Ulcerative colitis (UC) belongs to the group of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). UC is an incurable, diffuse, and chronic inflammatory process of the colonic mucosa with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission. This review aimed to analyze the scientific research conducted to date to determine what impact different nutritional plans and dietary supplements may have on the course of UC. The latest 98 articles about nutrition and supplementation in ulcerative colitis were used to prepare the work. Certain components in food can greatly influence the course of UC, inducing changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome. This activity may be an important part of therapy for people with IBD. The Mediterranean diet has shown the most promising results in the treatment of patients with UC due to its high content of biologically active foods. Patients with UC may benefit from the UC Exclusion Diet (UCED); however, it is a new nutritional plan that requires further research. Patents frequently resort to unconventional diets, which, because of their frequent elimination of nutrient-rich foods, can worsen the health and nutritional status of those who follow them. The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics supplementation may have additional therapeutic effects; however, the evidence is not unequivocal.

The prevalence of obesity has reached pandemic levels and is becoming a serious health problem in developed and developing countries. Obesity is associated with an increased prevalence of comorbidities that include type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. The recognition of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ capable of secreting adipokines that influence whole-body energy homeostasis was a breakthrough leading to a better molecular understanding of obesity. Of the adipokines known to be involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, very few are considered central regulators of insulin sensitivity, metabolism and energy homeostasis, and the discovery and characterization of new adipocyte-derived factors are still ongoing. Proteomics techniques, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, have proven to be useful tools for analyzing the secretory function of adipose tissue (the secretome), providing insights into molecular events that influence body weight. Apart from the identification of novel proteins, the considerable advantage of this approach is the ability to detect post-translational modifications that cannot be predicted in genomic studies. In this review, we summarize recent efforts to identify novel bioactive secretory factors through proteomics.

Use of probiotic supplements, the benefits of which have not been proven in sportspeople, is becoming more widespread among runners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a multi-strain probiotic on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and inflammation in the body. The randomised, double-blind study included 66 long-distance runners. The intervention factor was a multi-strain probiotic or placebo. At the initial and final stages of the study, evaluation of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness was performed and the presence of inflammation determined. In the group of men using the probiotic, an increase in lean body mass (p = 0.019) and skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.022) was demonstrated, while in the group of women taking the probiotic, a decrease in the content of total body fat (p = 0.600) and visceral fat (p = 0.247) was observed. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO_2max) increased in women (p = 0.140) and men (p = 0.017) using the probiotic. Concentration of tumour necrosis factor-alpha decreased in women (p = 0.003) and men (p = 0.001) using the probiotic and in women (p = 0.074) and men (p = 0.016) using the placebo. Probiotic therapy had a positive effect on selected parameters of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness of study participants and showed a tendency to reduce inflammation.

Obesity is a chronic, progressive and relapsing disease that produces many adverse health, social and economic effects. The aim of the study was to analyse the concentrations of selected proinflammatory parameters in the saliva of obese and normal body weight individuals. The study included 116 people divided into two groups: the study group (n = 75, subjects with obesity) and the control group (n = 41, individuals with normal body weight). Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed, and saliva samples were collected from all study participants to determine the concentrations of selected proinflammatory adipokines and cytokines. Statistically significantly higher concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9 and IL-1β were found in the saliva of obese women compared to women with normal body weight. Furthermore, statistically significantly higher concentrations of MMP-9, IL-6 and resistin were observed in the saliva of obese men compared to men with normal body weight. Higher concentrations of selected proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines were found in the saliva of obese individuals compared to individuals with normal body weight. It is likely that higher concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9 and IL-1β can be detected in the saliva of obese women compared to non-obese women, while higher concentrations of MMP-9, IL-6 and resistin can be found in the saliva of obese men compared to non-obese men, which suggests that further research to confirm our observations and determine the mechanisms of development of metabolic complications associated with obesity depending on gender is needed.

Background: Heat‐not‐burn (HnB) tobacco products are marketed as a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes (CC), yet their health effects remain controversial, largely based on industry‐funded studies. We aimed to assess lung function in HnB and CC users and examine the mechanistic effects of HnB exposure using animal and in vitro models. Methods: Spirometry data from 650 non‐smokers (NS), 293 CC smokers, and 49 HnB users enrolled in the Bialystok‐PLUS cohort were analyzed. To investigate underlying mechanisms, a whole‐body mouse exposure model was performed with HnB aerosol or 3R4F cigarette smoke, assessing lung transcriptomic profiles (by means of RNA sequencing), lung inflammation (by flow cytometry and histochemical staining), and barrier integrity (by using immunofluorescent staining). Moreover, an in vitro ALI‐culture model of human airway epithelial cells was used to validate the mouse experiments. The effect of HnB and CC was assessed through cytotoxic effect (MTT and LDH), inflammatory responses (cytokine release by ELISA), and tight junction proteins (immunofluorescence staining). Result: Spirometric analysis (FEV1, FVC, VC) revealed no significant overall differences in lung function among HnB users, CC smokers, and non‐smokers (NS) in the unadjusted comparison. However, subgroup analyses showed that younger (< 45 years) HnB users and those with shorter smoking histories (< 20 years) already exhibited significantly lower FEV1, FVC, and VC compared to NS and CC smokers. After adjustment for age and smoking‐related covariates, HnB users displayed modest but significant reductions in static FEV1 and FVC relative to NS, while no adjusted differences were detected between HnB and CC groups, indicating comparable baseline ventilatory function. Both exposures in mice increased eosinophils and B cell counts by ~2‐fold, while decreasing ST2 ⁺ CD4 ⁺ T cells over 80%, and induced epithelial apoptosis. HnB aerosol selectively reduced basophils by almost 50%. Both HnB and CC exposure in mice caused significant epithelial damage and impaired airway barrier function, evidenced by a ~60% reduction in ZO‐1. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that CC smoke triggered a robust inflammatory gene response, whereas HnB aerosol predominantly altered metabolic pathways. In vitro, barrier function was impaired under both conditions, but cytokine secretion increased only after CC smoke exposure. Conclusion: Despite different molecular impacts, HnB aerosol exposure induces a level of airway epithelial injury and immune cell infiltration comparable to CC smoke. Our findings challenged the narrative of HnB products being a harmless alternative and highlight their potential to cause significant lung pathology.