Irena Colić Barić

Nutritive value of meals, dietary habits and nutritive status in Croatian university students according to gender.

The aim of this study was to evaluate daily menus at students’ restaurants and to report dietary habits and other health-related behaviour of Croatian university students (n=2075) according to gender. A specially designed self- administered questionnaire was used. One hundred and twenty daily menus were chosen by random sampling, and the nutritive value was calculated using food composition tables. Daily menus on average provide an adequate amount of energy, protein and most micro nutrients: 88.2% of daily menus provide a balanced intake of protein, fat and carbohydrates, 22.5% of daily menus provide more than 300 mg of cholesterol, and 58.8% have more than 25 g dietary fibre. On average, students had 2.4 meals and 1.3 snacks per day. Breakfast was the most often skipped meal. Red meat, cereals and fast food were consumed more often by males (P<0.05). Low-fat dairy products, whole grain products and breakfast cereals were consumed more often by females (P<0.05). The most common choice for snacks was fruit. Males exercised more than females (4.4 h/week versus 1.6 h/week; P<0.05). A higher percentage of females (29.8%) than males (17.2%) smoked cigarettes. For alcohol consumption it was vice versa: 88.9 and 84.8% of males and females, respectively. A total of 80.4% of students were well nourished. This study showed that meals offered at students’ restaurants are adequate. Dietary and other health-related behaviour differed according to gender. Clustering of some behaviours was observed.

Diet quality in Croatian university students: Energy, macronutrient and micronutrient intakes according to gender

The aim of the study was to evaluate diet quality and nutrient intakes in Croatian university students, which are missing for the past 15 years, and also to report the prevalence of overweight/obesity and underweight. The subjects were 663 students (average age 22 years), representing 0.6% of all Croatian university students. The Quantified Food Frequency Questionnaire, checked for reproducibility and validity, was used for dietary assessment. Students on average had an adequate number of daily meals and snacks, but consumption of breakfast was irregular, particularly for men. The average energy intake was 130.1% of the dietary reference intake and the protein intake was more than double the dietary reference intake in 64.3% students. Dietary fiber, iron (in females), calcium, zinc, folate, and vitamins C, A and E intake were below recommendations in both genders. Only 3.8% of females and 21.9% of males were overweight/obese (body mass index >25 kg/m2). Nutrient intakes significantly differed according to gender and better macronutrient but not micronutrient intakes were observed in females.

Differences between younger and older populations in nutrition label reading habits

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the socio‐demographic and health variables of a representative sample of Croatian subjects over 15 years of age associated with reading nutrition labels and, in particular, to examine the association of age characteristics of “label users” with nutrition reading habits.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 1,011 randomly selected subjects over 15 years of age were interviewed by telephone. Moreover, 638 “label users” were recruited for assessing nutrition label habits.Findings – Of the subjects, 36 per cent claimed that they had never, 25 per cent rarely, 19 per cent always and 15 per cent sometimes read nutrition labels. Females, participants with the highest levels of education, still undergoing education, physically active and on special diets claimed that they were more likely to read nutrition labels. Among “label users”, younger participants mentioned “curiosity” as the most important reason for reading nutrition labels, while older participants ...

Glycemic index and phenolics of partially-baked frozen bread with sourdough

Different lactic acid bacteria starters were used to prepare sourdough to make partially-baked frozen wholemeal wheat bread. The sourdough was prepared with a pure culture of Lactobacillus plantarum or with commercial starters containing Lactobacillus brevis combined with Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. chevalieri (LV4), Lactobacillus fermentum (PL1), or Lactobacillus fermentum with phytase (PL3). We determined the acetic and lactic acid concentrations in sourdough, bread chemical composition, total phenolics content and glycemic index (GI) in vivo. Depending on the starter, the lactic to acetic acid ratio in the sourdough was significantly different. The GI of control bread without sourdough (70) was significantly higher than that of bread containing sourdough prepared with LV4 starter (50), PL1 starter (56) or PL3 starter (56), but not from bread with L. plantarum sourdough (60). The addition of 10% sourdough with a lower molar ratio of lactic to acetic acid ( ≤ 4) and higher total phenolics content is preferable for generating bread with medium and low GI.

Dietary Intakes among Croatian Schoolchildren and Adolescents

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary intakes among 575 schoolchildren and adolescents in Croatia because of the lack of data. The completely quantified Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) method was used to identify dietary intakes. Body weight, height and body fat were measured also. Daily energy intake was 95.5 and 83.3% RDA in children and adolescents respectively. Protein intake was very high in both children and adolescents (235.9 vs. 139.6% RDA). Children achieved RDAs for more micronutrients than adolescents did. Children had significantly higher cholesterol (263.7 vs. 231.3 mg) and dietary fiber intake (84.7 vs. 69.2% of the “age + 5” rule). Adolescents consumed significantly more fruit than children (324.8 vs. 204.2 g/day) did. Consumption of vegetables did not differ significantly (269.1 and 255.7 g/day in children and adolescents respectively). In more than 60% of children and adolescents, breakfast provided more than 30% of daily energy intake. Soft drinks and fast food consumption correlated in both children (r = 0.29; P < 0.01) and adolescents (r = 0.43; P < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between BMI and dietetic parameters. Percentage of body fat negatively correlated with fruit intake in children (r = −0.20; P < 0.05) and with intake of cereal products (r = −0.34; p < 0.001) and milk (r = −0.22; P < 0.05) in adolescents.

Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation lowers plasma homocysteine but has no effect on serum bone turnover markers in elderly women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

An elevated homocysteine level is a newly recognized risk factor for osteoporosis. Older individuals may have elevated homocysteine levels due to inadequate folate intake and/or lower absorption of vitamin B(12). The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an impact of folic acid and vitamin B(12) supplementation on homocysteine levels and, subsequently, on bone turnover markers in older women with mildly to moderately elevated homocysteine levels. It is hypothesized that supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B(12) will improve homocysteine levels and, in turn, positively modify bone turnover markers in this population. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 31 women (65 to 93 years) with homocysteine levels greater than 10 μmol/L. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a daily folic acid (800 μg) and vitamin B(12) (1000 μg) (n = 17) or a matching placebo (n = 14) for 4 months. The results showed significantly lower homocysteine concentrations in the vitamin group compared to the placebo group (10.6 vs 18.5 μmol/L, P = .007). No significant difference in serum alkaline phosphatase or C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen was found between the vitamin and placebo groups before or after supplementation. The use of folic acid and vitamin B(12) as a dietary supplement to improve homocysteine levels could be beneficial for older women, but additional research must be conducted in a larger population and for a longer period to determine if there is an impact of supplementation on bone turnover markers or other indicators of bone health.

Validation of the folate food frequency questionnaire with serum and erythrocyte folate and plasma homocysteine

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a folate food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) designed to measure dietary folate equivalents. The self-administered FFQ containing 39 items and a reference period of 1 month (i.e. the previous month), was validated against three biomarkers: serum and erythrocyte (RBC) folate, and plasma homocysteine (Hcy). Subjects were women (n=99) between the ages of 21 and 87 years. The Pearson correlation coefficients for folate intake and biomarkers were 0.36, 0.34 and −0.25 for serum and RBC folate, and plasma Hcy, respectively. A principal component factor analysis was performed on the three biomarkers to calculate the folate status factor. The Pearson correlation for the folate status factor and folate intake was 0.39. The FFQ described in this study is a valid tool for measuring folate intake expressed as dietary folate equivalents in adult women and is suitable for future investigations about the relationship between folate and disease, or as an educational tool.

Evaluation of diet quality with the mediterranean dietary quality index in university students

Data on diet quality in Croatian university students have been missing for more than 15 years. A food approach rather than a nutrient approach appears more appropriate to present knowledge on diet and health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate diet quality in Croatian university students (n=663) with the Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index (M-DQI) in continental and Mediterranean regions. The M-DQI was determined with a Quantified Food Frequency Questionnaire. The minimum score for the M-DQI is 0 and the maximum score is 14. A higher score indicates a less healthy diet. The score for the M-DQI was the same in both regions (9.6) and did not differ significantly. In the category for scores 8–14 were 84.0% and 84.6% of students in the continental and Mediterranean regions, respectively. Higher correlation for the M-DQI was observed with macronutrient intakes than with micronutrient intakes. The M-DQI did not correlate with trans-fatty acid intake. A significant correlation (negative) with lycopene was observed in the Mediterranean region only. The body mass index did not correlate with the M-DQI. Students from both regions, continental and Mediterranean, had a lower diet quality evaluated with the M-DQI, with no significant difference according to region.

Nutrition and lifestyle in relation to bone health and body weight in Croatian postmenopausal women.

The objective was to investigate the association of nutrients and lifestyle modifiers with bone mineral density (BMD) and weight and/or body mass index (BMI) in 120 healthy Croatian postmenopausal women. The hip and spine BMD was assessed by Lunar Prodigy (GE Medical Systems). Nutrient assessment from 3-day records was analyzed using the US Department of Agriculture Food Composition Tables and the Croatian National Institute of Public Health database. Subjects were asked to record the consumption of alcohol, coffee, tea and mineral waters, the amount of salt added to foods and smoking habits, as well as involvement in recreational activities, walking and heavy housework. Spot urine samples were analyzed for calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and zinc and were normalized by creatinine. Alcohol showed statistically significant positive association with femur and spine BMD and its consumption was higher in subjects without osteoporosis. Urinary sodium/creatinine was significantly positively associated with femoral neck and trochanter BMD, while urinary calcium/creatinine was significantly negatively associated with trochanter, total femur and spine BMD. Consumption of mineral waters was inversely associated with weight/BMI and so were dietary fiber and magnesium. In conclusion, moderate alcohol consumption and urinary sodium were positively associated while urinary calcium was negatively associated with either hip and/or spine BMD. Mineral waters, higher fiber and magnesium intake were beneficial for weight/BMI in this population of apparently healthy Croatian women.

Peak Bone Density in Croatian Women: Variations at Different Skeletal Sites

It is known that different skeletal sites have different peak bone mass at different times and lose bone at different rates. The purpose of the study was to assess bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy female student population (N=220), aged 18-25 yr and to analyze whether young women of that age have already started to lose the bone mass at the trabecular and cortical parts of skeleton. The influence of dietary intake and physical activity on their bone mass was also assessed. BMD was measured, using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique, in spine, proximal femur, and distal third of the radius and in total body. Significant negative correlation between age and bone mass was found in all skeletal regions (p<0.05 spine; p<0.0001 total femur; and p<0.01 total body) except in cortical part of the radius. Peak bone mass in young Croatian women was achieved before the age of 20, but later in the long-bone cortical skeleton, where BMD continued to increase after mid-20s. The BMD values are comparable with those from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study, except for the cortical part of the radius, where it is significantly lower. Body weight and physical activity were the most significant positive predictors of bone density in all measured sites.