Fat-soluble vitamins: physiological value and role in life of population in environmentally dangerous regions of Ukraine

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The article addresses the value of fat-soluble vitamins as a mean of increasing body radiation resistance under unfavourable environmental conditions resulting from the Chernobyl NPP accident. The radioprotective role of essential organic compounds with high biological activity that contribute to the functioning of the body under complicated environmental conditions. Insufficient dietary intake of vitamins increases the radiosensitivity of the human body. Data are given on the actual dietary intake of vitamins by different age groups (employable adults, children, pregnant women from different settlements in the District of Ivankiv of the Region of Kyiv for 2004–2018) living at the territories contaminated as the result of Chernobyl NPP accident. Analysis of literature and own data indicate that fat-soluble vitamins are essential food components that regulate biochemical and physiological processes in the human body due to the activation of metabolic and enzymatic reactions, have radioprotective properties and should enter the body in sufficient amounts in accordance with age and gender. This is especially true of the population affected because of the Chernobyl NPP accident. Study results have shown that retinol and calciferol deficiency in the body of the population living in the regions affected as a result of Chernobyl NPP accident, is due to changes in the conventional structure of diets and consumption of counterfeit products, first of all, butter and hard cheese. Despite the fact that average daily diet contains a wider range of products compared with the first post-accident years, level of fat-soluble vitamins, in particular vitamin A (even considering b-carotene) and vitamin D does not meet the physiological needs, which may cause dysmetabolic processes in various organs and systems and lead to an increase in alimentary and alimentary-dependent diseases. Key Words: fat-soluble vitamins, physiological role of vitamins, vitamin deficiency, sources of vitamins, recommended daily intake, population of environmentally dangerous regions, Chernobyl NPP accident.