Effects of Anthocyanins on Components of Metabolic Syndrome-A Review

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant health problem. The co-occurrence of obesity, carbohydrate metabolism disorders, hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidaemia is estimated to affect 20-30% of adults worldwide. Researchers are seeking solutions to prevent and treat the conditions related to MetS. Preventive medicine, which focuses on modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including diet, plays a special role. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has documented health benefits, mainly due to the polyphenolic compounds it contains. Anthocyanins represent a major group of polyphenols; they exhibit anti-atherosclerotic, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, as well as beneficial effects on endothelial function and oxidative stress. This review presents recent reports on the mechanisms involved in the protective effects of anthocyanins on the body, especially among people with MetS. It includes epidemiological data, in vivo and in vitro preclinical studies and clinical observational studies. Anthocyanins are effective, widely available compounds that can be used in both the prevention and treatment of MetS and its complications. Increased consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods may contribute to the maintenance of normal body weight and modulation of the lipid profile in adults. However, further investigation is needed to confirm the beneficial effects of anthocyanins on serum glucose levels, improvement in insulin sensitivity and reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

A Dialogue in the Medical Perspective—Body Mass and Nutritional Status Disorders during the Development Period

Eating disorders among children and youth are a serious social problem. The time of development is the starting point in shaping eating patterns. Proper nutrition provides the basis for psychophysical development. A knowledgeable pediatrician can improve society’s health by engaging parents and, later, the child or youth. We offer knowledge on the nutrition basics and the commonly available tools to assess the nutritional status. We will discuss the characteristics of eating and body mass disorders in developing children. We will provide information on the warning signals of eating and body mass disorders and recommend prophylaxis. The reader will be familiarized with the motivational dialogue as an effective control tool for the discussed health issues.

The nutritional status of healthy children using bioelectrical impedance and anthropometric measurement

OBJECTIVE

Monitoring of healthy children should include precise assessment of their nutritional status to identify children and adolescents at risk of nutrition disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of healthy children using different nutritional risk screening tools.

METHOD

The study sample consisted of 550 participants within the age range of 7-15 years. Anthropometric characteristics (body mass, height, body mass index) were collected using standard procedures. In addition, the following parameters were analyzed: fat mass, fat-free mass, body cell mass, and total body water.

RESULTS

The results revealed that variables such as children's age and sex significantly differentiated the values of selected components of the body composition.

CONCLUSIONS

This observation suggests that it is necessary to use different methods to evaluate nutritional status among healthy children.

Longitudinal Analysis (1994-2020) of Prevalence and Trends of Underweight in Polish Children

Nutritional status disorders are a worldwide problem. Approximately 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year, and 45% of these deaths are related to malnutrition. The aim of the study was to analyse the prevalence of underweight children aged between 6 and 7 years old, living in the Gdańsk, Poland, in the years 1994–2020. The anthropometric parameters of 67,842 children were analysed. BMI (Body Mass Index) value <5 percentile (pc) was defined as underweight. The BMI value was compared to the WHO (World Health Organization) centile charts and the OLAF (research project PL0080) national reference charts. The prevalence of underweight children in relation to the WHO charts was 1.9%; underweight status was found to be more significant in the group of boys (2.1%) than the group of girls (1.7%) (p < 0.001). According to the OLAF centile charts, the underweight figure among all of the study population was 2.1% and no statistical significance between boys (2.1%) and girls (2.0%) was found (p = 0.670). The occurrence of underweight indviduals in the studied group slightly increased in the years 1994–2020. We found a statistically significant increasing linear trend in the analysis of underweight children in our group (p < 0.001), in group of boys (p < 0.001), but not girls (WHO p = 0.603; OLAF p = 0.787). This points to the need to conduct regular screening systems for children and adolescents.

Impact of Nutrition Education on the Compliance with Model Food Ration in 231 Preschools, Poland: Results of Eating Healthy, Growing Healthy Program

To ensure the adequate supply of nutrients, a model food ration (MFR) should be used for planning the menu. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of the nutrition education program on the compliance with MFR in 231 preschools. The average supply of food products (per child/day) with reference to the MFR was examined on the baseline and 3 to 6 months after education on the basis of 10-day menus and daily inventory reports (4620 in total). According to the recommendations, preschool should implement 70⁻75% of the recommended daily intake standards. Examined menus had too high content of meat and meat products, whereas vegetables, milk and fermented milk beverages, cottage cheese and eggs were served in scarce. Education significantly reduced the amount of meat (47.7 vs. 44.5 g), processed meat (16.2 vs. 14.4 g), sugar and sweets (15.9 vs. 14.4 g) and increased the amount of cereals, groats, rice (17.7 vs. 18.5 g), vegetables (164.3 vs. 170.8 g), milk and fermented milk beverages (200.3 vs. 209.5 g) but the compliance with the MFR remained poor. The evaluation of menus stressed the need for further modifying their composition. Education can positively affect the quality of nutrition; however, introduction of the legal nutritional regulations should be recommended.