The vigorous scientific and organizational activities of the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology, integration into the international scientific and technical space, the use of advanced innovative technologies, the best examples of world experience, cooperation with leading economic countries are the most important lever for optimizing the nutrition of the population of our country, which is essential for the preservation of the health of the nation and the implementation of the tasks of demographic policy in the Russian Federation.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a widespread disease with a high risk of cardiovascular complications, disability and mortality. The progression of T2DM is closely related to lipid metabolism disorders, caused both by insufficient intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and by a violation of their endogenous metabolism. Desaturase enzymes, FADS1/2, are involved in the regulation of PUFA metabolism. Violation of the functioning of FADS1/2 and their genes leads to a change in the biosynthesis of PUFAs and the fatty acid composition of cell membranes.

The purpose of this research was to summarize the data of modern literature on the metabolism of PUFAs and the effect of FADS genetic variants on the fatty acid composition of cell membranes in T2DM.

Material and methods. The search and analysis of publications was carried out using the PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science databases, mainly for the last 10 years, using the search keywords: polyunsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid desaturases, desaturase genes, type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Results. In the pathogenesis of T2DM and its complications, many factors play a role, including impaired PUFA metabolism. A large evidence base has been accumulated on the effect of PUFAs on cardiometabolic risk factors in T2DM. The effect of desaturase activity on the fatty acid composition of cells was identified as the most important link in the metabolism of PUFAs. Focusing on the modulation of desaturase activity and studying the polymorphism of fatty acid desaturase genes may be a useful therapeutic option in the treatment of patients with T2DM and its complications.

Conclusion. A promising direction of scientific research in the treatment and prevention of T2DM and its complications is the study of genetic mechanisms associated with the metabolism of PUFAs and their metabolites.

The importance of proper nutrition when playing sports is difficult to overestimate. Athletes of any age need to consume a sufficient amount of macro- and micronutrients for bone health. High-quality and balanced nutrition in terms of quantity and composition is important for optimal recovery after training, adaptation to intense physical activity and prevention of sports injuries.

The aim of the study was to summarize the current data of domestic and foreign literature on the factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) in athletes, as well as to consider the key points of nutritional support necessary for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Material and methods. The search was conducted using the Google Academy search engine and electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, eLIBRARY for the period from 2008 to 2022. For the search, we used keywords and their combinations: “athletes”, “osteoporosis”, “stress fractures”, “calcium” and “vitamin D”.

Results and discussion. Bone health is influenced by many factors, the most significant of which are lifestyle and the nature of a person’s physical activity. Despite strong evidence for the benefits of exercise for bone health, there are sports that predispose to low BMD and increase the risk of osteoporosis. First of all, athletes involved in aerobic and aesthetic disciplines (long-distance running, cycling, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, dancing, etc.) are at risk. In addition, factors that predispose to a decrease in BMD include female gender, low intake of energy substrates, protein, vitamin D and calcium, and certain medications. Of great importance for the regulation of bone metabolism and maintaining optimal BMD are the genetic characteristics of the athlete. The main adverse consequences for athletes with reduced BMD are fractures of various localization. At the same time, the problem of a high risk of developing stress injuries of bones is especially relevant. Calcium and vitamin D are key nutritional factors needed to maintain bone health. Optimal intake of carbohydrates, proteins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids is also important. There is evidence of a positive effect on the skeletal system of such nutritional factors as potassium, magnesium, sodium, vitamins K, C, B₁₂ and folic acid. The specific mechanisms of the influence of these micronutrients on bone metabolism and the relationship of their consumption level with BMD need further research.

Conclusion. Thus, athletes of all ages and specializations need to pay great attention to the state of the skeletal system. Given the association between the risk of osteoporosis and malnutrition, it is essential for athletes to maintain an optimal nutritional status and consume adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals.

A promising growth vector of food protein production in the context of the Russian Federation’s food sovereignty security is the use of microbial synthesis. Taking into consideration the proven promising use of biotechnological processes in the production of alternative protein sources, modern scientific research is focused, among other issues, on improving the technology of obtaining food microbial protein using a variety of substrates and strains-producers, as well as evaluating the consumer properties, food, biological value and safety of such products.

The purpose of the research was to study and comparatively evaluate protein concentrate (PC) from bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus and basic food of animal and plant origin within the development of the technology of optimal in nutritional and biological value PC production.

Material and methods. Analysis of the nutritional and biological value of PC obtained from denucleinized and purified from cell walls biomass of methanoxidizing bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus (strain GSB-15) was carried out on 46 indicators, including estimation of protein content and amino acid composition, fat content and fatty acid composition, ash and moisture. Biological studies based on measuring of net protein ratio / net protein utilization were performed on 28 growing (between 25–50 days of life) male Wistar rats. Rats in the control group (n=14) received a semi-synthetic casein diet with a protein content of ~12% in calories, the test group (n=14) received a diet including an equivalent amount of PC protein. Body weight, feed intake, and fecal and urine nitrogen losses were measured during the experiment. The biological value and digestibility of protein were judged by coefficients of protein efficiency ratio, net protein ratio, true protein digestibility, true protein biological value, true net protein utilization.

Results. The nutritional value study of PC showed high protein content – 69.0%, the share of fat, moisture and ash, accounted for 0.17, 9.5 and 14.4%, respectively. The carbohydrate content was 7.0% (of which mono- and disaccharides were <0.1%). The results of a comparative assessment of Methylococcus capsulatus protein amino acid profile and basic food of animal and plant origin showed a balanced content of the most amino acids, the level of which is comparable with the protein of chicken egg, which is traditionally a standard of quality of complete protein. At the same time, the content of the essential amino acid tryptophan in PC was an order of magnitude lower than in chicken egg protein; the content of this amino acid in PC is comparable with incomplete plant proteins (sunflower, flax, rapeseed). The results of the biological value evaluation of the Methylococcus capsulatus protein in the experiment on rats indicate a relatively low biological value of the microbial synthesis protein, that is caused, most likely, by tryptophan deficiency. Rats of the test group had a significant decrease in body weight gain, feed/protein intake, coefficient of protein efficiency ratio, coefficient of net protein ratio, true protein biological value, true net protein utilization.

Conclusion. The results of a comparative evaluation of PC from methanotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus denucleinized biomass and basic food of animal and plant origin indicate its relatively high nutritional value. However, the characteristics of this PC sample were not optimal in regard of protein biological value by reason of tryptophan deficiency. A single amino acid deficiency is not a valid argument for not using microbially synthesized protein in human nutrition, considering the capabilities of the modern food industry, including ways to enrich foodstuffs with missing components. In addition, there is every cause to believe that adjusting the hydrolysis technology used in the production of PC will allow to eliminate the essential amino acid loss, thereby increasing the biological value of this product.

The study of the influence of nutrition and its associations with other parameters, which are closely related to the metabolic profile, in order to better understand the mechanisms of realization of the obesity phenotype in the child population is of particular interest.

The aim of the study was to investigate the eating habits of elementary school children and their dependence on the parameters of physical development and body composition of the child population of Tomsk.

Material and methods. 506 children aged 7 to 12 years were examined. The main group consisted of 216 children (53.1% boys, 46.9% girls) with overweight and obesity, the control group – 290 healthy children (49.0% boys, 51.0% girls). All children underwent measurement of anthropometric parameters with the calculation of SDS body mass index (WHO Anthro Plus), estimation of body composition by bioimpedancemetry. The actual nutrition of schoolchildren was assessed by the frequency method using a questionnaire.

Results. Overweight and obese children had levels of body fat, percent body fat, visceral fat area and whole-body phase angle which were statistically significantly (p<0.001) higher in comparison with the control group. Regular meals were more typical for schoolchildren of the control group compared to the main group (p=0.002). A survey of parents showed that 55.0% of them don’t have problems with the nutrition of their children, 32.0% do not have conditions for monitoring their nutrition, 37.5% of children consume high-calorie foods, 29.0% do not comply with the diet, 64.5% – eat while watching TV. Only 21.1% of children consume fresh vegetables daily, cereals – 21.8%, dairy products – 30.3%, milk – 56.5%, meat – 58.5%, cottage cheese – 10.3%. Fish is not consumed by 25.6% of children, consumed less than once a week – by 47.2%. Several times a week, sausages and sausages are consumed by 41.7% of schoolchildren, confectionery – by 32.5%, chocolate and sweets – by 51.5%.

Conclusion. The food habits of primary school students in Tomsk are characterized by an insufficient amount of vegetables and fruits, dairy products, fish dishes, a high level of consumption of ultra-processed red meat and various confectionery products (sweets, chocolate, cakes). The absence of statistically significant differences in the results of the survey between the control group and the main group may be due to the multifactorial nature of obesity associated with a variety of behavioral, biological and social factors, the real contribution of which remains to be determined.

Poor nutrition of the expectant mother leads to an unfavorable course of pregnancy and a number of serious deviations in the development of the child. Therefore, a multifaceted study of the actual nutrition of a pregnant woman is relevant, including the identification of trends associated with geographical, ethnic, and family characteristics.

The study was aimed at conducting a comparative analysis of the nutrition of pregnant women from two cities, Astrakhan (Russian Federation) and Baku (Republic of Azerbaijan), by means of a questionnaire.

Material and methods. In the course of a voluntary anonymous survey in 2022, 432 women aged 18–50 years old in the II trimester of pregnancy, living in Baku (n=280, group 1) and Astrakhan (n=152, group 2) have been interviewed. The answers of the respondents were analyzed in terms of eating habits, frequency of intake and food repertoire.

Results. An analysis of the nutrition of pregnant women from both cities showed that it is unbalanced in terms of a set of products. Significant violations of the diet were noted in women from both studied groups, for example, a reduction in its multiplicity to two times a day (in group 1 – 2.5% and in group 2 – 7.2%). When conducting a comparative analysis of the nutrition of expectant mothers using the Pearson χ-square contingency coefficient, it was found that the groups had no significant differences in the consumption of milk and dairy products, meat and meat products, fish and seafood. Meat and meat products were used daily by no more than 31% of the surveyed, milk and dairy products – 43%, about half of pregnant women didn’t consume fish and seafood. A relationship was established between the frequency of fruit consumption and the city of residence of pregnant women, in Baku women consumed fruits more often. In both groups, the abuse of confectionery and sugar was noted, some women already suffered from diabetes (5.4% from Astrakhan and 0.7% from Baku). Digestive pathology was detected in group 1 – in 11.2% (17), in group 2 – in 29.3% (79) of pregnant women. When conducting a comparative analysis of the frequency of consumption of undesirable products (mayonnaise, sauces, chips, carbonated drinks), it turned out that the groups were homogeneous, no connection with the city of residence was established. During pregnancy, 40.1 and 45.0% of women from 1 and 2 groups, respectively, took vitamin-mineral complexes. The level of vitamin D in the blood serum was determined by 29.6 and 6.8% of the respondents, respectively. A comparative analysis of the content of vitamin D in blood serum, determined respectively in 29.6 and 6.8% of respondents, showed that the groups of subjects were homogeneous, no connection of vitamin D level with the city of residence was found.

Conclusion. In general, all the peculiarities of pregnant women’s nutrition identified in the course of the survey can lead to an imbalance in the diet in terms of nutrient content, a deficiency of complete proteins, vitamins, and trace elements with excessive consumption of carbohydrates. When conducting a comparative analysis, it was possible to identify differences in the diet of pregnant women, relating only to the consumption of fruits – some respondents from Astrakhan consumed fruits less than once a week. Common unfavorable factors for pregnant women of both groups were the abuse of “undesirable” products, flour products and sugar, as well as the lack of involvement of women in the examination to assess the body’s vitamin D supply and the rare prescription of vitamin-mineral complexes by specialists to correct micronutrient deficiencies.

Diversity in nutrition is of fundamental importance for health. According to research in recent decades, the diversity of the population’s diet has greatly decreased, which carries health risks.

The aim of the study was to analyze food diversity in population based on their purchasing activity in large trading network.

Material and methods. From the depersonalized data of 1 800 319 loyalty program unique members of the retail network in Moscow, 201 904 buyers were selected according to the following criteria: the presence of a dense segment of purchases (more than 4 weeks, where there was at least 1 purchase in 2 weeks), in which the total cost of purchases was not less than 4700 rubles and at least 4 different food groups were purchased. Data from the cashier’s receipts for 12 months (median 124 days) as well as the food labels for extracting the data about ingredients were used. Food diversity was analyzed by using count-base score method in which absolute number of different foods in every of 6 food groups (grains, fish and meat, fats, dairy products, vegetables, fruits and berries) was calculated. Total score as a sum of all scores from all food groups was also calculated.

Results. According to the food diversity analysis, 73.9% of buyers purchased 2 or less types of grains. Only 31.4% of buyers purchased more than 4 types of vegetables, only 36.2% purchased more than 2 types of fruits and berries, 41.9% purchased less than 2 types of meat and fish, 61.3% purchased only 1 type of fat, and at least 2 types of dairy products was purchased by 53,3% of buyers. Acceptable rate of food diversity of 20 different types of food per week was achieved only in 11.4% of buyers.

Conclusion. Food diversity in buyers of trading network is low, with the lowest scores in buying different grains, vegetables, fruits and berries, meat and fish as well as fats. Better diversity was demonstrated in buying dairy products, as they traditionally are accounted as healthy by consumers.

The number of vegetarians and vegans is increasing each year. In this regard, studies of the quality of diets that exclude slaughter foods, as well as their impact on human health, are becoming more and more relevant.

The main purpose of the study was to assess the bone mineral density (BMD) in Russian vegetarians and vegans, as well as in omnivores.

Material and methods. Design – cross-sectional study. On an outpatient basis, we examined 103 conditionally healthy people aged 18 to 77 years with different diets: 36 vegans, 38 vegetarians and 29 omnivores. X-ray two energy absorptiometry was used to assess BMD. The density of the lumbar vertebrae (L_I–L_IV) and femoral neck was measured.

Results; Osteopenia in the lumbar spine was diagnosed in 27.8% of vegans, 39.5% of vegetarians, and 31.0% of omnivores. In the femoral neck, BMD corresponding to osteopenia was detected in 19.4, 26.3, and 17.2% of cases, respectively. 18.4% of vegetarians and 6.9% of omnivores had BMD corresponding to osteoporosis in the lumbar spine. Osteoporosis was not diagnosed in the femoral neck. No significant differences were observed after exclusion of people over 50 years of age. This was probably due primarily to the fact that the largest number of peri and postmenopausal women were in the vegetarian group. Excluding people who had took vitamin D supplements regularly did not drastically change the results of the study. When taking into account both exclusion criteria, no significant differences were observed.

Conclusion. The findings suggest that BMD in vegans and vegetarians in Russia does not differ from that in omnivores. However, further larger studies are required.

At present, there are sufficient data on the influence of the gut microbiome on the development of food allergy and its progression. Changes in gut microbiome composition could positive impact on the course of allergic diseases by means of regulating the ratio of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as immunoglobulin E level.

The purpose of the research was to study the effectiveness of combined probiotic in treatment of food allergies in children.

Material and methods. The prospective randomized controlled study included 92 children aged from 4 to 5 years with symptoms of food allergy, involving the skin and gastrointestinal tract. The main group (n=46) took two chewable tablet Bifiform Kids (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG >1×10⁹ CFU, Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis BB-12 >1×10⁹ CFU, thiamine mononitrate 0.40 mg, pyridoxine hydrochloride 0.50 mg per tablet) 2 times per day during 21 days. The control group (n=46) did not take the complex. The dynamics of the severity of food allergy skin symptoms was assessed using the SCORAD index, of gastrointestinal manifestations – on a point scale after 21 days and after 4 and 6 months (visits 2, 3 and 4). The concentration of immunoglobulin E, interleukins IL-17 and IL-10 was determined by enzyme immunoassay in blood serum at the baseline, as well as after 21 days and after 6 months (visits 1, 2 and 4) after the study initiation.

Results. The SCORAD index among children from the main group decreased from 12.4±2.3 до 7.6±1.8 (р≤0.05) while taking a combined probiotic. It was significantly lower (р≤0.05) compared to the control group (SCORAD index changed from 12.1±2.4 to 12.2±1.9). On the 21st day, a statistically significant decrease in level of pro-inflammatory IL-17 (by 27%) and a statistically significant increase in the concentration of anti-inflammatory IL-10 (by 38.9%) were recorded. In children from the main group, the severity of such gastrointestinal symptoms as pain, rumbling in the abdomen, belching with air, bloating, gas discharge, increased stool and its unformularity, decreased compare to the control group of patients (р≤0.05), in which the intensity of complaints related to gastrointestinal manifestations did not change. In the main group of patients, the most clinical efficacy was noted immediately after the end of the probiotic intake. In the following five months, the intensity of symptoms increased in individual subjects from the main group, but in general, the intensity of complaints remained significantly lower than before probiotic intake (р≤0.05). Children from the main group showed a significant decrease in IgE level from 184±121 kU/l by 43.5% at visit 2 and by 38.0% at visit 4 (p≤0.05), while in children from the control group its level didn’t change, amounting to 176±141, 165±121 and 178±132 kU/l, respectively.

Conclusion. The results of the study show the effectiveness of the use of a combined probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis ВB-12) with vitamins B₁ and B₆ in children with mild forms of gastrointestinal and skin manifestations of food allergy, both in relation to the severity reduction of the clinical symptoms of the disease (skin manifestations, pain, rumbling in the abdomen, belching with air, bloating, gas discharge, increased stool and its unformularity), and in relation to the dynamics of biochemical parameters – a decrease in the level of IgE.

Currently, dietary supplements of plant origin based on raw materials containing anthocyanins are widely used. These compounds belong to the class of flavonoids and are glycosides of the flavylic cation. The properties of anthocyanins are associated with their hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity. The total content of anthocyanins should be taken into account when developing recipes for dietary supplements. The qualitative composition of individual anthocyanins is an important criterion for the authenticity of this type of product.

The purpose of the research was to study anthocyanin content and composition in some dietary supplements that have undergone the procedure of state registration.

Material and methods. 34 samples of dietary supplements based on raw materials containing anthocyanins were analyzed. Determination of the total content of anthocyanin pigments was carried out by differential spectrophotometry. The qualitative composition of individual anthocyanins (anthocyanin profile) was determined by reverse-phase HPLC with photometric detection at 510 nm. The peaks of individual compounds were identified by comparing the chromatogram of the sample with experimental and literary data on the order of elution of the most common anthocyanins.

Results. The total content of anthocyanins in the analyzed samples varied in a wide range – from 0.013 to 20.8 mg per serving. The study of the anthocyanin profile showed compliance with the declared composition except two samples: in the first, acai extract was used instead of blueberry extract, in the second, black currant extract instead of acai extract. Despite the presence of anthocyanins in the vast majority of dietary supplements studied, only 33% of them can be positioned as sources of anthocyanins.

Deficiency of the necessary complex of micronutrients under abnormal nutrition structure creates a problem for the preservation of health and performance of the population. In this regard, it is very relevant to develop a science-based strategy for the consumption of traditional Yakut national food that have a high nutritional value and are able to satisfy the requirements of the human body in micronutrients.

The purpose of the research was to investigate the content of selenium and zinc in the local foods which are most commonly consumed by the population of Yakutia.

Material and methods. The objects of study were meat (7–9 cuts each) and offal (9–11 species each) of the Yakut cattle breed (2 bulls at the age of 2.5 years), of the Yakut horse foals (3 heads at the age of 6 months), northern domestic deer (3 heads), and whitefish (Coregonus muksun), Yakut crucian carp (Carassius carassius jacuticus), lake minnow [Phoxinus percnurus (Pallas)] (3 kg each). The trace elements, zinc and selenium, were determined by infrared spectroscopy.

Results. The greatest amount of zinc in the meat of farm animals was noted in the meat of Yakut cattle (6.8±0.3 mg/100 g) and Yakut horse foals (6.7±0.2 mg/100 g), and the lowest – in the meat of domestic reindeer (1.5±0.1 mg/100 g). In terms of selenium content, the meat of domestic reindeer had the highest indicators (37.0±1.0 µg/100 g), and the meat of Yakut cattle had the lowest (19.0±0.8 µg/100g). The highest concentration of zinc and selenium was found in by-products of reindeer: zinc level in the heart and liver was 12.8 mg/100 g, in the small intestine and rennet – 19.0–20.4 mg/100 g, selenium level in the colon and rennet was 41.0–46.7 µg/100 g. The content of zinc and selenium in the fresh-water muksun belly (2.14±0.08 mg and 45.0±1.8 µg in 100 g) was 32.3–37.2% higher than in the fillet of muksun, and selenium level was 3 fold higher than in the Yakut carp and in the lake minnow. The consumption of 100–200 g of meat or by-products of Yakut cattle, Yakut horse foals, by-products of reindeer or Yakut crucian carp can fully cover the daily requirement of an adult in zinc. The consumption of 200 g of venison or muksun completely covers the daily need for selenium, while the portion of the other studied products contains about half or more of recommended daily intake of this trace element.

Conclusion. The data presented in the article show that the population of Yakutia, with a rational diet with local products, can meet the requirements in selenium and zinc in accordance with physiological needs.