The role of dietary fats for preventing cardiovascular disease. A review.

At the present, there is a pandemic of chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) affecting most countries of the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the main contributing determinants to be cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, malignant cancer and chronic disease of the respiratory system. Unhealthy nutrition, as well as other adverse lifestyle health behaviour are recognised to be part of the prime factors responsible.

[Nutrition in prevention of age-related macular degeneration].

In the developed countries nowadays, there is an epidemy of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), what is caused by aging of the populations. Macular concentration of lutein and zeaxantin decreases with age, what exacerbates harmful effect of blue light on photoreceptors. Lutein and zeaxantin act as a filter of the high energy blue light.

[Health properties of shark oil].

Fish oils are the source of nutrients important for health maintenance. The most significant are essential fatty acids (EFA) of n-3 family, alkylglycerols and squalene. N-3 EFA are of great importance in atherosclerosis prevention.

Comparison of combined statin-fibrate treatment to monotherapy in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia.

Background: Statins are the preferred drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, and fibrates for hypertriglyceridemia. In patients with mixed hyperlipidemia, monotherapy with one of these agents may not be effective and combined treatment may be preferable.

Aim: To compare retrospectively the efficacy and safety of combined statin-fibrate treatment in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia in whom previous monotherapy with one of these agents occurred ineffective.

[Risk factors for ischemic heart disease and glycosaminoglycans (GAG's) in plasma in atherosclerosis obliterans].

Unlabelled: GAGs (glycosoaminoglycans) derive from damaged artery endothelium cells. Theoretically their concentration could be used to measure the level of atherosclerosis process. The aim of the study was to estimate the concentration of glucosamine and galactosamine in plasma in patients with AO in comparison to the main risk factors of CHD: smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypertension.

Reduction of cardiovascular mortality in Poland and changes in dietary patterns.

Background: A decrease in mortality due to cardiovascular diseases has been recently documented in Poland.

Aim: To assess changes in dietary patterns in Poland in the 90's.

Methods: The Central Statistical Office data on food consumption from the years 1989-2000 were analysed.