Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are known prebiotics, they are produced in large volumes and used in the production of various foods.

The purpose of the work was to systematize and analyze information on the classification, physiological effects and areas of application of GOS as prebiotics.

Material and methods. The search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, RSCI databases, mainly for the last 10 years, using the following keywords: galactooligosaccharides, prebiotics, types, effect on microbiota, effect on intestinal epithelium, physiological effects, application. A total of 80 articles from peer-reviewed journals, mostly with a high citation index, were selected for analysis.

Results. GOS are oligosaccharides mainly consisting of galactose residues with a degree of polymerization from 2 to 10, the chemical structure of which varies in chain length, branching, and glycosyl bonds. It has been shown that the most studied and widely used are β-GOS obtained from lactose, although other types of GOS (α-GOS, fructoGOS) also exhibit prebiotic properties. It has been established that the structure of GOS significantly affects their physiological activity mediated by the effect on the intestinal epithelium, immune, nervous and endocrine systems of humans, but not all mechanisms of such an effect are clear. Confirmation of bifidogenic and other health-promoting properties of GOS has been obtained in experimental models and in clinical settings, due to which they have a generally recognized status of safe and effective prebiotics. Data on clinical studies, including the composition and dosage of the GOS and placebo for comparison, the health status and age of the participants are heterogeneous, which complicates a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of adding GOS.

Conclusion. GOS have found application in infant formulas, various dairy products, bakery and confectionery products, and beverages. Given the data of existing studies on the safety and effectiveness of GOS, as well as the need to ensure technological sovereignty in the field of functional nutrition, it is advisable to supplement regulatory documents with requirements for the composition and properties of this type of prebiotics and organize the production of GOS in Russia.

Currently, production of food components, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds, from microalgae, including the use of the unicellular algae chlorella (Chlorella sp.) are increasing.

The purpose of the article was to analyze the composition and biological properties of food ingredients obtained from chlorella, as well as to assess the effect of various biotechnological methods of producing this microalga on the safety of food manufactured using it.

Material and methods. The article presents the analysis of data from preclinical and clinical studies and reviews published over the past 10 years in peer-reviewed journals included in the international databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Semantic Scholar, reports of international organizations, regulatory and legislative documents of countries which substantiating the use of bioactive components of chlorella in the production of food, as well as data on the possible risks of using food from chlorella biomass obtained using various biotechnological methods.

Results. Available information on the list of nutrients and bioactive compounds contained in chlorella biomass indicates the potential for its use in the food industry, including the production of fortified and specialized food. In the process of growing chlorella, various biotechnological methods are currently used (cultivation in open water bodies, in fermenters and photobioreactors, as well as the use of mutant and genetically modified strains). Each of these methods is characterized by certain advantages and risks to consumer health, which requires additional risk assessments in relation to previously unregulated indicators of quality and safety of food obtained from chlorella biomass, as well as an assessment of the possible safe use of mutant and genetically modified (GM) strains of these microorganisms.

Conclusion. Data on the risks of possible contamination of Chlorella sp. biomass which have been obtained using various biotechnological methods with substances of biological origin, as well as the use of mutant and GM-strains previously not used in the food industry, indicate the need for additional risk assessments and management regulation in the field of public health risks associated with the use of food made from chlorella.

Non-alcoholic or metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MAFLD) is a non-infectious pandemic of the 21^st century, affecting about a third of the adult population worldwide. According to epidemiological studies in the Russian Federation, the prevalence of NAFLD based on the Fatty Liver Index (FLI) is 39.2%. With MAFLD, the activity of ornithine (urea) cycle enzymes may decrease, potentially leading to hyperammonigistia (excessive accumulation of ammonia in tissues) and hyperammonemia. Both conditions have multiple negative effects on different cell and tissue types.

The aim of the research was to evaluate the role of ammonia as a potential pathogenic factor in the progression of MAFLD and the development of comorbidity.

Material and methods. The analysis was based on publications sourced from Russian and international databases (eLibrary, PubMed, Google Scholar), using the following keywords: «non-alcoholic fatty liver disease», «metabolically associated fatty liver disease», «ammonia», «hyperammonemia», «urea cycle», «ornithine cycle». All studies related to NAFLD/MAFLD and hyperammonemia, which may contribute to disease progression and multi-organ injury, were included in the review.

Results. There is still limited understanding of the exact mechanisms underlying comorbid pathology in MAFLD and its transition from mild steatosis to steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is the accumulation of fat in the liver that can lead to a decrease in the function of urea cycle enzymes and the development of hyperammonemia. When ammonia level increases, complex biochemical processes in the liver are initiated (apoptosis, inflammation, epigenetic modifications, increased expression of the p53 protein and accelerated cellular aging, etc.), which can induce the transition from mild steatosis to steatohepatitis and further fibrosis and cirrhosis. Hyperammonemia may be an unspecified pathogenic factor contributing to multi-organ disorder and disease progression in MAFLD.

Conclusion. In MAFLD, the activity of urea cycle enzymes may decrease due to epigenetic DNA alterations and accelerated hepatocyte aging (increased p53 expression as an indicator of cellular aging), resulting in hyperammonemia. Hyperammonigistia and hyperammonemia may have negative effects on multiple cell and tissue types (e.g., liver, brain, muscles, cardiovascular and immune systems), contributing to comorbid pathology and a wide range of adverse outcomes. Measuring ammonia levels in patients with MAFLD, especially at advanced stages, and applying measures to reduce them may represent a promising direction in disease management to prevent progression and the development of comorbidity. The mechanisms underlying multi-organ injury in MAFLD, its transition from mild steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as the role of elevated ammonia, require further investigation.

The role of gut microbiota composition in the initiation and/or perpetuation of intestinal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients, is currently under active investigation.

This study aimed to establish optimal conditions for modeling gut inflammation induced by an adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (E. coli) (AIEC) strain isolated from a CD patient in an in vivo experiment.

Material and methods. The study was conducted using three groups of male C57Black/6 mice (6 mice per group). Group 1: water–control, group 2 – propionate–control, group 3 – BL2K2–propionate. After an 8-day quarantine, mice in groups 2 and 3 received 20 mM sodium propionate solution instead of drinking water. On the 4^th day, 24 h prior to bacterial inoculation, all mice were orally gavaged with 20 mg streptomycin in 100 μL phosphate buffer. The following day, experimental mice (group 3) were inoculated with the AIEC strain E. coli BL2K2 (isolated from a CD patient) in 100 μL phosphate buffer, while control mice (groups 1 and 2) received phosphate buffer alone. Tissue samples (blood, small intestine, cecum, and colon) were collected at 21, 28, and 35 days post-inoculation. Lysates were obtained from intestinal compartments, some of which were used for plating on selective E. coli media, obtaining individual colonies, and then performing whole-genome sequencing to confirm BL2K2 colonization of different intestinal compartments. The remaining lysates were used for cytokine content determination by ELISA and proteomic analysis.

Results. The CD-associated AIEC strain successfully colonized the murine gut under these conditions, with colonization persisting for 35 days and inducing significant histopathological changes in the colon, small intestine, and cecum. Elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected in colon lysates. Comparative proteomic analysis of colon tissue revealed activation of bacterial infection response pathways with increased levels of immunoglobulins, T-cell response activators, FimH (type I pili receptor), secreted lectins, TLR-mediated regulators, and bactericidal proteins, as well as activation of processes associated with the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) with upregulation of collagens, collagen fibril assembly regulators, and integrins, alongside downregulation of ECM degradation proteins, suggesting fibrotic changes which is one of the signs of an inflammatory process. The CD-associated AIEC strain colonization lead to disrupted lipid metabolism and reduced energy metabolism in colon tissue.

Conclusion. We developed a ready-made system to study AIEC involvement in the initiation and maintenance of intestinal inflammation, providing a platform for further investigation of AIEC’s role in this process.

The modern trend to the food industry’s resource base expanding requires continuous improvement of safety assessment approaches of the novel food sources and the exploring of toxicological and allergological research updated algorithms, the development of in vivo, in vitro and in silico models, as well as the formation of specific biomarkers profiles and the establishment of physiological fluctuations ranges for the studied indicators. To increase the information content of toxicological studies and identify hidden negative effects associated with the novel food consumption, in vivo models of reducing the adaptive potential of laboratory animals were developed. The analysis of the data obtained in experiments using these alimentary models demonstrated the need to determine the norm boundaries of individual morphofunctional parameters.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the body composition and some morphometric parameters in rats against the background of key macro- and micronutrients’ deficiency in the diet.

Material and methods. The experiment lasting 64 days was carried out on 80 male Wistar rats with an initial body weight of 134.7±3.8 g. The animals were divided into 5 groups of 16 rats each: the control group received a standard semi-synthetic casein diet, the 1^st–4^th test groups were fed diets with a deficiency of protein, fat, carbohydrates and some micronutrients (vitamins B₁, B₂, B₃, B₆, iron and magnesium salts), respectively. Within the experiment gravimetric and morphological (histological and morphometric) studies of the liver, heart, kidneys, and testes were performed, so as the dynamics of the body’s component composition (by quantitative magnetic resonance using the EchoMRI 500 tissue analyzer) were studied.

Results. Dietary fat deficiency had the least effect on the weight and body composition of growing animals (the differences between the studied indicators and the control values were no more than 1%), carbohydrate deficiency led to a decrease in body weight by 11.4%, fat mass by 39.7%, lean mass and total water by 9.4%; micronutrient deficiency led to a decrease in body weight by 53.3%, fat mass by 96.4%, lean mass and total water by 51.0%; protein deficiency led to a decrease in body weight by 74.8%, fat mass by 97.0%, lean mass and total water by 73.5%, respectively (p<0.05). The sizes of the structural elements of the liver, heart, kidneys, and testes under diet deficiency of fat differed from the control by 1–9%; of carbohydrate – by 2–7%; micronutrients – by 8–56%, protein – by 14–65%, respectively. The most pronounced changes in body weight and composition, as well as the size of the structural elements of internal organs, were found in animals kept on diets deficient in protein and micronutrients.

Conclusion. Based on the data analysis the influence degree of the nutrients on the studied parameters was established. The most pronounced changes in body weight and composition, the mass of internal organs, as well as the size of the liver, heart, kidneys, and testes structural elements were found in animals kept on protein-deficient diet. The lack of micronutrients (vitamins B₁, B₂, B₃, B₆, iron and magnesium) was on the second place in terms of the impact degree on these indicators. The lack of fat and carbohydrates in the diet had virtually no effect on body composition and the microstructure of internal organs. Thus, the availability of protein and micronutrients plays a primary role for the complete morphogenesis of mammals at both the micro and macro levels.

The widespread use of aluminum in industry, medicine and everyday life is associated with the risk of its bioaccumulation and toxic effects, including neurotoxicity, trace element metabolism disorders and osteopathy. Cooking and storing food in aluminum cookware, especially with acidic products, promotes metal migration into food matrices. Despite the proven role of aluminum in the induction of oxidative stress and cellular damage, the mechanisms of its influence on the expression of metal transporter genes and subclinical effects remain poorly understood.

The aim of the research was to study the effect of oral administration of various doses of aluminum hydroxide on biochemical parameters, gene expression and homeostasis of essential elements in experimental animals.

Material and methods. A prospective study was conducted on 40 white outbred rats with an initial body weight of 180–200 g, which received aluminum hydroxide orally at doses of 0, 0.015, 0.15, 1.5, and 15 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 120 days. The content of elements in the kidneys, liver, brain, and blood was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Gene expression was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase in blood serum was measured using test kits on a semi-automated biochemical analyzer.

Results. The study revealed a dose-dependent effect of oral administration of aluminum hydroxide on the rats’ organism, simulating alimentary intake. Aluminum accumulation was found mainly in the brain and blood, which confirms its neurotropic properties. Violation of element homeostasis was characterized by a two-phase change in calcium levels: its increase in the liver and kidneys under the influence of low doses and a decrease in blood under the influence of high doses. In addition, an imbalance of magnesium (increased level in the brain) and iron (increased concentration in the blood) was observed. The expression of metal transporter genes (ZIP8, Mt1a, Mt2a) was activated even at minimal doses of aluminum hydroxide, which indicates their role in adaptation to toxic effects. Traditional biochemical markers (AST, ALT) did not show significant changes, in contrast to LDH, the activity of which increased at high oral doses of aluminum hydroxide.

Conclusion. Regular intake of aluminum with food can lead to its bioaccumulation, especially in the nervous tissue, and provoke subclinical disturbances in the homeostasis of minerals and trace elements, oxidative stress and cellular adaptive responses. The identified changes in gene expression (ZIP8, Mt1a, Mt2a) are proposed as early biomarkers of toxic effects. The findings highlight the need for stricter control over the use of aluminum-containing materials in the food industry and the development of preventive strategies for vulnerable populations.

Microplastics (MP) contamination of food has become a serious problem due to its increasing accumulation in ecosystems, including terrestrial and aquatic, as well as in organisms of living creatures, including humans. MP can enter food such as water, milk, fish and seafood, which contributes to their entry into the human body and creates health risks. The main sources of contamination of food include the raw materials used and packaging or materials in contact with food during its transportation, cooking and storage. MP can be added or removed from food during processing and cooking. However, it is difficult to assess the total oral exposure to MP due to the lack of data on MP contamination in many other food groups. In addition, there is no data in the Russian Federation on the amounts of actual consumption of food packaged in plastic containers that may be contaminated with MP, which makes it relevant to study the scale of consumption of food groups in which microparticles are found most frequently.

The purpose of the research was to assess the actual consumption of liquid products by the population of the Russian Federation, including dairy products, carbonated drinks, juices, mineral and drinking waters packaged in plastic containers as well as products in which, according to scientific data, the largest amounts of MP particles have been identified.

Material and methods. The assessment of food consumption was carried out using data obtained by analyzing the frequency of food consumption applying an online survey, which was based on a specially designed questionnaire. The survey was conducted on a voluntary basis among 494 respondents aged over 18 who lived in various regions. The data from the electronic survey was automatically stored in an Excel database.

Results. The obtained primary data on the frequency and volume of portions of consumed products, which were recalculated into average daily values – per capita and per consumer, and statistically processed. The average per capita consumption of water in plastic bottles was 411 ml/day, and per consumer – 497 ml/day. The average daily per capita consumption of milk in plastic bottles was 114 ml, in a tetrapack package – 68 ml. Milk consumption per consumer was 179 ml/day in a plastic bottle and 129 ml/day in a tetrapack package. There was also a high frequency of tea bag consumption. The average daily consumption of sugary carbonated and non-carbonated beverages was 81 and 55 ml, respectively. Among the products obtained from the aquatic ecosystem, boiled/ fried fish was the most consumed product – 16.9 g/day. However, the consumption of oysters (68.8 g/day) and mussels (29.9 g/day) per consumer was higher (this is due to the small number of consumers, n=30 and n=118, respectively). In general, the consumption of products packaged in plastic containers varied depending on the product category.

Conclusion. The developed online questionnaire made it possible to assess the consumption of liquid food packaged in plastic containers, as well as products in which the highest quantities of MP particles were detected. The largest volume of liquid products packaged in plastic containers is accounted for by water and packaged tea. At the same time, there is a significant variation in consumption volumes, which is related to the individual preferences and habits of the respondents. Dairy products and sugary drinks are consumed in smaller volumes, but they also remain significant. Energy drinks, although consumed less frequently, are in high demand among consumers. Using the data obtained after quantifying the MP content in food will allow us to get closer to calculating the total oral MP exposure of the urban population of the Russian Federation. The need to expand the groups of respondents living in other regions remains urgent.

The results of many population studies note an association between the nature of nutrition and the age of the population. However, at the present stage there is a justified need to update these data.

The aim of the study was to screen the age-associated accents of the dietary patterns in adult population at the present stage with the Russian epidemiological study ESSE-RF.

Material and methods. The male and female population aged 25–64 years (22,217 people, including 8,519 men and 13,698 women) from representative samples of 13 Russian Federation regions was examined. The response rate was about 80%. The dietary patterns were studied by the consumption frequency of the main food groups. The assessment of alcohol consumption was based on the frequency and quantity of their usual intake once and per week.

Results. Significant changes of the dietary patterns of Russians have been noted with age. Regardless of gender, consumption of red meat (p<0.005) and processed meat products (meat sausages and delicacies) (p<0.05), as well as products with added sugar (sweets, confectionery) (p<0.005), decreased with increasing age. The decrease in daily consumption of red meat in women was more pronounced than in men: from 41.4% at the age of 25–34 to 34.4% at the age of 55–64 (p<0.0001) in women compared with 53.8 to 49.7% (p=0.0065) in men, respectively. The frequency of consumption of any fish, fruit and vegetables, as well as cottage cheese, rose with increasing age. Unlike men, women’s daily consumption of pickles (from 7.2% at the age of 25–34 to 10.3% at the age of 55–64, p<0.0001) and liquid dairy products (milk, fermented milk products; from 51.4 to 55.9% p=0.0002) elevated with increasing age versus 11.1–11.5 and 45.7–47.3%, respectively. Age trends of daily cereal consumption as the habit of adding salt to ready-made meals were statistically insignificant for both sexes. Despite the decrease in the high-salt food consumption, there was no decrease in the indicator of the integral assessment of Excess Salt Intake in the diet with age.

Conclusion. Regardless of gender, the Russians’ diet becomes more productive with increasing age: consumption of any fish, fruit/vegetables, cottage cheese increases and consumption of red meat and processed meat products decreases. However, the high salt content in the Russian’s diet is unchanged with increasing age.

Fruit juices and nectars are an integral part of the diet of the Russian population, especially children. Being a source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and dietary fibers, at the same time fruit and berries are a good substrate for the development of mold fungi capable of producing secondary metabolites with toxic and even carcinogenic properties – mycotoxins, which pose a real danger to human health.

The aim of the research was studying of the nature of mycotoxins’ contamination of fruit juices based on apples and grapes sold in the Russian market.

Material and methods. The content of 31 mycotoxins in 49 samples of fruit juices marketed in Moscow and Moscow region was studied using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometric detection.

Results. Screening studies of fruit juices based on apples and grapes for mycotoxin content were carried out. The results obtained by multidetection method indicate the detection of at least one mycotoxin at relatively low levels in 39 samples; two or more mycotoxins – in 26 out of 49 tested samples. The spectrum of toxins found differed depending on the type of juice. Tenuazonic acid, mycophenolic acid, toxins T-2, HT-2 and alternariol were found more frequently. The detection of toxins (fumonisins, ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin, deoxynivalenol and patulin) at low levels of contamination, including in juice samples intended for children’s nutrition, indicates the relatively low quality of fruit and berry raw materials used.

Conclusion. The results of the study indicate the need to revise the technical requirements for fruit and berry raw materials in juice production industry. This is primarily necessary to prevent the inclusion of moldy and spoilage-prone fruit and berries, as well as to strengthen simultaneously control over product quality and safety, especially during storage and transportation intended for juice manufacturing.

The federal project «Strengthening public Health» of the national project «Demography» was implemented in 2018–2024, an essential part of which was the organization and implementation of educational training (enlightenment) programs on healthy nutrition for various population groups. Omsk region has become one of the first five pilot Russian regions in this area, thanks to which some experience has been accumulated to solve an urgent scientific and practical task – assessing the effectiveness of educational measures, changes in the level of knowledge and skills in the field of healthy nutrition.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs on healthy nutrition in the Omsk region in 2018–2023.

Material and methods. The study was conducted in the design of an epidemiological study of the «before–after» type on representative samples formed in 2018 (n=241) and in 2023 (n=506) from the general adult population. The level of knowledge and skills of applying the principles of healthy eating was assessed based on the results of data analysis obtained by a sociological survey.

Results. The positive changes that indicate the effectiveness of educational programs among the population of the region include an increase in knowledge about the structure of a healthy diet and the formation of practices in the field of healthy nutrition. The majority of respondents believe that vegetables, fruits and grain products should prevail in the diet structure (an increase from 46.9±3.1% of respondents in 2018 to 57.7±2.1% in 2023, p>0.05), it is necessary to reduce salt consumption (an increase from 57.3±2.5% to 65.2±2.0%, p=0.045), and the predominant use of iodized salt is noted (from 46.1±3.1% in 2018 to 58.1±2.1% in 2023, p<0.001). The leading criterion for choosing food in 2023 was its quality, taste habits were in second place, nutritional value was in third, and knowledge of the product usefulness was in fourth place.

Conclusion. Against the background of activities within the framework of the implementation of training programs on healthy nutrition, the adult population of the region is developing ideas about the structure of a healthy diet. Although the media are the leading source of information for the general population, it should be noted that medical professionals have a significant influence on the formation of knowledge and ideas about healthy nutrition and their increasing role in this issue.

Geriatric care for the elderly assesses the patient’s status using a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including questionnaires assessing nutritional, psychological and functional status, as well as screening examinations for deficits in sensory systems, including visual deficits. Nowadays, there is pure data on how visual deficits affect the development of certain geriatric syndromes in older people.

The objectives of the research was to study the relationship between nutritional status and vision organ diseases, as well as mental status indicators assessed by screening methods in elderly patients of senile age.

Material and methods. The medical records with comprehensive geriatric assessment of patients (n=479, average age 80.1±0.2 years) have been studied. The pathology of the visual organ was assessed using standard ophthalmological examination methods necessary to make a diagnosis. To study nutritional status, cognitive impairment and likelihood of depression, a Mini Nutritional Assessment, the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Geriatric Depression Scale survey were conducted respectively. The degree of frailty was determined by a geriatrician based on a set of geriatric syndromes. Associations between malnutrition and ophthalmic pathology were assessed in univariate analysis and subsequently using multiple logistic regression using odds ratios, both adjusted and unadjusted.

Results. The study included the records of 384 (80.2%) women, 95 (19.8%) men. Malnutrition was detected in 5 (1.0%) cases, the risk of malnutrition was shown in 169 (35.3%) patients without gender differences. The analysis revealed associations between the degree of frailty, age, mild cognitive impairment, depression and malnutrition. According to the results of logistic regression, nutritional problems were 82% more common in patients with glaucoma [OR 1.82, 95% CI (1.21–2.74), p=0.004], taking into account age and gender – 93% more often [OR 1.93, 95 CI (1.26–2.94), p=0.002]; 84% more likely in patients with secondary retinopathy (including diabetic) [OR 1.84, 95% CI (1.07–3.16), p=0.027], taking into account age and gender – 93% more often [OR 1.93, 95% CI (1.11–3.38), p=0.021].

Conclusion. Participants with malnutrition and visual deficits are more likely to experience cognitive impairment, depression and frailty. Secondary retinopathy and glaucoma can be used as ophthalmic pathology markers for the diagnosis of other geriatric impairments and this may serve as a basis for changing the routing of an elderly patient with visual pathology. Elderly patients with ophthalmic pathology require special attention in the construction of care management and a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and correction of geriatric syndromes.

Congenital epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by blistering and erosions of the skin and mucous membranes. The dystrophic form of EB is particularly associated with severe complications including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and gastrointestinal tract involvement (esophageal strictures, malabsorption). These conditions frequently lead to protein-energy malnutrition, significantly worsening patient prognosis and quality of life.

The purpose of the study was to present a clinical case of nutritional support implementation in a patient with dystrophic EB complicated by cSCC.

Material and methods. From 2015 to 2025, 79 EB patients (age range 18–74 years, mean age 29.4±11.1 years) were monitored at the Burn Department of the Nikiforov Russian Center of Emergency and Radiation Medicine, EMERCOM of Russia. This cohort represented 62.6% of all registered EB cases in the Russian Federation. cSCC was diagnosed in 14 (17.7%) patients. We present a clinical case demonstrating the impact of nutritional support in an adult patient with dystrophic EB and cSCC.

Results. Timely nutritional intervention was shown to enhance wound healing and overall clinical status, reduce catabolic stress, optimize preparation for antitumor therapy.

Conclusion. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of early nutritional support implementation within a multidisciplinary management approach for EB patients with oncological complications. The study demonstrates that appropriate nutritional intervention can significantly improve clinical outcomes in this challenging patient population.

The academic demands and lifestyle of university students contribute to the development of stress, anxiety, and depression, with micronutrient deficiencies, including vitamin D insufficiency, among the contributing risk factors.

The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of vitamin D status on anxiety and depression in students by season.

Material and methods. A study was conducted in September–October (n=100, including 64 girls and 36 boys) and April–May (n=94, including 70 girls and 24 boys) among students of 1^st–5^th years. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), with scores ≤7 indicating no clinically significant symptoms, 8–10 – subclinical symptoms, and ≥11 – clinically significant symptoms. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured using ELISA.

Results. Anxiety and depression were recorded in 25.0 and 11.0% of students in autumn, increasing to 50.0 and 29.8% in spring, respectively. In spring, the prevalence of clinically significant anxiety (from 6.0±2.5 to 25.5±4.5%, p=0.001) and subclinical depression (from 9.0±3.0 to 24.5±4.3%, p=0.001) rose. Median 25(OH)D level was 1.9-fold lower in spring than in autumn (10.16 [8.02; 13.85] vs 19.16 [16.41; 22.90] ng/ml, р<0.001) with no significant gender differences. The prevalence of severe deficiency increased 9.6-fold in spring, while insufficiency decreased 4.9-fold. In spring, the proportion of students with severe vitamin D deficiency increased from 8.4±3.5 to 54.2±6.7% among males and from 3.1±1.8 to 45.7±7.4% among females, while the prevalence of insufficiency decreased from 33.3±8.1 to 8.4±4.5% and from 37.5±7.9 to 7.1±3.6%, respectively. The correlation between vitamin D status and anxiety scores increased from weak to moderate (r =-0.39 to -0.56), and between vitamin D status and depression scores from very weak to moderate (r =-0.22 to -0.52); all correlations were statistically significant, supporting the role of vitamin D status in the development of these conditions.

Conclusion. These findings support the implementation of biochemical screening to identify students with low vitamin D status and the initiation of supplementation at the beginning of the academic year.

Optimizing the micronutrient status of older adults is an important component of maintaining healthy longevity.

The objective was to study gender and age characteristics of iodine, vitamin A, E, B₂ and β-carotene status, as well as indicators of body component composition associated with aging in elderly indigenous people of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Material and methods. In the autumn, a one-time examination of the micronutrient status of 53 women and 8 men aged 61–95 years (median – 75 years, indigenous residents of Yakutia) was conducted. The concentration of iodine in daily urine was determined by stripping voltammetry, in blood serum the level of riboflavin (vitamin B₂) was determined by the fluorimetric titration with riboflavin-binding apoprotein, retinol (vitamin A), α- and γ-tocopherols (vitamin E), carotenoids (β-carotene) – by reversed-phase HPLC. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) of body composition was performed using the InBody S10 analyzer.

Results. Reduced iodine status (excretion <100 μg/l) was observed in the majority of elderly individuals – 92.5%, vitamin B₂ (riboflavin <5 ng/ml) – in 31.9%, vitamin E (α + γ-tocopherols <0.8 mg/dl) – 6.1% and carotenoids (β-carotene <10 μg/dl) – 22.4%. All subjects were provided with vitamin A (retinol >30 μg/dl). Combined deficiency of 3 micronutrients (most often iodine, vitamin B₂ and β-carotene) was detected in 14.9% of citizens. In a subgroup of elderly women aged ≥75 years moderate (not mild) iodine deficiency was detected more often than in women 60–74 years old, while vitamin B₂ deficiency was detected less often (p<0.05). There was a positive relationship (p<0.05) between the age of women and serum β-carotene level, as well as between the concentration of α-tocopherol, on the one hand, and the levels of γ-tocopherol and β-carotene, on the other. A negative correlation was found between the serum retinol level and some BIA body composition indices: extracellular water component (ECW; -0.466, p=0.002), minerals component (-0.420, p=0.006), bone mineral component (BMC; -0.405, p=0.009), soft lean mass (SLM; -0.408, p=0.008), fat free mass (FFM; -0.433, p=0.005), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM; -0.398, p=0.010). In women with 76.3–110.9 μg/dL serum retinol level (quartile IV), the mass of the ECW, minerals and BMC, SLM, FFM and SMM were significantly lower (p<0.05) than in those examined with retinol levels in the range of 30–63 μg/dL (quartiles I and II).

Conclusion. Iodine and vitamin B₂ deficiency are most common in elderly indigenous people of Yakutia; iodine deficiency worsens with age. In women aged ≥60 years, elevated serum retinol level (>80 μg/dl) was associated with negative changes in body composition parameters associated with aging. In elderly individuals, serum retinol levels above the upper norm limit should probably be considered as a diagnostically significant marker of increased risk of sarcopenia. The rationale for expanding measures to eliminate deficiency of iodine and B vitamins, and to correct excess vitamin A intake in order to prevent age-related alimentary diseases in elderly people living in Yakutia is substantiated.