Clinical trials

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the six-month supplementation with sirtuin activators can affect metabolism in 40-to-65-year old women with increased body weight. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does sirtuin activators affect lipid and carbohydrate metabolism? Does sirtuin activators affect oxydative stress, immune functions and cell ageing? Researchers will compare sirtuin activators to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if drug sirtuin activators works to improve metabolic status. Participants will: Take sirtuin activators or a placebo every day for 6 months. Visit the university once every 3 months for checkups and tests.

Lutein is a xanthophyll pigment found in photosynthesizing organisms. Its beneficial effects on health, including brain function and visual performance, have been recognized for many years. However, to date, only a limited number of well-designed human intervention studies have been published regarding the effects of incorporating lutein into the daily diet (as humans are unable to synthesize lutein endogenously). Unfortunately, within the Western dietary pattern, the average daily intake of lutein is approximately 1.7 mg, whereas achieving health benefits- such as reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataract, as well as neurodegenerative diseases- requires an intake of 6 to 14 mg per day. In light of the above, it is therefore justified to enrich the daily diet with products that are sources of lutein. Unfortunately, the consumption of dark green vegetables- the richest dietary source of lutein-remains insufficient. Lutein preparations currently available on the market are extracted from marigold or calendula flowers. However, lutein production from these raw materials requires greater water consumption and land use, which is not aligned with the principles of sustainable development. An alternative approach involves the production of lutein preparations from microalgae (from species approved as food by the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA), as the rate of lutein production from microalgae is three to six times higher than that from marigold flowers. Taking the above into account, the primary objective of this project is to evaluate the dose-response relationship in establishing the anti-aging mechanism of action of lutein derived from microalgae. As part of the project, a six-month randomized, placebo-controlled trial is planned. The study will include 300 polish women (aged 48-60 years), after natural menopause, with visceral obesity (waist circumference ≥ 88 cm). In order to enable the inclusion of such a large study population, the research team will conduct intensified recruitment efforts for several months prior to the initiation of the dietary intervention. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: lutein supplementation at a dose of 6 mg (n = 100), lutein supplementation at a dose of 14 mg (n = 100), or placebo (n = 100). The volunteers will be instructed to take the prescribed preparation daily for 180 days. All preparations will be identical in appearance, taste, and smell. All volunteers expressing willingness to participate in the experiment will be asked to provide written informed consent prior to enrollment in the study. The study will be conducted in accordance with the previously calculated sample size (n = 300 postmenopausal women with visceral obesity). In order to obtain a homogeneous study population, appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria will be applied. Conducting the research in such a large and homogeneous group will enable the generation of high-quality scientific evidence identifying the dose of microalgae-derived lutein that allows for the determination of its anti-aging mechanism of action. It will also be possible to elucidate the potential role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces in this process, which may represent a significant novelty in this field of research. The study will contribute to the development of new knowledge regarding the anti-aging properties of lutein derived from microalgae in populations vulnerable to cognitive impairment (postmenopausal women). However, microalgae-derived lutein may be used as a dietary supplement not only in the studied group but also in the general population. The specific objectives are as follows: * To assess the effect of lutein derived from microalgae (at doses of 6 mg and 14 mg) on the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory markers, cardiometabolic parameters, fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and cognitive function in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity. * To evaluate adherence to lutein supplementation recommendations (by assessing macular pigment optical density). * To determine whether supplementation with microalgal lutein increases fecal SCFA concentrations and whether SCFAs may act as mediators in improving inflammatory markers and cognitive function in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity. * To determine whether supplementation with microalgal lutein (at doses of 6 mg and 14 mg) affects changes in selected gut bacterial populations and β-glucuronidase enzymatic activity in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity. * To analyse the association between polymorphisms in genes related to lutein metabolism and transport in the body and the effectiveness of supplementation with this compound. * To identify dietary behaviour patterns associated with high exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and the presence of inflammation in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity.

Preeclampsia (PE) is an important pregnancy complication and cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The underlying etiology and pathophysiology of preeclampsia is incompletely understood but it involves dysfunctional cytotrophoblastic invasion, placental ischemia, and release of inflammatory and endothelial mediators. Placenta dysfunction in PE is related to angiogenic balance. Currently, therapeutic options for the prevention and treatment of PE are limited. It is known that the risk of PE is reduced by low-dose aspirin. Therefore, the influence of salicylates on the development of PE seems to need to be investigated. This project plans to examine the preventive effects of food sources of salicylic acid and compare their effects with aspirin. Therefore, the aim of the present study is thus answer the following questions. whether the maternal dietary intake of salicylates is related to placental angiogenesis; 2. whether naturally occurring salicylates have the same effects on preeclampsia development and placental angiogenesis as aspirin. To answer these questions we plan to carry out a human study with pregnant women. Due to the above the planned research aims to determine the association between maternal dietary intake of salicylates and placental angiogenesis and the risk of preeclampsia development. Although PE remains an incurable disease, the results of this project will enable the development of dietary recommendations for the prevention and treatment of preeclampsia. Moreover, the results of this study may be useful in lowering the cost of maternal and fetal complications from preeclampsia and the cost of their hospitalization.

Ensuring an adequate supply of nutrients, which include trace elements, is particularly important in pregnancy. Both deficiency and excess of trace elements in the body can interfere with conception and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. The effects of malnutrition and shortages in fetal life may increase the risk of miscarriages, congenital malformations, premature births, intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) and more frequent perinatal mortality. Nutritional deficiencies during fetal development may also have long-term consequences for the child, such as disorders in his biological and psychomotor development. In women of procreative age, an adequate supply of minerals, especially iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium and copper, is very important. The results of clinical trials indicate an association of anemia in pregnant women with premature delivery and low birth weight of a newborn. Calcium deficiency leads to the development of hypertension in pregnancy (including preeclampsia) and increases the risk of premature birth. Deficiency of zinc and copper in the mother's body is associated with complications of pregnancy and childbirth and affects inappropriate fetal development. The deficiency of these mineral components is often observed in young women-potential mothers. Increasing during pregnancy the need for nutrients and abnormal nutrition, intensify the deficiencies of minerals and affect the abnormal development of the fetus. It seems that during the course of pregnancy, changes in the mineral nutrition of women can be observed, which is why it is important to monitor this condition in the subsequent months of pregnancy. Due to the above, the aim of the planned research is to determine the nutrition and nutritional status of women in the subsequent trimesters of pregnancy. Obtained results will allow to formulate appropriate nutritional recommendations and / or indicate the need to implement appropriate mineral supplementation for women in every trimester of pregnancy.