Background: Liver diseases are among the most commonly diagnosed conditions, with the main risk factors being inappropriate lifestyles, including poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, low physical activity and smoking, including electronic cigarettes. Non-communicable chronic liver diseases also often develop as a result of accompanying overweight and obesity, as well as type 2 diabetes. Methods: The literature on risk factors for non-communicable chronic liver diseases, which show a high strong influence on their occurrence, was analysed. Results: Measures to prevent non-communicable chronic liver disease include the selection of suitable food ingredients that have proven protective effects on the liver. Such ingredients include dietary fibre, probiotics, herbs, various types of polyphenols and fatty acids (omega-3). Conclusions: Because of their liver-protective effects, nutritionists recommend consuming vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices that provide valuable ingredients with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. These components should be provided with food and, in the case of probiotics, supplementation appears to be important. As a preventive measure, a diet rich in these nutrients is therefore recommended, as well as one that prevents overweight and other diseases that can result in liver disease.
Background: This study aimed to investigate whether The Dietary Fat and Free Sugar—Short Questionnaire (DFS) is a reliable and valid measure that can be used in Polish conditions. It involved 291 participants, aged 14 to 70 (M = 25.9, SD = 10.1), the majority of whom were women (75%). Methods: The questionnaire consisted of, among others, Polish DFS version, FFQ-6, TFEQ, and SCOFF. Test–retest reliability was established on the group of 26 students with a 2-week interval. Participants’ percentage of energy intake from both free sugars and saturated fats based on FFQ was correlated with DFS total and subscales scores. To investigate convergent and divergent validity, DFS scores with TFEQ correlations were performed. Diagnostic validity was established based on difference analysis between groups with the risk of eating disorders and those without the risk of those based on SCOFF. Results: Test–retest reliability (rtr = 0.856) and internal consistency (α = 0.797) indicated excellent reliability. DFS correlated significantly with FFQ for both total scores (r = 0.82) and each subscale: sugar (0.79), fat (0.75), and fat–sugar (0.59). The correlations of DFS and TFEQ were statistically significant for cognitive restraint (r = 0.32) and uncontrolled eating (r = 0.19). There also have been found significant differences based on SCOFF regarding DFS. Conclusions: The results suggest good reliability and validity of the Polish version of DFS.
Nutritional risk factors are country-specific and change over time, requiring systematic verification. Objective: The study was designed to develop a nutritional risk factors model for seniors living in a Polish community. Methods: The pilot study was conducted in 2022 and 2023 among 301 people aged 60 and older in the Lower Silesia region of Poland. The questionnaire contained 107 test items describing dietary problems rated on a five-point Likert scale. The pre-study concerned understanding of the test items, rating the reproducibility (kappa statistic) and reliability of the scale (α-Cronbach coefficient). The factor structure of the model was developed using structural equation modelling (SEM) in the program R (version 4.3.2.). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted the three-factor model. Results: The factors were described as unhealthy eating (eight test items), irregularities related to meals (four test items), and perception of body weight (four test items). The model was verified using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The model’s acceptability was confirmed based on data matching indexes, convergent accuracy, differential accuracy, and measurement reliability. There was variation in the identified nutritional risk factors by gender, education, social activity, and family relationships. Conclusions: Focusing on irregularities in nutrition and perception of body weight as nutritional risk factors reveals a very narrow perspective in diagnosing nutritional risk, thus further testing of the model, in a representative group of older people in Poland and other countries, is necessary to confirm the results obtained.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). These diseases are characterized by inflammation, which may be a consequence of changes in the intestinal microbiota and lead to mineral and vitamin deficiencies. The aims of this study were to determine the level of dietary supplement intake in children with IBD and to determine the influence of factors such as sex, nutritional status, diet, and other comorbidities on supplement intake. The study was conducted from May 2022 to September 2023 and was a prospective study. The group of children with IBD that ultimately qualified for the study numbered 96, and the control group numbered 30. The children who participated in the study were aged 4–18 years. Most parents of children with IBD (81.4%) declared that they use supplementation for their children, while 75% of parents of children without IBD declared giving their children nutritional supplements. Vitamins in both groups were most often given to children as dietary supplements (p = 0.018), including vitamin D. Depending on the diet used, the intake of vitamin B6 (p = 0.018), vitamin E (p = 0.040) and iron (p = 0.006) was significantly different among children with IBD. Statistical significance (p = 0.021) was observed for supplementation use and disease stage among children with IBD. For 80.2% of parents of children with IBD, the main reason for using supplements was a doctor’s recommendation. In the control group, 43.3% of parents indicated that the main reason for using supplements was to correct nutritional deficiencies. Supplementation was common in both groups, but attention should be paid to other current diseases in children with IBD and to nutritional status. In our opinion, educating parents about supplementation is important, especially among parents of children with IBD.
Background: Obesity is a chronic disease that affects all populations and age groups. The last decade has seen an increase in the incidence of overweight and obesity in women, also during pregnancy. Obesity in a woman who is expecting a baby can have serious health consequences for both her and the fetus, such as: hypertension, diabetes and other non-infectious diseases.Methods: The study was approved by a total of 232 women, including 120 pregnant and 112 lactating women aged 19-42. The study group consisted of women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, breastfeeding and mixed method (breastfeeding and milk replacers). A specially constructed questionnaire consisting of 10 questions was used in the study. Microsoft Excel 2010 and the SPSS 13.3 statistical program were used for the calculations.Results: Among pregnant women, 83.3% of them, and 50% during lactation, did not know the answer to the question of how the Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated. Women expecting a baby were more likely to mention pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes as consequences of overweight and obesity in a pregnant woman. Lactating women more often indicated breastfeeding as a factor protecting their child against obesity.Conclusion: The study shows that it is necessary to thoroughly educate pregnant and lactating women and those planning pregnancy about the risk factors and complications of obesity, especially during pregnancy, because it can affect both the health of the woman and the health of the child, including his body weight, which determines the emergence of many diseases in the future.
Background: Overweight and obesity are major health problems of the 21st century. As a significant risk factor for numerous noncommunicable diseases, obesity is also strongly associated with the development of abdominal hernias, which significantly impair patients’ quality of life. The review focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms linking obesity to hernias and the impact of key prehabilitation components. Available research indicates a complex interrelationship between obesity and the development of ventral hernias, driven by pathophysiological mechanisms such as increased intra-abdominal pressure and chronic inflammation, which weakens the collagen matrix of the abdominal wall. Furthermore, both smoking and alcohol consumption significantly increase the risk of abdominal obesity and surgical complications; in turn, physical activity is crucial for reducing visceral fat. Psychological support may reduce pre-operative stress and contribute to improved outcomes. Nutritional intervention and weight loss are other essential components of preoperative management for ventral hernia repair. This review aims to highlight the role of prehabilitation in ventral hernia surgery in obese patients and to propose a structured, evidence-based algorithm (DEPP) for this high-risk population. The algorithm includes: Dietary intervention (D), Elimination of smoking and alcohol consumption (E), Physical activity (P), and Psychological support (P). The algorithm was developed to systematize the clinical approach and determine the steps to be taken in the treatment of patients with obesity and abdominal hernia. Methodology: A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for articles published between 2002 and 2026. We included randomized controlled trials, prospective/retrospective cohort studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Conclusions: Prehabilitation is a multifaceted strategy for optimizing the health of patients with obesity prior to abdominal hernia repair. The proposed prehabilitation algorithm, known as DEPP, is a preliminary approach for managing this group of patients.