Nutritional Supplements in Optimal Human Nutrition

• Published in: Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B, Natural Sciences Natural Sciences, 2013-11, Vol.67 (4), p.367-372
• Main Authors: Kronberga, Maija, Kārkliņa, Daina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body weight; Cardiovascular diseases; Cholesterol; cholesterol level; Dietary supplements; Food; food supplements; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Human nutrition; Jerusalem artichoke; linseeds; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Quality of life; Wellness
• ISSN: 1407-009X; 2255-890X
• DOI: 10.2478/prolas-2013-0068

The basic requirements for human health and life quality improvement are wholeness, variety and moderation in food choices. In industrial countries the numbers of adipose inhabitants is constantly growing. People consume insufficiently vegetables, fruits and fish. The missing nutrients must be augmented with the help of functional foodstuffs. The objective of the study was to compare the impact of food supplements and local products rich in fibre and polyunsaturated fatty acids on the human body. The research was conducted at the Rîga Heart Consulting Room in 2010. For two months, 60 volunteers in three groups: using the food supplement “Wellness” in their diet (Wellness group), or Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) and linseeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) (Nature group) and Control group were monitored. The participants’ weight, girth, amount of glucose and level of cholesterol were measured by standard methods. Data acquired were analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS (level of significance P < 0.05). The cholesterol level was reduced by 14% in the Nature Group. Glucose normalised to 5.8 mmol/l. Weight of participants was reduced by 2 to 7 kg. The results show that by enriching the daily diet with food supplements, both as natural products and as a special complex, it is possible to reduce body weight, reduce cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood, and reduce the risks of obesity and coronary heart disease. Mūsdienu cilvēka uzturs nav sabalansēts, jo ar pārtikas produktiem uzņemtais šķiedrvielu un polinepiesātināto taukskābju daudzums ir nepietiekams. Sabalansētu uzturu nodrošināt cilvēkam ir vieglāk, savu diētu papildinot ar uztura bagātinātājiem, tādējādi uzņemot trūkstošās vai nepietiekamā daudzumā organismā esošās uzturvielas. Pētījums veikts Rīgas Sirds veselības kabinetā 2010. gadā, iekļaujot 60 brīvprātīgas personas, kurām reģistrēts palielināts svars/apkārtmērs, holesterīna līmeņa novirzes un veselīga uztura ieteikumiem neatbilstošs dzīvesveids. Divu mēnešu ilgā eksperimentā, lietojot uzturā divu veidu uztura bagātinātājus - “Wellness” un ar šķiedrvielām un nepiesātinātām taukskābēm bagātus vietējos produktus - linsēklas (Linum usitatissimum L.), no tām gatavotu eļļu un topinambūra (Helianthus tuberosus L.) pulveri - konstatēts, ka, lietojot vietējās izcelsmes uztura bagātinātājus, eksperimentā iekļauto dalībnieku masa samazinājās par 4 līdz 7 kg, bet ar uztura bagātinātāju “Wellness” - no 3 līdz 8 kg. Pētījuma laikā eksperimenta da