Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains one of the most significant public health problems, and its incidence rate is steadily increasing worldwide despite scientific and technological progress in the field of medicine. The focus of research in this area is gradually shifting from classic risk factors—such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle and genetic predisposition—toward additional, potentially modifiable contributors such as micronutrient imbalances; among them are disturbances in zinc homeostasis that may influence glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. Objective: This systematic review with narrative synthesis aims to examine the bidirectional relationship between zinc status and T2DM and to evaluate whether zinc screening and personalized nutritional support could contribute to comprehensive metabolic management. Methods: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database and the Cochrane library for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Studies assessing zinc status or supplementation in relation to the risk, progression, or management of T2DM were included. Data were synthesized narratively, focusing on clinical and mechanistic evidence. Results: Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence indicates that zinc imbalance (both deficiency and excess) is associated with T2DM risk and outcomes. Zinc deficiency may impair insulin synthesis and signaling, promote oxidative stress and inflammation, while excessive zinc intake may induce metabolic disturbances. T2DM itself may lead to reduced zinc status via altered absorption and increased excretion. While some studies suggest modest improvements in glycemic or lipid parameters following zinc supplementation, findings remain inconsistent and context-dependent. The prevalence of suboptimal zinc status in certain populations supports the rationale for targeted screening rather than routine supplementation. Conclusions: Zinc is mechanistically involved in insulin synthesis, antioxidant defense, and inflammation control, but current clinical evidence does not justify its use as a therapeutic agent in T2DM. Instead, assessment of zinc status and individualized correction of deficiency may represent a component of personalized nutritional support, particularly for patients with long disease duration, poor dietary quality, or genetic predispositions affecting zinc metabolism.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a multifactorial condition requiring multi-target therapeutic strategies beyond traditional single-marker approaches. In this work, we present a fully in silico nutraceutical screening pipeline that integrates molecular prediction, systemic aggregation, and technological design. A curated panel of ten MASLD-relevant targets, spanning nuclear receptors (FXR, PPAR-α/γ, THR-β), lipogenic and cholesterogenic enzymes (ACC1, FASN, DGAT2, HMGCR), and transport/regulatory proteins (LIPG, FABP4), was assembled from proteomic evidence. Bioactivity records were extracted from ChEMBL, structurally standardized, and converted into RDKit descriptors. Predictive modeling employed a stacked ensemble of Random Forest, XGBoost, and CatBoost with isotonic calibration, yielding robust performance (mean cross-validated ROC-AUC 0.834; independent test ROC-AUC 0.840). Calibrated probabilities were aggregated into total activity (TA) and weighted TA metrics, combined with structural clustering (six structural clusters, twelve MOA clusters) to ensure chemical diversity. We used physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to translate probabilistic profiles into minimum simulated doses (MSDs) and chrono-specific exposure (%T>IC50) for three prototype concepts: HepatoBlend (morning powder), LiverGuard Tea (evening aqueous form), and HDL-Chews (postprandial chew). Integration of physicochemical descriptors (MW, logP, TPSA) guided carrier and encapsulation choices, addressing stability and sensory constraints. The results demonstrate that a computationally integrated pipeline can rationally generate multi-target nutraceutical formulations, linking molecular predictions with systemic coverage and practical formulation specifications, and thus provides a transferable framework for MASLD and related metabolic conditions.

Background: The composition of polyphenolic compounds in various parts of the Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) has been studied in detail and published. A number of these compounds have sufficient antiradical activity (ARA) to create functional foods based on extracts from this plant that are preventive against free-radical pathologies in humans. Part of substances with antiradical activity (e.g., vitamins, polyphenol components) are destroyed during the technological processing of food raw materials, and the values of ARA drop in the finished food product concerning the initial values (before and after technical processing) are not fully evaluated. Objective: The object of the study is to study the thermal stability of polyphenol components possessing ARA (dried at 60°C and 150°C) and evaluate their residual ARA in the finished food products, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), as one of the known antiradical, was used as a reference substance. Methods: Spectrophotometric method was used to evaluate the change of ARA in prepared foods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used as an additional method to evaluate the difference in the chemical composition of polyphenol components. Results: The residual ARA in the finished products (for caramel and bakery products) was ≈ 23.9% for rapidly extractable substances, for polyphenol compounds ≈ 46.1%, and for amino acids and easily hydrolyzable substances ≈ 34.5%. Conclusion: Rosebay willowherb extract and N-acetylcysteine are recommended for increasing the ARA (between 1.6 – 4.9 times) of foods with low ARA (confectionery, bread, or other heavily processed foods) and for diets and diets preventive of free-radical pathologies by adding polyphenolic plant components and cysteine derivatives.

Currently, the range of flour confectionery products for nursing women is not large, although this group of the population needs specialized food products. The aim of the work is to develop a functional sugar cookie using non-traditional types of flour for feeding nursing women. The object of study was a traditional sugar cookie. It was decided to improve the biological and nutritional value by adding non-traditional flour varieties to the recipe. Pumpkin seed flour and soy flour are rich in essential amino acids and minerals. Experimental samples were baked with different dosages of pumpkin and soy flour in the composition. By the method of organoleptic tasting, a sample with a ratio of wheat, soy and pumpkin flour, respectively, 70:20:10, was selected for further research. To improve the flavor characteristics of the product, it was decided to add a liquid extract of roasted chicory. When using 100 g of sugar cookies, the daily energy needs are covered by 15%. The needs for carbohydrates are covered by 10%, in fats by 25%, and in proteins by 12%. Cookies contain a large amount of vitamin E 22% and vitamin K 25% of the daily value. Trace elements are also contained in sufficient quantities: 34% copper, 29% manganese, 20% magnesium, 19% phosphorus. The coefficient of biological value of proteins is higher than that of traditional sugar cookies. The biological efficiency of lipids is quite high. The indicators for PUFA are high, however, the score for NLC and oleic acid is close to the "ideal lipid".

Uncertainty is a more objective concept for evaluating the accuracy of measuring product or process indicators than error. The article studies the adequacy of the assessment of the process of free radical oxidation in wheat germ by chemiluminescent analysis (CLA). This process in the product is due to the conjugated action of enzymes: lipase, lipoxygenase and catalase. To confirm the close relationship between their activity and the CLA parameters (the maximum value of the intensity and the slope of the kinetic curve), a linear correlation coefficient was calculated. As a result, a direct close relationship was established between the studied parameters, which confirms the possibility of assessing the degree of oxidation in the product by the CLA method. An algorithm for obtaining the uncertainty value is formed, which includes four main stages: a description of the measured values (the intensity of the peroxide processes, the inhibitory ability in the product); identification of sources of uncertainty (related to instrumental, methodological and subjective reasons, as well as to a random component); simplification of components to eliminate mutually compensating effects and calculation of uncertainties. The calculation of standard and expanded uncertainties was performed. Their assessment led to the conclusion about a high degree of accuracy of the obtained results with a reliability of 95%.

Background/Objectives: Chronic stress poses a serious threat to public health and is associated with the rising global burden of mental disorders, including anxiety and depression. University students, particularly young women, represent a highly vulnerable group due to the combination of academic pressure, social adaptation challenges, and gender-specific stress reactivity. This pilot randomized controlled parallel-group trial aimed to evaluate the effect of a 4-week daily consumption of a date bar fortified with magnesium (240 mg), vitamin C (300 mg), inulin (1000 mg), and grape seed extract (100 mg) on perceived stress and morning salivary cortisol in healthy female university students under natural academic load. Methods: Thirty healthy female students (aged 18–28 years) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group (fortified date bar) or the control group (placebo bar) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in morning salivary cortisol levels (measured 30–60 min after awakening), and the secondary outcome was the change in perceived stress assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Measurements were performed at baseline and within 24–48 h after the intervention. Adherence was monitored via daily digital reports and weekly in-person meetings. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test) with effect sizes (rank-biserial correlation, r). Per-protocol analysis was applied for the primary outcome (n = 28) and available-case analysis for the secondary outcome (n = 29). Participants and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation throughout the study. Results: No adverse events were reported. Median adherence was 100% in both groups, with all participants demonstrating ≥ 90% compliance. No statistically significant changes in morning salivary cortisol were observed within or between groups (within-group: p = 0.173 in the intervention group, p = 0.326 in the control group; between-group: p = 0.104), although a consistent trend toward a reduction was observed in the intervention group (median Δ = −0.64 ng/mL) with a moderate effect size (r = 0.43 within-group; r = −0.37 between-group). For perceived stress, a statistically significant reduction in PSS-14 scores was observed within the intervention group (median Δ = −4.0 points; p = 0.009) with a large effect size (r = 0.80), while no significant change occurred in the control group (p = 0.624). Between-group comparison for PSS-14 changes did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.073), although the effect size was moderate (r = −0.40). No significant correlation was found between changes in cortisol and changes in PSS-14 scores (ρ = −0.134; p = 0.496). Conclusions: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, four-week consumption of a fortified date bar was associated with a reduction in perceived stress among healthy female university students, as reflected by a large within-group effect size on PSS-14 scores. However, given the exploratory nature of the study, the small sample size, and the absence of an a priori power calculation, this finding should be regarded as preliminary and hypothesis-generating rather than as evidence of established efficacy. A consistent, albeit non-significant, trend toward reduced morning cortisol was also observed, suggesting a possible modulatory effect on the HPA axis that requires confirmation in larger, longer-term studies with optimized dosages. The dissociation between subjective and objective stress measures underscores the multidimensional nature of the stress response and supports the use of complementary assessment approaches in future research. The fortified date bar may warrant further investigation as a potentially feasible, acceptable, and economically accessible component of primary stress prevention strategies in young populations, although this possibility remains to be tested in adequately powered confirmatory trials.