Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny

BACKGROUND: The most studied risk factors for Down Syndrom (DS) were: region of residence, exposure to chemicals, parents' education level, cigarette and alcohol use by father or mother or both, and oral contraceptive (OC) use. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare certain variables considered as risk factors on DS such as parental age at birth, OC use, child's sex, and rank of birth between children with DS and their siblings without DS as well as to determine the socio-bio-demographic characteristics of the families studied compared with the general Moroccan population...

BACKGROUND: The nutritional status and dietary diversity of adolescents play a crucial role in their growth, development, and overall health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional status and determine the dietary diversity score in urban and rural school settings among Moroccan adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in public schools in Khemisset in the municipality of Sidi Allal El Bahraoui, Morocco...

BACKGROUND: Preventing overweight and obesity in early childhood is a priority for healthcare systems worldwide due to the harmful effects on health and economy over the medium and long term. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is therefore the identification of the determinants predictive of overweight and obesity during the first 24 months of a child's life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From May 2021 to January 2022, 1012 mother-child pairs were included in this study and were interviewed at urban and rural health centers in the Skhirat-Temara in Morocco prefecture using a questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: The changes in consumers' eating habits are one of the most important factors affecting the consumption of selected foods. The most important factors for bakery products consumers are freshness, taste, price, durability, composition, and country of origin. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to monitor changes in selected anthropometric characteristics in women from the general population in Slovakia, after 6 weeks of bakery products consumption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on healthy adult women from the general population (n=78), who were divided into four subgroups ("gluten" group, "gluten-free" group, "whole-grain" group and "control" group)...

BACKGROUND: Meat and fish contain easily digestible whole protein, B vitamins and numerous minerals, such as zinc, phosphorus and iron, thanks to which these products have a high nutritional value. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of consumption of meat and fish in young adults depending on gender. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data was collected from 200 respondents aged 19-30 using online survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into three parts...

BACKGROUND: Nutri-score is a useful and comprehensible system of extended nutrition labeling of food, which is intended to provide the consumer with simple guidance in choosing food products, taking into account the consumer's healthy diet. In several countries, in addition to the mandatory nutritional value of food indicated on the product packaging, the use of the so-called food traffic lights, which, based on a simple graphic display, make it easier for consumers to concentrate on choosing healthier food options...

BACKGROUND: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major health problem responsible for neonatal mortality and morbidity such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. OBJECTIVE: This case-control study aims to compare data on the intake of energy, macro and micronutrient in two groups of pregnant women, who gave birth to low birth weight (LBW) babies named cases and those who gave birth to babies of normal weight (NW) called controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The collection of information was done using an established questionnaire for 400 pregnant women, allowing the collection of data on socio-demographic and obstetrical factors...

BACKGROUND: Indoor airborne fungi are a significant health concern that can cause respiratory symptoms and other health problems. Indoor fungi are influenced by various factors such as meteorological conditions and dwelling characteristics. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the association between indoor airborne fungi and environmental factors in a student dormitory in southern Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Walailak University in southern Thailand from September toDecember 2020...

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, the Moroccan population has changed its dietary practices, particularly those related to meal-taking. It is about irregular meal schedules, reduced frequency and shorter time of meal taking times, as well as a decrease in family meal-taking. All these factors are likely to influence its nutritional status. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to study meal-taking practices, their determinants and their implications on weight status. In this study, meal-taking practices are defined by the regularity of the schedule, the frequency and the duration of the meals as well as the family commensality...

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of emerging public health problems for the past few years. Due to its contagious nature, health care professionals especially dentists, incorporated various modifications in their practices to prevent themselves and their patients from the risk of getting infected. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to assess whether dental professionals are still continuing with those modifications in practice in current times. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted on 415 subjects after getting due approval from concerned authorities and consent from the subjects...

INTRODUCTION: Coffee and tea are some of the most popular beverages in the world. Herbal infusions are also growing in popularity. Much attention is being paid to the effects of these beverages on the body and human health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyse the consumption of coffee, tea and herbal infusions in terms of selected socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, as well as the frequency of beverages consumption in the study group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 508 adult respondents, including 404 females and 104 males aged over 18 years...

Lutein and zeaxanthin are naturally occurring xanthophylls, mainly present in green, leafy vegetables and egg's yolk. Their presence is connected with blue spectrum light absorbance, including UV. This property, and fact, that these xanthophylls are accumulated by human eye's macula, leads to eye's protective functions of them including protection from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Also, antioxidative features of lutein and zeaxanthin are boosting overall health of human body. Numerous studies proves anti-inflammatory and protective attributes of these compounds, based on many, different mechanisms...

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking has been reported as the significant adverse effects on lung function, which can be evaluated by measuring forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC) values. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the prevalence of tobacco use and nicotine dependence among college students and their stress levels to inform targeted interventions for smoking prevention and cessation...

BACKGROUND: The main job of employees working in the area of fuel service stations is to provide refueling services to customers. Therefore, operators at petrol stations may be exposed to chemicals for long periods, potentially affecting their health in nervous system. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the risk of benzene exposure to the nervous system in gas station operators. Data were collected from 100 fuel service personnel working at fuel dispensers and 100 employees working outside fuel dispensers, accounting to 200 cases...

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a high prevalence of mental health distress has been reported among people who have recovered from the disease. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress as well as identify predictors among recovered COVID-19 patients after more than six months of being discharged in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 549 eligible participants recruited by stratified sampling...

BACKGROUND: The locations of food purchase have an impact on the quality of food consumed. OBJECTIVE: To examine food purchasing habits at traditional and modern markets, their associated factors, and their effects on consuming natural and processed foods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This work used a validated conceptual and methodological framework of a study conducted among 507 households in the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region in Morocco. Data on sociodemographic and economic characteristics and the frequency of food purchasing were collected from household representatives through a population survey...

BACKGROUND: The number of vegans in the world is growing and in Slovakia and the Czech Republic they make up 1% of the population. Vegan diet excludes all foods of animal origin and vegans who do not use vitamin B12 supplements are at risk of the vitamin B12 deficiency. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine what proportion of Czech and Slovak vegans use vitamin B12 supplements regularly, irregularly or not at all and what is their supplemental cobalamin intake...

BACKGROUND: Sea buckthorn contains almost 200 nutrients and bioactive substances, including phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, vitamins, proteins, amino acids, minerals, alkaloids, chlorophyll derivatives, amines, organic acids, fatty acids and phytosterols. Human and animal studies suggest that sea buckthorn may have a variety of beneficial effects: cardioprotective, antiatherogenic, antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antiinflammatory. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of regular consumption of 100% sea buckthorn juice on the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in women of productive age with hypercholesterolemia...

BACKGROUND: The construction of the consumer's identity is dependent on how they prepare their meals. OBJECTIVE: Study the cooking methods, frequency, and duration of meal preparation in Moroccan households as well as the associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work is a part of a study with a validated conceptual and methodological framework that was conducted in 507 households in the region of Rabat-Salé-Kenitra in Morocco. The characteristics of the population and data on the cooking methods, frequency, and duration of meal preparation were collected by a survey...

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) on many chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the adherence of a rural population to the Mediterranean diet, to identify the sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants and to analyze the association between adherence to MD and CKD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, data on sociodemographic, lifestyle factors, clinical, biochemical parameters and diet were collected on a sample of 154 subjects...