Various margarines containing trans-fatty acids were marketed as being healthier because of the absence of cholesterol, suggesting to use margarine instead of butter. Fifteen years ago, research documented the grave health risk of trans-fats (T-fat). US FDA in 2015 fi nalized its decision that T-fat is not safe and set a three-year time limit for complete removal of T-fat from all foods. The greatest danger from T-fat lies in its capacity to distort the cell membranes. The primary health risk identifi ed for T-fat consumption is an elevated risk of coronary heart disease. T-fats have an adverse effect on the brain and nervous system. T-fat from the diet is incorporated into brain cell membranes and alter the ability of neurons to communicate. This can diminish mental performance. Relationship between T-fat intake and depression risk was observed. There is growing evidence for a possible role of T-fat in the development of Alzheimer´s disease and cognitive decline with age (Fig. 1, Ref. 23). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remain an outstanding population health risk. Its importance grows with rising affl uence leading to obesity in the developing countries. Inspite of an enormous initial enthusiasm related to the breakthrough success with the statins, there remains a substantial residual risk of CVD. While statins are effective in lowering the low density lipoproteins, LDL (the "bad" cholesterol), the residual risk is also related to unsatisfactorily low levels of high density lipoprotein, HDL (the "good" cholesterol). It has been long known that low levels of HDL are associated with CVD as an independent risk factor. The original concept of a direct transfer of cholesterol from LDL to HDL has been proved to be oversimplifi ed. Recent studies confi rm direct participation of HDL in anti-atherogenesis by promoting the effl ux of cholesterol contained in the foam cells that constitute atherosclerotic lesions. The challenge is to identify therapeutic interventions aimed at raising HDL, thus assisting statins that have until recently been mostly used as a monotherapy (Fig. 5, Ref. 26). Full Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Epidemiology of bronchial asthma (BA) indicates a marked paradox: rapid rise in the prevalence.Simultaneous decline in mortality is mostly related to improvement in the diagnosis and therapy. In many economically developed countries the BA affects more than 10 per cent of the population, while mortality related to this respiratory disorder is below 1/100,000. Factors favorably infl uencing mortality of BA include new more effective medications, decline in smoking and also improved nutrition, based on awareness of protective role of vitamins. Vitamin D defi ciency has a number of biological effects that are potentially instrumental in the pathogenesis and severity of BA. Increased number of randomized, controlled, interventional studies is showing positive effects of vitamin D supplementation in pediatric and in adult BA. Oxidative stress is potentially an important pathogenic factor in the progression of BA. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) belongs to the most effective nutritional antioxidants. By counteracting oxidants, reducing generation of reactive oxygen species, vitamin C may inhibit external attacks in the respiratory tract, thus modulating the development of BA (Fig. 2, Ref. 15). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. KEY WORDS: bronchial astma prevalence and mortality, nutritional defi ciency, vitamin D immune modulation, oxidative stress, vitamin C antioxidant.

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