Ülle Parm

Background and Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is globally prevalent, highlighting the need for easy risk identification. This study determined the MetS severity score in different groups of women in Estonia using a calculator developed based on the US population. Materials and Methods: The sample included 153 women (20–50 years): commercial diet plan (CDP) users, physically active women (physical activity, PA, >5 h/week), and a control group (CG). The factors assessed included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting glucose, yielding a MetS percentile and Z-score. Statistical analyses comprised descriptive statistics, t-tests, and χ² tests. Differences were considered statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05 and at Results: The PA group was younger and had a lower BMI (p < 0.05), while the CDP group had lower HDL cholesterol levels (p < 0.017). MetS percentiles were higher in the CDP group (vs. PA p = 0.002; vs. CG p = 0.016). Despite having a lower Z-score than US women, the CDP group showed higher MetS severity levels (>1). Conclusions: The US calculator is also suitable for comparing different MetS risk study groups located outside the US, but for assessing individual MetS risk, it must be adapted and validated for the relevant population.

Background and Objectives: There is a lack of information on the dietary intake of long-term combined oral contraceptive users (COC-users) in relation to their body composition. The aim of the pilot study was to determine the food consumption of young women using COCs for >6 months and its relationship to body composition compared to non-users. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 healthy women (21.8 ± 1.7 years) were divided into COC non-users (n = 19) and users of a low (≤20 μg) ethinylestradiol (EE) dose (n = 18) and a medium (30–35 μg) EE dose (n = 8). Anthropometric data, body composition, physical activity levels, three-consecutive-days of dietary records, and serum concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D were assessed. Statistical methods included chi-squared, Fisher’s exact test, t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results: There were no differences between COC-users and non-users in terms of physical activity, intake of micronutrients, body mass index, body fat percentage (BF%), or bone mineral density (BMD). COC-users consumed a higher percentage of energy from fats (p = 0.02) and had higher serum vitamin D levels (p < 0.01). BF% was negatively associated with BMD (coefficient −0.008; p = 0.027). Conclusions: The use of COCs for ˃6 months is not associated with FM or BMD, regardless of dietary differences. Further attention should be paid to possible associations between COCs use, dietary habits, and body composition (including BMD).