significantly reduced relative to baseline. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01974570

Randomized, placebo-controlled, 28-day safety and pharmacokinetics evaluation of repeated oral cannabidiol administration in healthy dogs

Abstract OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of various doses of plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD) versus placebo following repeated oral administration. ANIMALS 20 healthy adult Beagles. PROCEDURES In a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial, dogs were randomized to 5 groups balanced in body weight and sex (n = 4 dogs/group) and received a CBD (1, 2, 4, or 12 mg/kg; from cannabis extract) or placebo oil formulation PO once daily for 28 days. Outcome variables were assessed through daily health observations, veterinary examinations, CBC, and serum biochemical analysis. Blood samples were collected at various time points to estimate 24-hour pharmacokinetic profiles of CBD and selected metabolites (7-carboxy-CBD and 7-hydroxy-CBD). RESULTS Repeated CBD administration was well tolerated by dogs, with no clinically important changes in measured safety outcomes. Veterinary examinations revealed no clinically important abnormal findings. Adverse events were mild in severity. Relative to placebo administration, CBD administration at 12 mg/kg/d resulted in more gastrointestinal adverse events (mainly hypersalivation) and significantly higher serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Total systemic exposure to CBD increased on a dose-dependent basis following both acute (first dose) and chronic (28 days) administration. Within each CBD dose group, repeated administration increased total systemic exposure to CBD 1.6- to 3.3-fold. The 24-hour trough plasma CBD concentrations were also dose dependent, with a steady state reached following 2 weeks of administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Repeated, daily oral administration of the CBD formulation led to dose-dependent increases in total systemic exposure to CBD and 24-hour trough plasma concentrations in healthy dogs. These findings could help guide dose selection. </jats:sec