Marzena Malara

Improper dietary habits among students are a growing public health concern, as they contrib-ute to diet-related diseases. This study aimed to assess the frequency of food consumption among students, with analysis of factors influencing their choices and potential health conse-quences, particularly regarding health-promoting properties of the diet. A total of 1269 students (436 women and 833 men) from the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw participated in the study. The average age was about 20 years, mean body weight 72 kg, and mean height 177 cm. Eating habits were evaluated using the validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ-6), and diet quality was assessed with the Pro-Health Diet Index (pHDI-10). Significant gender differences were found in the consumption of refined bread, butter, fruits, vegetables, red meat, and poultry. Men also consumed fruit juices, sweetened beverages, beer, wine, and vodka more frequently than women. Overall, the majority of participants' diets had a low probability of health-promoting properties. In conclusion, student diets show limited health-promoting potential and indicate a high pre-disposition to diet-related diseases. These results highlight the importance of implementing educational programs promoting rational nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices in the student population.

Background/Objectives: Eating habits and behaviors play a central role in maintaining health and overall well-being. In the case of young students, they affect not only appearance and general mood but also cognitive ability, concentration, and broader learning ability. For this reason, it is essential for young people to have well-balanced and wholesome diets. Methods: The study included 186 Polish and 136 Greek university students majoring in sports. The research tool was the validated survey questionnaire FFQ-6, and the data collected were additionally used to calculate the healthy diet index (pHDI-10). Results: Based on the analysis of the collected data, the dietary habits of the students surveyed were assessed, taking into account, among other things, the frequency of consumption of sweets, salty snacks, processed foods, and sweetened drinks, but also healthy products, including vegetables and fruit or vegetable and fruit juices. The data collected made it possible to determine an index of the health value of the participants’ diet. Conclusions: The analysis of the collected data led to the conclusion that, more often than their Greek peers, Polish university students tend to reach for sweets, salty snacks, or sweetened drinks. Greeks were more likely to choose fruit and vegetables and vegetable and fruit juices. However, among both Poles and Greeks, the index of the health-promoting value of the diet is low, indicating a high risk of diet-related diseases of lifestyle. Similar trends can be observed among students of almost all nationalities, which makes it reasonable to consider the implementation of appropriate educational programs on nutrition and healthy lifestyle principles in general.

Study aim : To evaluate the relationship between body fat, lipid profile and selected hormones in the context of lower and higher normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in active male students. Material and methods : A total of 112 male students of the Faculty of Physical Education volunteered to participate in the study. Body weight, height and waist circumference were measured using standard medical equipment. The percentage of body fat was determined from the sum of the thickness of four skinfolds. Circulating lipids, TSH, glucose and insulin level were measured. Results : Biochemical characteristics revealed that the circulating total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triacylglycerol (TG) levels were significantly lower in students with lower normal TSH levels vs. students with higher normal TSH levels. The analysis of distorted metabolic variables indicated that for students with higher normal TSH levels the frequency of disturbances was significantly higher than in students with lower normal TSH levels. Additionally, this group was characterized by a significantly higher percentage of fat in the body. Conclusion : In young, physically active men, certain metabolic disorders related to plasma lipid profiles may be observed despite normal TSH levels.

Study aim: To evaluate circulating lipoproteins, glucose, insulin and the index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in male Polish students with normal BMI and waist circumference (WC) in the context of their physical activity. Material and methods: A total 170 male students with normal BMI and WC less than 102 cm were accepted for the study (56 sedentary and 114 physically active). Body weight and height were determined using standard medical equipment. Waist circumference was measured using non-stretchable tape. The percentage of body fat was determined from the sum of the thickness of four skinfolds. Circulating lipoproteins, glucose and insulin level was determined. Results: Active participants had significantly lower plasma TC, LDL-C, TC/HDL ratio, LDL/HDL ratio, insulin and HOMA-IR compared to sedentary subjects (P < 0.001). However, even among active participants, as many as 58% were characterized by high TG, 17% high TC, 12% high LDL-C and 20% high TG/HDL ratio. Conclusion: In male students with normal body composition according to BMI and WC distorted metabolic variables were observed. Additionally, physical activity markedly decreased but not eliminated these disturbances. Thus, using BMI and WC for body composition classification as healthy possibly provide a false results concerning metabolic status.

Study aim : Our study was undertaken to analyze agreement between measured body fat and different indices of fatness in students of both sexes and with different physical activity. Materials and methods : A total of 330 students not engaged in regular physical activity (150 males and 180 females) and 356 students (180 males and 176 females) engaged in regular physical activity due to their study program (5–7 h/week) were recruited. In all participants body adiposity was measured from skinfold thickness. In addition, calculated indices of fatness based on waist (WC) and hip circumference (HC), such as abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index (BAI) and relative fat mass (RFM) were calculated. Results : The analysis of Bland-Altman plots revealed that agreement between measured and calculated body fat was found for RFM and BAI in sedentary and active men and for BAI in sedentary women, but not for measured body fat and RFM in sedentary women and for RFM and BAI in active women. Discussion : Our study showed that in young adult Poles of both sexes and with different physical activity, the calculated obesity rates should be used with caution, especially in women, as an indicator of total body fat.

Background Our study was aimed at the evaluation of relationships between thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) within the normal range and metabolic risk factors (glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and lipoprotein profile) in physically active male and female students. Methods In 112 male and 107 female students circulating TSH, glucose, insulin and lipoproteins (triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) were measured in blood under fasting conditions. Insulin resistance was expressed as HOMA-IR. For further procedures 99 males and 97 regularly menstruating females with TSH 0.4 – 4.0 µIU/ml were accepted. Results In male students no correlations between circulating TSH, anthropometric and biochemical variables were noted. In females TSH within the normal range was slightly but significantly correlated with the triglyceride (TG) level (p<0.03). However, step-wise multiple regression analysis revealed that the effect of TSH was small (p<0.046) in relation to that found for HOMA-IR (p<0.0009). No relationships between biochemical variables and normal levels of TSH were noted in male students. However, surprisingly normal range TSH in males was slightly but significantly correlated with the percentage of body fat and this issue needs further studies concerning measurements of different fat depots.Conclusions The above data suggests that in active females TG synthesis and export from the liver is more sensitive to TSH action than in active male counterparts.

It is well documented that regular physical activity has a beneficial effect on human health by affecting the metabolic processes that are of fundamental importance in the body’s functions, such as insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal, as well as lipid and lipoprotein turnover. On the other hand, there is a wealth of studies which indicate that strenuous, regular physical activity, such as that performed by high performance athletes, may be detrimental for the athletes’ health especially in women. This review focuses on the factors that contribute to health problems in female athletes, named the female athlete triad, which includes excessive dieting, menstrual dysfunctions (anovulatory menstrual cycles, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea) and a low bone mineral density (BMD). As a result of these factors, women who participate in sports, especially those focused on leanness, need special attention and education from health professionals, coaches and the athletes themselves to prevent the detrimental effects of an inadequate energy supply against high energy demands

The purpose of this study was to analyse the scientific evidence concerning the effects of two enzymes – paraoxonase 1 and myeloperoxidase – on the functions of HDL-cholesterol. It is well documented that disturbed circulating lipoproteins (a high total and high LDL-cholesterol, and low HDL-cholesterol) bring about atherosclerosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is recognised as the main cause of death all around the world. In consequence, numerous studies have focused on procedures which will improve the plasma lipoproteins profile by decreasing the total cholesterol and the LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and increasing the HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). However, the anti-atherogenic role of HDL-C has been challenged in studies showing that genetically elevated HDL-cholesterol does not offer protection against CVD. Moreover, it has been found that raising the circulating HDL-cholesterol fails to reduce atherosclerosis. The doubts concerning the protective role of HDL-C have been supported by in vitro studies which indicate that the HDL-C from patients with atherosclerosis does not have a protective action, but does stimulate inflammation and free radical synthesis. The above data suggests that HDL-C, commonly recognised as protective against atherosclerosis, in some circumstances becomes pro-atherogenic, and is thus dysfunctional. Our review focuses on two enzymes – paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) – which markedly affect the properties of HDL-C and contribute to its anti – or pro-atherogenic activity. Moreover, the effects of the diet and physical activity on PON1 and MPO are summarised with respect to the HDL-C functionality

Recently a new simply calculated index of body composition -a body shape index (ABSI) has been introduced as an index more reliable than BMI of association between body composition and all-cause mortality. However, until now associations between ABSI and metabolic risk factors have not been evaluated. A total of 114 male university students not engaged in any planned physical activity participated in the present study. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from weight and height, body shape index (ABSI) was calculated from waist circumference, weight, height and BMI. Blood was withdrawn after an overnight fast from the antecubital vein. Triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels in plasma were determined using colorimetric methods and Randox commercial kits. Plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations were calculated according to the Friedewald formula. Circulating insulin was assayed using a standard radioimmunological method with monoclonal antibodies against insulin and BioSource commercial kits. BMI was slightly, but significantly correlated only with circulating TG (r=0.330, p < 0.001) In contrast, ABSI was slightly, but significantly correlated with plasma levels of insulin (r=0.360, p<0.001), TC (r=0.270, p<0.002), LDL-C and non-HDL-C (r=0.300, p<0.001). In participants at the upper quartile of BMI circulating TG was higher (by 50%, p<0.05) than in their counterparts at the lower BMI quartile. Subjects representing the upper quartile of ABSI were characterized by higher plasma levels of insulin, TC, LDL-C and non-HDL in comparison with subjects at the lower ABSI quartile. (by 92 %, 11. %, 29 % and 21 % respectively, p<0.001). ABSI, a new simply calculated index of body fat seems to more accurately depict the variability in circulating insulin and lipoproteins than BMI at least in young, healthy male subjects.