Tocopherols and tocotrienols are natural compounds of plant origin, available in the nature. They are supplied in various amounts in a diet, mainly from vegetable oils, some oilseeds, and nuts. The main forms in the diet are α- and γ-tocopherol, due to the highest content in food products. Nevertheless, α-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E with the highest tissue concentration. The α- forms of both tocopherols and tocotrienols are considered as the most metabolically active. Currently, research results indicate also a greater antioxidant potential of tocotrienols than tocopherols. Moreover, the biological role of vitamin E metabolites have received increasing interest. The aim of this review is to update the knowledge of tocopherol and tocotrienol bioactivity, with a particular focus on their bioavailability, distribution, and metabolism determinants in humans. Almost one hundred years after the start of research on α-tocopherol, its biological properties are still under investigation. For several decades, researchers’ interest in the biological importance of other forms of vitamin E has also been growing. Some of the functions, for instance the antioxidant functions of α- and γ-tocopherols, have been confirmed in humans, while others, such as the relationship with metabolic disorders, are still under investigation. Some studies, which analyzed the biological role and mechanisms of tocopherols and tocotrienols over the past few years described new and even unexpected cellular and molecular properties that will be the subject of future research.

Due to the lack of full agreement as to the best indicators for obesity diagnosis and type, the aim of this study was to assess the comparative classification capabilities with the use of BIA results and selected anthropometric indices in individuals aged 20–60 years. This was a cross-sectional observational study among 368 Caucasian subjects aged 20–60 years. Body size and four skinfolds measurement were taken. To assess individual body composition, the bioelectrical impedance (BIA) method was applied. The results of fat mass (FM, kg) and fat-free mass (FFM, kg) were taken to calculate FM/FFM, fat mass index (FMI), and fat free mass index (FFMI). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to compare the predictive power of different anthropometric indices in differentiating the classification of obesity in adults. The results of this study demonstrated and confirmed the need to change the approach to commonly used indicators such as BMI (body mass index) or WHtR (waist-to-height ratio), which should lead to the establishment of new criteria for the diagnosis of obesity that will also be sex-specific, in the adult population. The measurement of body fat content should become a generally accepted indicator for effective diagnosis, as well as for screening, of obesity.

Historyczny układ przestrzenny osady Nowosolna (obecnie osiedla na terenie Łodzi) jest unikatowym w skali europejskiej przykładem rozparcelowania działek i układu drogowego, który krzyżuje w jednym, centralnym punkcie osiem dróg. Ten wyjątkowy gwieździsty plan ewoluował na przestrzeni lat. Autorzy artykułu mają na celu zaproponowanie syntetycznego podsumowania aktualnego stanu wiedzy w zakresie ewolucji i przemian zachodzących w Nowosolnej, a także kontekstu jej współczesnych problemów. W tym celu dokonano przeglądu istniejącej literatury i źródeł archiwalnych, jak również współczesnej miejskiej polityki planistycznej. Rezultatem prac autorów jest stworzenie przejrzystego obrazu osady Nowosolna z uwidocznieniem jej walorów historycznych i współczesnych problemów.

Background. In the group of school-aged children nutritional education (NE) enables an early development of healthy eating habits, which can be transferred to the adult life. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the long-term effect of a one-time nutritional education, including also culinary workshops, on the level of nutritional knowledge (NK) of early school-aged children as well as to analyse the nutritional content of the children’s books. Material and methods. The study was conducted among second- and third-grade pupils from a primary school in Warsaw (n=76). The level of NK was determined using the same, self-administrated questionnaire at each of the three stages of the study. Results. The level of NK was assumed as very good in 47% of respondents before the education, in 91% immediately after the education, and in 74% six months after it. Out of all 23.0 points (max.) on average 18.1 points were obtained at the first stage, 21.1 points at the second stage and 19.7 points at the third stage (p<0.001). Immediately after the NE and six months after it the level of NK increased significantly (comparing to the first stage) especially on these topics: the daily water requirements and the recommendations on physical activity (p<0.001 for both questions). Conclusions. The results of the study confirmed the effectiveness of a one-time nutritional education on the level of nutritional knowledge. Moreover, results show that in the research group nutritional knowledge about importance of physical activity, adequate nutrition, eating varicoloured vegetables and fruits, screen time limits and distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy products was satisfactory, even at the baseline, but in the main source of fats in a diet, the role of milk products, the effect of having too little water in a diet and the sugar content in food children’s knowledge was not enough.

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