Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny最新文献

Background: Obesity is a major global health concern growing in every region and affecting millions of people worldwide. It has become a pandemic. In 2022, 1 of 8 people in the world were living with obesity and more than half of the world's population will be overweight or obese by 2035 leading to a total economic impact of US$ 4.32 trillion.

Objective: This study aims to update data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the associated sociodemographic and economic factors in women of reproductive age (WRA) in Morocco.

Material and methods: A total of 2,172 women aged 18 to 49 years, representing all regions of Morocco, were enrolled. Socio-demographic and economic data as well as anthropometric measurements, specifically height, weight and waist circumference were collected.

Results: Based on body mass index (BMI), 30.3% of women were classified as overweight and 27.8% as obese. However, based on specific predictive equation of body composition for Moroccan population, 61.6% of women showed excess of fat (mass fat ≥ 35%). Age and household-index were positively correlated to the prevalence of obesity and excess body fat, whereas education was inversely correlated to the prevalence of obesity and excess fat. In addition, urban area and being married seem to play a positive role in the increase of obesity rate.

Conclusion: The prevalence of excess body fat is high among WRA in Morocco. This prevalence was impacted by age, education level, household-index, marital status and urban area. These factors highlight the complexity of addressing obesity and the need for comprehensive strategies that consider sociodemographic and economic factors.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of premature mortality both in Poland and worldwide. Among the most severe conditions are acute cardiac events, which pose a direct threat to patients' lives and health. One of these is coronary artery disease, which predisposes individuals to myocardial infarction. Prevention relies primarily on maintaining a well-balanced diet, engaging in daily physical activity and in more severe cases, pharmacotherapy and invasive treatments.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of coronary artery disease among patients of the Cardiology Department in a hospital located in the district of Żywiec in southern Poland.

Material and methods: A survey study was conducted using a proprietary questionnaire consisting of three sections. The sections addressed patients' health status, their quality of life assessment. The study included 158 individuals aged 33-101, of whom only 150 met the selection criteria - being residents of the district of Żywiec. The obtained results were analyzed using correlation coefficients.

Results: Coronary artery disease was diagnosed in 41.8% (N = 66) of patients. The majority were men (N = 44). The highest proportion of the studied group were individuals aged 40 to 80 years (N = 128). A total of 40% (N = 59) of respondents were overweight, 34% (N = 50) were obese, and 26% (N = 38) had a normal body weight. The most common comorbidity was hypertension - affecting 67% (N = 101) of patients - most of whom had not experienced myocardial infarction (57%, N = 58).

Conclusions: Coronary artery disease was more prevalent among men. Arterial hypertension was the most common comorbid condition, confirming its strong association with coronary artery disease. Abnormal body weight is also a significant factor, increasing the risk of developing CHD.

Background: Consuming salty foods raises blood pressure because of their sodium and salt. Educating hypertension patients about sodium contributes to their diets and can decrease the future effects on their health.

Objective: The objectives aimed to investigate the knowledge about the sodium content in different condiments and raw foods, consumer preferences regarding sodium-rich foods and condiments, the sodium levels in local food, and the urine of hypertensive patients at Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand.

Material and methods: The total sample size consisted of 203 individuals. The data collection tool consists of two components: the questionnaire used to assess knowledge and behavior related to consuming foods containing sodium, and the salt meter and the ion-selective electrode (ISE) were the instruments applied to the determination of sodium in food and urine, respectively. Descriptive statistics including averages and percentages, and analytical statistics, namely analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed.

Results: The study revealed that the sample was mostly made up of females, married, aged over 60 years, and had finished primary education. Participants were most knowledgeable about condiments, especially fish sauce, shrimp paste, and fermented fish. Hypertensive patients have a modest level of awareness regarding sodium. The shrimp paste had the highest consumption behavior, followed by fish sauce, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and seasoning powder or soup cube at a moderate level. Sour soup with mullet fish, stir-fried luffa with eggs, and Nile tilapia fish sour soup with taro stalk are the top 3 southern local meals preferred to consume and are rich in sodium. The sodium in the food of the low�knowledge differed considerably in moderate and high knowledge (p < 0.05). In contrast with urinary sodium, in the high-knowledge group, it was considerably different in low and moderate knowledge (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Hypertension patients' degree of knowledge has a significant role in determining their health and ability to lower blood pressure, particularly about using spices that include sodium, and their consumption habits of local foods high in sodium.

Background: Diet and lifestyle are key factors of osteoporosis prevention, and their synergistic interaction can significantly affect the condition of the skeletal system in women.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess bone density and its relation with the implementation of recommendations regarding the consumption of dairy products and physical activity in young women.

Material and methods: The study included 27 Caucasian women female participants aged 22-44 years (menstruate, non-menopausal). Dual energy X-ray beam absorptiometry (DEXA - Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry; Lunar Prodigy camera) was used to assess bone density and indices as BMD (Bone Mineral Density), T-score and Z-score at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and the femoral neck. Dairy intake was determined using the food frequency method for 4 subgroups: milk, fermented dairy drinks, rennet cheese and cottage cheese. The following criteria were used to assess compliance with the recommendations: for dairy intake at least 2 times per day, for physical activity at least 3 times per week.

Results: Recommendations for dairy intake or physical activity were followed by 33% and 74% of the women, respectively, both recommendations were followed by 26% of the women. Women meeting both recommendations had the highest median total BMD of 1.25 g/cm² (Q25-Q75: 1.20-1.34) and T-score of 1.70 (1.20-2.60). In women meeting only one recommendation, total BMD was 1.18 g/cm² (1.13-1.23) and T-score was 1.00 (0.50-1.50). The lowest values were found in women not meeting any of those recommendations, with total BMD of 1.14 g/cm² (1.07-1.19) and T-score of 0.60 (0.10-1.10).

Conclusions: Implementing both recommendations, namely for dairy intake and physical activity seems to be more effective for bone mineral density than following just one recommendation. In contrast, infrequent consumption of dairy products and low physical activity are associated with the risk of reduced bone mineral density in young women.

Background: Body image perception among adolescents is crucial for their mental health and is influenced by a variety of factors. Incorrect body weight estimation is common among this population and is usually overestimated by females and underestimated by males.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate body weight perception and related factors among adolescents aged 11 and 14.

Material and methods: This pilot study was based on data collected from the Polish health program "A program for the early detection of risk factors for lifestyle diseases SOPKARD-Junior" from the years 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022. According to the BMI and weight perception, a total of 315 adolescents aged 11 and 14 were divided into three groups: "underestimating their weight", "properly estimating their weight", and "overestimating their weight". These data were then compared to different psychosocial variables, such as parental education, life satisfaction, parental weight assessment, dieting, Family Affluence Scale (FAS), and subjective health.

Results: Males underestimated their weight more often than females, while females overestimated their weight more frequently than males (all p < 0.001). These results were most prevalent for 14-year-olds. Dieting was observed in both age and sex groups, even despite being of normal weight. Moreover, dieting, parental weight assessment, and parental education were statistically significant factors related to children's weight estimation.

Discussion: Body weight misperception is prevalent among Polish teenagers aged 11 and 14. Factors, such as parental weight assessment or parental education, influence teenagers' weight perception and should be investigated further.

Conclusions: Incorrect weight perception is common among adolescents. Teachers, parents, and medical professionals, such as doctors or nurses, should be aware of this problem and provide proper education and support.

Background: Estimate of very low birth weight (VLBW) and low birth weight (LBW) newborns is a key maternal and child health indicator. It is often associated with higher child mortality in low-middle-income countries (LMICs), which account for 95% of the global LBW babies born annually.

Objective: This analysis aims to ascertain the occurrence and determinants of VLBW newborns in India.

Material and methods: Data was taken from the 5th National Family Health Survey (2019-2021), which included 91,821 women aged 15-49 with a singleton pregnancy in last year, having recorded child birth weight. Information from 727 Indian districts was collected through cross-sectional design using census blocks/villages, for socio-demographic, antenatal, and reproductive variables from adult women in each household. Maternal socio-demographic, and reproductive factors were analyzed for association with VLBW birth using Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression using STATA 16 software.

Results: The occurrence rate of LBW babies has been 17.4% in present analysis, within which VLBW newborn constituted 1.1% - representing 6.3% of all LBW births. Key predictors for VLBW babies included maternal factors like illiteracy, anemia, underweight, prenatal tobacco use, lack of antenatal care, low economic status, high parity, female babies, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, illiteracy, anemia, underweight, and prenatal tobacco use emerged as significant risks for occurrence VLBW births.

Conclusions: Most of the socio-demographic and prenatal maternal predictors for VLBW babies are amenable to reformation within existing social frame. This merits attention towards social application of preventive strategies comprehensively at grass-root level to modify the preventable risks of birth of LBW babies. There is nothing more self�explanatory and decisive than the role played by health-workers in improving antenatal care in urban slums and rural areas to reduce LBW/VLBW estimates in India.

Background: The correct nutrition of infants is crucial for their proper mental and physical development, as well as for adequate metabolic programming. Programming is the influence of environmental factors, including nutrition, during critical periods of early development (including fetal life and the first years of life) on the risk of disease in adulthood.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the level of knowledge of mothers on infant feeding.

Material and methods: The study involved 1100 mothers of different ages who were active in online groups interested in maternity and infant feeding. The inclusion criterion for the study was having a child born between 2021 and 2023. The study used a CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method and the survey was conducted in November 2024.

Results: It was shown that most of the mothers surveyed had very good knowledge of infant feeding. A good level of knowledge was recorded among younger mothers of children under 6 months of age, with primary/high school education and living in rural areas.

Conclusions: It is recommended to provide more detailed information on expanding the diet of infants after 6 months of age, e.g. on the labels of foods dedicated to children.

Background: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were widely used in crop protection in the past. Due to their high chemical persistence and widespread presence in the environment, they have been classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Given their toxicological properties, dietary exposure to OCPs may lead to adverse health effects in humans.

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to analyse selected obsolete OCPs (DDT, its metabolites and isomers, as well as dieldrin and heptachlor) in honey samples and to assess the associated health risks resulting from the intake of these compounds for children and adults.

Material and methods: The study included 79 honey samples collected from various regions of Poland. The samples were prepared using the modified QuEChERS method. The tested substances were determined in honey using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Health risk was characterized using a deterministic method by comparing the intake of the residues from a large portion of honey with toxicological reference values. A conservative approach was used to estimate short-term exposure using 0.5 × LOQ (limit of quantification) values for substances detected at levels below the LOQ.

Results: None of the OCPs analysed were detected above their LOQs. Only in two samples, p,p'-DDE and dieldrin, were detected at levels above the method's limit of detection (LOD). The results indicate a negligible health risk for consumers associated with the intake of these substances from honey.

Conclusions: The results indicate that levels of tested organochlorine pesticides in honey are low. The risk associated with exposure to the analysed OCPs, at the assumed levels, through the consumption of honey available in Poland can be considered negligible.

Background: Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with obesity and metabolic health risks.

Objective: This study determined the relationship between SSB intake and body composition, with a focus on visceral fat accumulation among Thai university students.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 387 university students aged 19-22 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day, 24-hour dietary recall conducted on three consecutive day to quantify SSB consumption. Body composition metrics, including body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and visceral fat levels (VFL), were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and linear regression, were used to identify the associations between SSB intake and body composition.

Results: Sweetened tea, particularly freshly prepared iced milk tea, was most frequently consumed. High sugar consumption from SSB (≥ 24 g/day) was significantly associated with increased fat mass (16.9 ± 9.9 vs. 14.8 ± 7.8 kg, p = 0.021), BMI (22.6 ± 5.0 vs. 21.3 ± 4.2 kg/m², p = 0.007), and VFL > 9 (83.3% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.013). Sugar intake increased progressively across BMI categories: underweight (25.21 g/day), normal-weight (28.78 g/day), overweight (32.18 g/day), and obese (34.00 g/day). Participants with a VFL above 9 consumed over 40 g/day of SSB-derived sugar. At VFL exceeding 10, males had an average BMI of 30.06 ± 2.40 kg/m², whereas females exhibited a dramatically higher BMI of 41.20 ± 3.27 kg/m².

Conclusions: Excessive SSB consumption, particularly sweetened tea, is strongly associated with higher visceral fat and unfavorable body composition in young adults. Public health interventions targeting reduced SSB intake are urgently required to address obesity and metabolic health risks. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm causality and inform dietary guidelines.

Background: Children are generally attracted to colorful foods. However, some food dyes are suspected of exacerbating the activity of children and inducing other health problems that can reach reprotoxicity and carcinogenicity.

Objective: This study aims to explore the presence of dyes such as E102, E104, E110, E121, E122, E123, E124, E127, E129, E132, E133, E143 and E171 in food products widely consumed by children in Algeria notably sweets and chocolates, beverages and ice creams, yogurts and biscuits.

Material and methods: This work was carried out on 228 products including 57 biscuits, 47 drinks and ice creams, 20 yogurts and 104 sweets and chocolates. Information mentioned on the composition label of this products were recorded to determine the presence of studied dyes.

Results: Here, we report the abundance of the yellow dyes E102 (24.1%) and E110 (18%) in the tested products. Also, apart from E121, all the other assessed dyes were found. Sweets and chocolates are the products containing the most studied dyes. The analysis of the presence of combinations of these dyes shows that 7% of analyzed foods contain 2 dyes in their composition while 20% of the products contain at least 3 dyes at the same time. Additionally, 37.5% of sweets and chocolates contain a combination of at least 3 dyes in their ingredient list.

Conclusions: In overall, except the E121, all assessed dyes were identified on the labels of food products widely consumed by children which encourage parents to be made aware of the risks associated with the ingestion of omnipresent dyes in children's diets.