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The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between β-glucuronidase and androgen levels in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The connection between β-glucuronidase, the abundance of selected gut bacteria, carbohydrate metabolism, and diet quality was also determined.This cross-sectional study was conducted with 56 women with a mean age of 29.14 ± 5.11 y and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 34.15 ± 5.72 kg/mWomen with better quality diets, apart from lower BMI and better carbohydrate metabolism parameters, had more abundant Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila. Two-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT-2h-glu; mg/dL) was the main predictor of β-glucuronidase activity and there was no relationship between β-glucuronidase activity and androgen levels. Non-Healthy Diet Index-14 (nHDI-14) was the main predictor for A. muciniphila, Bifidobacteriu. longum, and F. prausnitzii abundance. QUICKI was a significant predictor of A. muciniphila abundance and OGTT-2h-glu was a significant predictor of F. prausnitzii abundance.There was no relationship between β-glucuronidase activity and androgen levels in overweight and obese women with PCOS, but β-glucuronidase activity may be an important factor in carbohydrate metabolism. Modulation of the abundances of F. prausnitzii, A. muciniphila, and B. longum using special diets should thus be considered a promising intervention.

BACKGROUND The determinants of the intake of high-fat products are not well understood. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the relations between fat perception, intake of high-fat food, and body-weight status, taking into account the polymorphism of the genes that encode the proteins involved in oral fat perception. METHODS A total of 421 participants aged 20-40 y were enrolled in Poznan, Poland, from 2016 to 2018. An ascending forced-choice triangle procedure was applied to determine fat discrimination ability. Salad dressings with varying concentrations of canola oil were used as stimuli. Genotyping of rs1761667 (CD36) rs1573611 [free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1)], rs17108973 [free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4)], and rs2274333 (CA6) was performed using TaqMan probes. The frequency of consumption of high-fat foods was measured using an application for mobile devices that uses the ecological momentary assessment approach. The associations were analyzed using linear regression or logistic regression, as appropriate. RESULTS Individuals with the GG CD36 genotype were twice as likely to be fat discriminators, compared with the A allele carriers (P

Both maternal metabolic status and nutrition during pregnancy and lactation may have a programming effect on offspring metabolism. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the dietary choline supply during pregnancy and lactation in rat dams suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on body weight and plasma lipid profile of the progeny.The research protocol was approved by the local ethics committee. The study groups included the offspring of 1. healthy dams receiving choline during pregnancy and lactation (the control group); 2. NAFLD dams receiving choline during pregnancy and lactation (NN); 3. NAFLD dams receiving choline during pregnancy and a choline-deficient diet during lactation (ND); 4. NAFLD dams receiving a choline-deficient diet during pregnancy and a supply of choline during lactation (DN); and 5. NAFLD dams receiving a choline-deficient diet during both pregnancy and lactation (DD). Body mass and plasma lipid profile were assessed in male and female rats from each group on day 3 (3d), day 24 (24d), and day 90 (90d).Body mass was significantly lower in the male offspring of the DD and DN groups than in the control group. Differences were observed at all times (3d: p = 0.0023; 24d: p < 0.0001; 90d: p < 0.0001). Moreover, body mass was significantly higher in the male offspring of the control group than in any other group. In the female progeny, body mass was higher in the control group than in the ND (24d: p < 0.0001; 90d: p = 0.0067) or NN (24d: p = 0.0058) groups.Total plasma cholesterol concentration was higher in the 90d males of the control group than in the DD group (p = 0.0163) and in the 24d females of the NN group than in the ND group (p = 0.0495). In the 3d animals, LDL was higher (p = 0.0083) but HDL was lower (p = 0.0196) in male rats of the DD and DN groups than in the NN and ND groups. Neither age nor sex affected LDL levels. The plasma levels of triglycerides were not affected by the dietary regimen, sex, or age of the animals.Maternal NAFLD and dietary choline status during pregnancy and lactation affect body mass and lipid profile in rat offspring, and the effects of maternal programming are more pronounced in male offspring than in female.The project was financed by the National Science Centre, Poland (2016/21/D/NZ9/00360).

Taste perception is the main biological determinant of food choice. It has thus been hypothesized that fatty acid sensitivity may affect fat intake. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between fatty acid sensitivity, frequency of consumption of high-fat products, polymorphism of genes encoding proteins involved in fat taste perception, and body mass.421 people aged 20–40 were enrolled in Poznań, Poland. Body composition was measured using a Bod Pod. The frequency of consumption of high-fat foods was analyzed using an application for mobile devices based on the ecological momentary assessment approach. Food intake was assessed with dietary records. Salad dressings with varying concentrations of canola oil (from 2.5% to 40.0%) were used as stimuli to test fatty acid sensitivity. The individuals were then divided into groups with higher and lower fatty acid sensitivity. Lower sensitivity means that individuals were able to distinguish samples when the oil concentration exceeded 20%. Genotyping of rs1761667 (CD36), rs1573611 (FFAR1), and rs17108973 (FFAR4) was performed using TaqMan probes.57% men and 61% women had higher sensitivity to fatty acids. Higher fatty acid sensitivity was associated with the GG genotype of CD36 (OR = 2.05, p < 0.05). People with different taste sensitivity did not differ in their frequency of consumption of high-fat foods or in their macronutrient intake. There was no association between body mass index (BMI) and fatty acid sensitivity, but people with BMI values below 25 more often ate high-fat products with favorable lipid profiles and less often ate meat high-fat products than subjects with BMI values over 25 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). There was no association between CD36 or FFAR4 genotype and fat intake or frequency of consumption of high-fat foods. People with the minor FFAR1 allele ate sweet high-fat products less often than major allele homozygotes (p < 0.05). Moreover, women ate high-fat products with favorable lipid profiles and sweet and savory high-fat products more frequently than men (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, and p < 0.01), but men ate meat high-fat products more frequently than women (p < 0.01).Concluding, fatty acid sensitivity is associated with polymorphism of the CD36 gene. The frequency of consumption of high-fat foods depends on sex, but not on fatty acid sensitivity, BMI, or CD36 variants.The project was financed by a National Science Centre award (decision number grant no. 2014/15/B/NZ9/02134).

The main aim of this study was to analyze coffee and tea intake patterns considering body weight status and polymorphism of genes involved in bitter taste sensitivity. A group of normal weight and overweight or obese subjects aged 20–40 (n = 411) was recruited in Poznan, Poland. Three-day dietary records were used to assess daily intakes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using TaqMan SNP probes (TAS2R38: rs713598, rs1726866, rs10246939) or the high-resolution melting method (CA6 rs2274333). 67.2% of the group drank coffee and 70.6% drank tea. Drinking only coffee was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) (OR = 4.81, p = 0.041). BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 was associated with higher coffee intake (p = 0.010) and lower tea intake (p = 0.003). Higher taste-sensitivity of TAS2R38 gene was associated with a preference for bitter white coffee (OR = 1.74, p = 0.033). Over 50% of respondents ate sweet snacks while drinking coffee or tea. Consumption of sweet snacks was associated with drinking bitter black coffee (p = 0.044, OR 1.97) and sweet white coffee (p = 0.003, OR 2.92) and with BMI below 25 kg/m2 (p = 0.016, OR = 0.51). Coffee and tea intake differed by body weight status. PAV haplotype (TAS2R38) was associated with a preference for bitter white coffee. The majority of the study group drank coffee and tea with additives (sugar, milk etc.) and ate sweet snacks with them.

The determinants of the intake of high-fat products are not well recognized, but fat preference may be one of them. The aim of this study was thus to determine whether intake of different types of high-fat food is associated with fat preference in people with normal and increased body weight. Participants aged 20-40 years [n = 421] were enrolled in Poznań, Poland in 2016-2018. Fat preference was measured using the Fat Preference Questionnaire. Self-reported preference for fat taste (TASTE) and fat restraint (DIFF) scores were calculated. The frequency of consuming high-fat food was measured with an application for mobile devices using ecological momentary assessment. TASTE was positively associated with calorie intake and total frequency of eating high-fat food in both the normal weight and the overweight/obese groups. Overweight and obese people had lower DIFF (p 0.001) than normal weight people. DIFF was negatively associated with total calorie intake and total intake of high-fat food, but only in normal weight people (β = -0.16, p 0.01 and β = -0.26, p 0.001, respectively). DIFF was negatively associated with the frequency of eating sweet (β = -0.33, p 0.000) and meat high-fat food (β = -0.25, p 0.001) in the normal weight group. The frequency of consumption of high-fat food and calorie intake are positively associated with self-reported preference for fat taste. In normal weight subjects fat restraint is negatively associated with calorie intake and total frequency of high-fat food intake, as well as with intake of different types of fatty food. Fat preference measures are thus associated with high-fat food intake, but these associations differ by body weight status.

Objective The pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is connected with abnormal extracellular matrix remodeling, with the assistance of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). A decrease in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 ( TIMP2 ) gene expression was detected in AAA patients. Recently, a -418 G/C (rs8179090) polymorphism of the TIMP2 gene promoter, influencing the transcription rate of the gene, has been described. This study investigated whether the -418 G/C gene polymorphism is associated with AAA in the Polish population. Methods The TIMP2 gene promoter polymorphism was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction enzyme analysis and pyrosequencing in 128 patients affected by AAA and in 180 individuals included as references. The control group was directly matched to patients according to known risk factors for vascular diseases. Results The frequency of the C allele was significantly higher in AAA patients than in the control group (odds ratio [OR], 2.516; P = .0005). The distribution of genotypes also differed significantly between the groups ( CC + CG vs GG : OR, 2.906; P = .0037) or was close to being significantly different ( CC vs GG + GC : OR, 2.144; P = .0501). A similar trend was observed in men but not in women. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated the TIMP2 gene promoter polymorphism is risk factor of AAA in the Polish population, with an adjusted OR of 4.99, when applied to a dominant inheritance model. Conclusions Our study supports the hypothesis that TIMP2 and the -418G/C polymorphism located in the promoter of the TIMP2 gene are important in AAA pathophysiology.

Epidemiological investigations indicated association of the Helicobacter pylori infections with the occurrence of inflammatory conditions of the gastric mucosa and development of chronic gastritis and intestinal type of gastric cancer. IL1A and IL1B genes have been proposed as key factors in determining risk of gastritis and malignant transformation. The aim of this paper was to evaluate association of interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms with chronic gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and intestinal type of gastric cancer in H. pylori-infected patients. Patients subjected to analysis represent group of 144 consecutive cases that suffered from dyspepsia with coexisting infection of H. pylori and chronic gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia or gastric cancer. Molecular studies involved analysis of –889C>T polymorphism of IL1A gene and +3954C>T polymorphism of IL1B gene. Statistical analysis of association of polymorphism –889C>T of gene IL1A with changes in gastric mucosa showed lack of significance, whereas +3954C>T polymorphism of IL1B gene showed significant association. Frequency of allele T of +3954C>T polymorphism of IL1B gene was higher in group of patients with chronic gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia or intestinal type of gastric cancer (32.1 %) as compared with population group (23 %), χ2 = 4.61 and p = 0.03. This corresponds to odds ratio: 1.58, 95 % CI: 1.04–2.4. Our results indicate that +3954C>T polymorphism of IL1B gene increase susceptibility to inflammatory response of gastric mucosa H. pylori-infected patients and plays a significant role in the development of chronic gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and the initiation of carcinogenesis.

Objective Taste sensitivity is one of the most important biological determinants of food choice. Three SNPs of the TAS2R38 gene (rs713598, rs1726866, and rs10246939) give rise to two common haplotypes: PAV and AVI. These haplotypes, as well as an SNP within the CA6 gene (rs2274333) that encodes carbonic anhydrase VI (CA6), correlate with bitterness perception. The extent of consumption of bitter food may influence some health outcomes. The aim of this study is thus to investigate the impact of the TAS2R38 and CA6 genetic polymorphisms on the choice of bitter food, BMI, blood lipoprotein, and glucose concentrations as well as systemic inflammation in elderly women. Methods The associations between the TAS2R38 diplotype, CA6 genotype, and the intake of bitter-tasting foods were studied in a group of 118 Polish women over 60 years of age. The intake of Brassica vegetables, grapefruit, and coffee was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical parameters were measured using the spectrophotometric method. Genotyping was performed using the high resolution melting method. Results We found a correlation between lipid profile, glucose and CRP levels, and frequency of bitter food intake. The AVI/AVI subjects drank coffee more frequently than did the PAV/PAV homozygotes, as did the A carriers of CA6 in comparison with the GG homozygotes. We also observed that simultaneous carriers of the PAV haplotype and A allele of TAS2R38 and CA6, respectively, choose white cabbage more frequent and had lower plasma levels of CRP and glucose than did AVI/AVI and GG homozygotes. Conclusions In elderly women, the TAS2R38 and CA6 polymorphisms may affect the frequency of consumption of coffee and white cabbage, but not of other bitter-tasting foods.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) are multifactorial vascular disorders caused by complex genetic and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to define risk factors of AAA and AIOD in the Polish population and indicate differences between diseases.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) are multifactorial vascular disorders caused by complex genetic and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to define risk factors of AAA and AIOD in the Polish population and indicate differences between diseases.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) are multifactorial vascular disorders caused by complex genetic and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to define risk factors of AAA and AIOD in the Polish population and indicate differences between diseases.

Background. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of polymorphism in angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE, I/D) in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Materials and methods. We investigated 829 individuals in 4 groups: AAA (n 133), AIOD (n 152), control (n 152), and a random Polish population group (n 392). ACE I/D gene polymorphism analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis. The genotype distribution was in HardyWeinberg equilibrium. Results. The genotype distribution and allele frequency of ACE I/D were not significantly different between patients with AAA or AIOD and the control or the population group. Significant differences were found between the following groups: 1) hypertensive patients with AAA and normotensive patients with AAA (OR 3.08 95% CI 1.22‐7.79, P 0.0147); 2) hypertensive patients with AAA and the population group (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.27‐5.16, P 0.0066). Since the majority of subjects were male, these associations were also true when only male hypertensive subjects with AAA were compared with male normotensive patients with AAA or to male population group. No relation of the ACE gene polymorphism to hypertension in the AIOD group was found. Conclusions. ACE I/D gene polymorphism is not a susceptibility factor to aortoiliac occlusive disease; however it may be an important factor in the development of AAA when coexisting with hyper