We hypothesize that defatting is an important factor that can determine the beneficial effects of flaxseeds on rats with diet-induced disorders. The experiment lasts 8 weeks and is conducted on Wistar rats allocated to four groups as follows: a control group fed with a standard diet; a high-fat (HF) group fed with a diet containing 21% fat and 0.1% cholic acid as a stimulator of lipid absorption; an HF group fed a diet supplemented with 1% native flaxseeds; and an HF group fed a diet supplemented with 1% defatted flaxseeds. In the HF group, several unfavourable changes in the gut and lipid metabolism are observed. Supplementation of the HF diet with native flaxseeds prevent an increase in colonic β-glucuronidase activity, whereas dietary defatted flaxseeds increase mucosal disaccharidase activities in the small intestine (sucrose, maltase and lactase). Regardless of the form of supplementation, dietary flaxseeds increase bacterial glycolytic activity in the distal intestine and decrease hepatic fat, especially triglyceride, accumulation. Both flaxseed forms decrease lipid peroxidation in the kidneys and increase the blood HDL cholesterol concentration with the native form being more efficient in the former and the defatted form being more efficient in the latter. The lipid-modulating effects of defatted flaxseeds are associated with reduced hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, which is not the case in terms of native flaxseeds. Dietary supplementation with a relatively small amount of flaxseeds can exert beneficial effects on gut functions and lipid metabolism in rats, and these effects are affected by defatting to some extent.

Background: There is a tendency to search for new, unconventional plant oils with health-promoting properties, preferably unrefined, which besides having an interesting fatty acid profile contain a high level of biologically active compounds. This review is focused on selected berry seed oils as potential cardioprotective food supplements, that is, strawberry, red raspberry, and blackcurrant seed oil, and their chemical composition and nutritional quality. Main text: Berry seed oils are rich in essential fatty acids both from n-6 and n-3 family. The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in selected oils was reported as follows (as percentage of total fatty acids): red raspberry seed oil, 85% (linoleic acid, 54%; α-linolenic acid, 32%); blackcurrant seed oil, 81.5% (linoleic acid, 48%; α- and γ-linolenic acid, 30%); and strawberry seed oil, 78% (linoleic acid, 42%; α-linolenic acid, 36%). Worthy of notice is also the presence of γ-linolenic acid in blackcurrant seed oil (approximately 17%). In addition, the seed oils are abundant in other bio-active compounds, such as sterols, tocols, and phenolic compounds. Except for blackcurrant seed oil, health-promoting aspects of the proposed seed oils have not been extensively investigated in in vivo studies. But, there are available studies on laboratory rats suggesting cardioprotective properties of these oils. Especially, a potent triglyceride-lowering effect of blackcurrant, strawberry, and raspberry seed oil was visible. The tested berry seed oils also ameliorated the inflammatory state in the organism and the liver fat content. Nevertheless, the consumption of the berry seed oils, especially together with an unbalanced diet, induced also some unfavorable changes in the organism. Conclusion: The proposed berry seed oils can be considered edible and potentially cardioprotective supplements; however, there is a need for extensive in vivo researches that could confirm their properties, check the safety of their consumption, and allow to select the most suitable ones.

Partially defatted poppy seeds, a by-product of poppy oil cold pressing, could be an interesting dietary supplement for obesity management. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary supplementation with a small amount of native or partially defatted poppy seeds on gastrointestinal function and lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet. The defatted poppy seeds had, among others, lower fat content and higher fibre and protein content than native poppy seeds. The rats fed with a high-fat diet were characterised by severe metabolic disorders, especially in the liver, and poppy seeds were unable to prevent them. However, depending on the seed form, dietary supplementation with poppy seeds differentially affected the microbial and endogenous lipid metabolism in rats. In the distal intestine, both dietary seed forms stimulated microbial acetate production, and the supplementation with partially defatted poppy seeds additionally inhibited isobutyrate and isovalerate formation, which indicates a reduction in putrefaction. Both dietary seed forms increased cholesterol accumulation in the liver. Only dietary supplementation with partially defatted poppy seeds attenuated visceral fat and hepatic triglyceride accumulations and lowered blood triglyceride concentrations, and at the transcriptional level, the inhibition of SREBP-1c, which upregulates genes responsible for de novo lipogenesis, was additionally observed in this organ. In conclusion, a low and regular consumption of partially defatted poppy seeds may be beneficial in managing obesity-related disorders.

Background. Serotonin is a substance with a propulsive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It stimulates the intestinal secretion of water and electrolytes, and plays an important role in the pathophysiology of secretory diarrhea. However, the influence of serotonin on intestinal absorption is very poorly understood. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the serotonin and selected antagonists of serotonin receptors, i.e., ondansetron (5-HT3) and GR113808 (5-HT4), on electrogenic sodium ion absorption in the colon. Materials and methods. The electrophysiologic method developed by Ussing and modified with a stimulating function on the mucosal side of the isolated colon wall was used. The influence of selected serotonergic compounds on the electrogenic transport of sodium ions under stationary conditions and mechanical stimulation was investigated. For this purpose, experiments were performed on specimens of isolated rabbit colon. Amiloride and bumetanide were used as reagents directly controlling individual ion transport. The data were analyzed using tests for paired samples (paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and one-sided sign test). Results. Serotonin reduced stationary and stimulated colonic sodium absorption. The 5-HT3 receptor antagonist did not influence the studied phenomenon, while 5-HT4 antagonists acted contrary to serotonin. Conclusions. Serotonin reduces both stationary and stimulated sodium ion absorption, thus playing an important role in the pathophysiology of secretory diarrhea. The described phenomenon depends on serotonin's action on 5-HT4 receptors.

We verified whether milk thistle seeds and pot marigold seeds provided valuable components for a fibre-rich diet and how their addition affected body composition, nitrogen balance and lipid metabolism in rats. Growing rats were fed a control diet (5% fibre) or three fibre-rich diets (24% fibre), which contained cellulose as the sole source of fibre (24%; positive control), milk thistle seeds (32%) or pot marigold seeds (39%). All diets were balanced in macronutrients, including total protein content (9%), which was half of the amount recommended for rats to maximise protein absorption and utilisation, and the ratio of plant protein to animal protein (approx. 1:1). After 4 weeks, dietary pot marigold seeds reduced body weight gain, which translated into lower gains of body fat and lean mass in rats (all at p ≤ 0.05). Protein digestibility differed among individual fibre-rich diets (p ≤ 0.05), with the lowest result having been recorded for dietary pot marigold seeds (73%), followed by dietary milk thistle seeds (78%), and the highest result having been recorded for dietary soybean protein isolate (control protein source, 89%). Nitrogen retention was higher with dietary soybean protein isolate (53%) and dietary milk thistle seeds (47%) than with dietary pot marigold seeds (38%) (p ≤ 0.05). In the caecal digesta, the concentrations of the major short-chain fatty acids were almost or >2-fold higher after dietary milk thistle seeds and pot marigold seeds than after the positive control diet (all at p ≤ 0.05). Dietary pot marigold seeds enlarged the liver and increased the plasma activities of liver enzymes but reduced hepatic lipid contents (all at p ≤ 0.05). Certain Asteraceae seeds provide components of varied nutritional quality, with milk thistle seeds being a relatively good source of protein and both types of seeds being a source of fermentable fibre. Pot marigold seeds have potential anti-obesogenic effects, but with the risk of damaging internal organs.

Biological therapies for Crohn’s disease (CD), including infliximab, adalimumab, and vedolizumab, show variable efficacy. While some predictive biomarkers exist, data on regulatory immune cells are limited. This study examined whether baseline levels of circulating T and B cell subsets can predict response to these treatments. We recruited 43 adults with conventional treatment-resistant active CD (CDAI > 330) and 16 healthy controls. Blood samples were analysed by flow cytometry at baseline (week 0) and after induction therapy (week 12 or 14, depending on the received drug) to measure T and B cell subsets and correlate them with disease activity. CD patients at baseline showed a significantly reduced frequency of memory B cells, CD5⁺CD1d⁺ B cells, plasmablasts, and transitional B cells. Additionally, significant negative correlations were identified between transitional B cells and calprotectin/platelets, and between CD5⁺CD1d⁺ B cells and calprotectin. All CD patients responded clinically to biologic therapy. In those treated with infliximab or adalimumab, mature naïve B cells decreased, with a trend toward increased CD24^hiCD27⁺ B cells. Adalimumab responders showed a trend toward higher CD161 expression on Tregs, while vedolizumab-treated patients had a slight increase in plasmablasts. Biologic therapies in CD revealed treatment-specific immune correlations: infliximab/adalimumab responses involved B and T cell changes linked to inflammation, while VDZ response correlated with CD4⁺ and CD5⁺CD1d⁺ B cells. Our study suggests that infliximab/adalimumab induction therapy in CD expands circulating CD24^hiCD27⁺ B cells and reduces mature naïve B cells, while vedolizumab increases plasmablasts. These B-cell changes may reflect distinct mechanisms and serve as potential response biomarkers.