PAN Olsztyn

Research conducted at the Department are aimed at extending knowledge on nutritional and health-promoting properties of components of natural diets and special formulations supplemented with selected functional components, i.a. fibre preparations and phenolic extracts, fibre-phenolic preparations and prebiotic preparations. A special focus of interest is the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (including absorptive functions of the small intestine and metabolism of colonic ecosystem) and the resultant changes in concentrations of those metabolites in blood and tissues that are likely to diminish or increase the risk of diet-dependent diseases. Those issues, discussed from the point of view of human needs, are investigated in model in vivo experiments conducted on laboratory rats. Results obtained are applied in the evaluation of physiological effects of experimental mixtures for poultry and pigs, among others those supplemented with pre-, pro- and phytobiotics.