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Obesogens, as environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are supposed to have had an impact on the prevalence of rising obesity around the world over the last forty years. These chemicals are probably able to contribute not only to the development of obesity and metabolic disturbances in individuals, but also in their progeny, having the capability to epigenetically reprogram genetically inherited set-up points for body weight and body composition control during critical periods of development, such as fetal, early life, and puberty. In individuals, they may act on myriads of neuro-endocrine–immune metabolic regulatory pathways, leading to pathophysiological consequences in adipogenesis, lipogenesis, lipolysis, immunity, the influencing of central appetite and energy expenditure regulations, changes in gut microbiota–intestine functioning, and many other processes. Evidence-based medical data have recently brought much more convincing data about associations of particular chemicals and the probability of the raised risk of developing obesity. Foods are the main source of obesogens. Some obesogens occur naturally in food, but most are environmental chemicals, entering food as a foreign substance, whether in the form of contaminants or additives, and they are used in a large amount in highly processed food. This review article contributes to a better overview of obesogens, their occurrence in foods, and their impact on the human organism.

The contribution of environmental pollutants to the obesity pandemic is still not yet fully recognized. Elucidating possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of their effects is of high importance. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic, 21-day-long, 2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichlorethylenedichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) exposure of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells committed to adipogenesis on mitochondrial oxygen consumption on days 4, 10, and 21. In addition, the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), the quality of the mitochondrial network, and lipid accumulation in maturing cells were evaluated. Compared to control differentiating adipocytes, exposure to p,p′-DDE at 1 μM concentration significantly increased basal (routine) mitochondrial respiration, ATP-linked oxygen consumption and MMP of intact cells on day 21 of adipogenesis. In contrast, higher pollutant concentration seemed to slow down the gradual increase in ATP-linked oxygen consumption typical for normal adipogenesis. Organochlorine p,p′-DDE did not alter citrate synthase activity. In conclusion, in vitro 1 μM p,p′-DDE corresponding to human exposure is able to increase the mitochondrial respiration per individual mitochondrion at the end of adipocyte maturation. Our data reveal that long-lasting exposure to p,p′-DDE could interfere with the metabolic programming of mature adipocytes.

The marine n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) exert numerous beneficial effects on health, but their potency to defend against development of peripheral insulin resistance of healthy person with overweight remains poorly characterized. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a combination intervention using EPA + DHA and the lifestyle modification (LSM) in women with overweight. In a parallel-group, three-arm, randomized trial (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry - R000031131), 34 women were assigned to a 12-week-intervention using corn oil (1.5 g/day; placebo); LSM and corn oil (1.5 g/day; LSM); or LSM and EPA + DHA concentrate (1.5 g/day, containing ~ 0.6 g EPA + DHA; LSM & n-3). At baseline and after intervention, anthropometric measurements including bioelectrical impedance analysis, spiroergometry, 24-hours dietary recall, and various metabolic markers, adiponectin and cytokines were evaluated in serum using standard procedures. Data from 29 women were used for the final evaluation. Wilcoxon two-sided rank-sum test was used to inspect the differences between LSM and LSM & n-3, and placebo groups, with a p-value of ≤ 0.05. All computations were performed with MATLAB Statistics Toolbox. In comparison with placebo, LSM and LSM & n-3 decreased body weight, waist circumference, and body fat, and increased VO max/kg. LSM & n-3 increased adiponectin levels in comparison to LSM. Fasting insulin, IL8, and cholesterol were decreased by LSM, but were unchanged by LSM & n-3. IL6 was not affected in LSM & n-3, while it was increased in LSM. Other inflammatory markers, as well as leptin, LIF, follistatin, BDNF, and fasting triacylglycerol were not significantly affected by any of the interventions. Besides preventing a modest negative effect of LSM on IL6 and adiponectin level, the combination of LSM and EPA + DHA supplementation could be probably used to improve the functional capacity of adipose tissue in women with overweight.

This study aimed to determine trend in polyphenol consumption in the Czech Republic during the last three decades. Additionally, it provides a brief overview of the beneficial effects of polyphenols in several body systems. Data from the Phenol-Explorer 3.6, a specialized database of polyphenolic substances, were assigned to the resources of the Czech Statistical Office on the consumption of food and beverages in the Czech Republic for the years 1989-2022. The average daily intake of polyphenols was determined by multiplying the average annual consumption of each type of food by the polyphenol content obtained from the database; results were given in milligrams of polyphenols per inhabitant and day. Since the food items in the data sources are not identical, it was necessary to create an extensive model of food categories. The current value of polyphenol intake is 1,673 mg per day per inhabitant; however, this level most likely reflects methodological underestimation. The favourable increase in dietary polyphenol intake in the Czech population - doubling, to be precise - which we observed from 1989 to 2007, has been replaced by the opposite trend in the last 15 years. The current intake of polyphenols corresponds to the level that was already achieved in 2004. Hydroxycinnamic acids (from the group of phenolic acids) are the most prevalent dietary polyphenols, followed by flavanols (from the group of flavonoids). The most frequent source of polyphenols in the Czech population are non-alcoholic beverages such as coffee, tea and juices, followed by fruits, cereals, and vegetables, respectively. Current trend of dietary polyphenol intake in the Czech population is slightly decreasing. This tendency, lasting since 2008, is indisputably negative. Plant polyphenols offer opportunities for inexpensive interventions in health promotion.

Public Health and Preventive Medicine is a textbook intended for students of general medicine and dentistry, but it can also be used by healthcare professionals. The aim of the book is to provide information on preventive activities that can prolong life expectancy and improve the quality of life of individuals and populations. The book contains an overview of main topics of the public health and the interactions between health and the environment with an emphasis on influenceable lifestyle factors in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases.

In the global context, the priorities in health protection and healthy growth and development of children and youth are the integration and continuity of care and the unification of all procedures. A safe, healthy, and clean environment is the basis for healthy growth and development of children. The environmental risks are magnified by poor social and economic conditions. In many parts of the world, children still face “traditional” environmental risks, but the number of newly identified risks is growing. These risks stem from uncontrolled urbanization, new technologies, industrialization in developing countries, ecosystem degradation, and global climate changes. Every year, more

Life originated in a reducing environment, but due to the onset of photosynthesis during the evolution of life on Earth, the situation changed. The release of molecular oxygen made the atmosphere more oxidizing. Maintaining a balance between the reducing and oxidizing state is critical for cell viability, and organisms therefore had to develop antioxidant-defense mechanisms. Free radicals are species (atoms, molecules, or ions) containing one or more unpaired valence electrons. They are generated by a loss or a gain of an electron or by homolytic cleavage of a molecule into 2 particles (each having one electron). Homolytic cleavage, however, requires

Population’s nutrition is determined by the national food and nutrition policy. Every developed country has its own conception of nutrition policy that covers the 3 basic areas in the field of nutrition: 1. Assuring sufficient food supply in the context of sustainable development and population-wide availability. 2. Assuring food safety. 3. Assuring the availability of the optimal choice in terms of dietary composition, nutritional needs, and long-term maintenance of good health for all inhabitants. All of these aspects are of the same importance, and none of them can be neglected. Each of these areas requires a specific system of safeguarding

Nutrition is one of the most important lifestyle factors influencing health. It is estimated that nutrition plays a major role in 41 % of diseases; an important but not dominant role in 38 % of diseases; and that it has no role in only 21 % of diseases. Nutrition covers our need for energy and nutrients. On the other hand, food is also the main source of xenobiotics: additives and contaminants, which reflect environmental pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to control not only the nutritional quality and intake of nutrients but also food safety from many perspectives: biological, chemical, and

Drinking alcoholic beverages is nowadays very popular for induction of euphoria, higher self-esteem, and loss of one’s inhibitions. The consumption is linked with enhancing gastronomic delights and supporting sociability. Nevertheless, regular drinking leads to addiction. Alcoholism has negative consequences not only for the addicted but also for his/her family, community, and the whole society. Alcohol consumption causes a variety of acute and chronic health problems. According to the WHO, alcohol kills up to 2.5 million people per year, including 320,000 young people aged 15–29 years, and is thus responsible for 4 % of all deaths. Alcohol consumption in the