Solving the problem of large quantities of organic waste, which represents an enormous ecological and financial burden for all aspects of the process industry, is a necessity. Therefore, there is an emerged need to find specific solutions to utilize raw materials as efficiently as possible in the production process. The cocoa shell is a valuable by-product obtained from the chocolate industry. It is rich in protein, dietary fiber, and ash, as well as in some other valuable bioactive compounds, such as methylxanthines and phenolics. This paper gives an overview of published results related to the cocoa shell, mostly on important bioactive compounds and possible applications of the cocoa shell in different areas. The cocoa shell, due to its nutritional value and high-value bioactive compounds, could become a desirable raw material in a large spectrum of functional, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic products, as well as in the production of energy or biofuels in the near future.

This is the first report on the extraction of cocoa bean shell (CBS) using deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Screening results with 16 different choline chloride-based DESs showed how choline chloride:oxalic acid DES was the most suitable solvent for the extraction of the bioactive compounds from CBS and that concentrations varied greatly depending on the used solvent. The DES extraction was compared to the DESs coupled with microwave extraction (MAE), and the yields of the extracted compounds were higher for DES/MAE. For theobromine, the obtained yields for DES extraction were 2.145–4.682 mg/g, and for caffeine, were 0.681–1.524 mg/g, whereas for DES/MAE, the same compounds were obtained in 2.502–5.004 mg/g and 0.778–1.599 mg/g. Antioxidant activity was also determined, using DPPH method, obtaining 24.027–74.805% activity for DES extraction and 11.751–55.444% for DES/MAE. Water content significantly influenced the extraction of targeted active compounds from CBS, whereas extraction time and temperature did not show statistically significant influence. The extraction temperature only influenced antioxidant activity. The study demonstrated how extraction using DES and microwaves could be of a great importance in the future trends of green chemistry for the production of CBS extracts rich in bioactive compounds.

The study describes and compares bio-functional properties and thein vitrodigestibility of protein isolates from apricot oil cakes obtained by supercritical fluid extraction and cold pressing, as control. Protein isolates have the potential to be food ingredients with amygdalin contents in an amount considerably lower than regulatory. Isolates showed hypoglycemic activity, studied by the inhibition of α-glucosidase, also functional properties were determined.Good digestibility of proteins, which were done using gastrointestinal proteases (pepsin and pancreatin) were proven by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis SDS-PAGE analysis. Moreover, it was evident that the protein isolates were completely digested. The biologically active potential of the digests was evaluated measuring in vitro antioxidant capacity by three complementary methods and enzyme inhibitory effects towards Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) related with the onset of hypertension. All hydrolysates act as a DPPH and ABTS scavenger, as a reducing agents and an ACE enzyme inhibitor. In conclusion, protein isolates obtained from apricot kernel cake showed to be a promising source of natural products for food applications, with good functional and bioactive properties and easy digestibility.

Nutrition care delivered in primary health care setting is an effective and necessary preventive health care measure. General practitioners (GPs) nutrition knowledge is related to their nutrition care practice. The aim of this study was to explore the nutrition knowledge of Croatian GPs, and to investigate its connection with the implementation of nutrition care in GPs’ offices. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 17.0% of randomly selected GPs, from May to July 2013, via an anonymous questionnaire. The study showed that only 35.8% of the Croatian GPs had an adequate level of nutrition knowledge (five or more correct answers to nutrition questions). The study further revealed that females, GPs with additional education in nutrition and GPs who had not suffered from chronic diseases with poor nutrition posing as a risk factor had better nutrition knowledge (p = 0.029, p < 0.001 and p = 0.041, respectively). The Spearman rank correlation between GPs’ nutrition knowledge and the implementation of nutrition care in their offices during daily work with patients was r_s = −0.190 (p < 0.001). To provide nutrition care in GPs’ offices in Croatia, strategies for improving GPs’ nutrition knowledge are needed.

The modern lifestyle today creates a certain pressure on people who are forced to adapt to such a way of living. Energy drinks (EDs), beverages containing certain stimulating ingredients, are increasingly being offered on the market. Given the unclear impact of EDs consumption on the health of the individual, the focus of this study was to determine the prevalence of EDs consumption among the student population at the University of Osijek (Eastern Croatia). The cross-sectional study via an anonymous questionnaire included 424 students, with an average age of 22.8 years. It was discovered that 52.4% of participants consume EDs. Males were significantly more likely to drink EDs than females (χ²-test; p = 0.006). They more frequently consume EDs six or more times per month (χ²-test; p = 0.045) as well as consume more EDs on one occasion (χ²-test; p < 0.001). University students who were engaged in sports or physical activity were significantly more likely to consume EDs (χ²-test; p = 0.024) as well as smokers in comparison to non-smokers (χ²-test; p = 0.034). In conclusion, the study proved the frequent consumption of EDs among Croatian university students consequently highlighting the need to raise awareness of the possible adverse effects of EDs consumption.

Specific personality traits may predispose individuals to various forms of addictive behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between personality traits of university students and Internet addiction (IA). A sample of 1051 university students was recruited from the largest university in Eastern Croatia. A structured anonymous questionnaire that included questions regarding students’ sociodemographic information and Internet usage patterns, the Young Internet Addiction Test and Big Five Inventory served as a research tool. The study revealed that 1.0% of the studied sample expressed severe IA while 24.6% of study participants expressed some signs of addiction. The IA was detected in 576 (80.0%) students who used the Internet mainly for social networking, in 30 (78.9%) students who mainly used it for online gaming, and in 153 (52.2%) students who mainly used it for university assignments (p < 0.001). Higher neuroticism, higher extraversion, and higher openness to new experiences were connected with IA in general (p < 0.001). Higher neuroticism, higher extraversion, and higher openness to new experiences were significantly associated with addictive behavior during social networking (p < 0.001). Higher extraversion and higher openness to new experiences were significantly associated with addictive behavior during Internet usage for university assignments (p = 0.025), while there were no significant associations between specific personality traits and addictive behavior during online gaming (p = 0.059). Personality traits must be taken into account while developing programs and implementing interventions for preventing IA in the university student population.