Introduction: Advertising today is increasingly seen to be targeting children as they can be easily persuaded. The influence on them is reinforced by children’s difficulty in perceiving messages critically, in distinguishing the real from the imaginary, in their great confidence in messages from the media and popular characters and personalities, and in their inability to recognize risk and their propensity for imitation. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of television advertising on children’s nutritional preferences and the intensity of dental caries in children aged 6 to 12 years.Materials and methods: The study included 277 children (158 boys and 119 girls) aged 6 to 12 years from different schools in Sofia. A survey was used to assess the nutritional preferences of these children who are under the influence of watching television commercials. The DMF (T+t) index introduced by Klein, Palmer & Knutson (1938) was used to assess the intensity of dental caries. A correlation analysis was performed between the time spent watching TV and the development of dental caries. Results: Many children buy on their own or ask their parents to buy advertised sweet candies, fizzy drinks and fruit juices, which are a risk factor for the development of dental caries. The results show that the longer they spend in front of the TV, the stronger the pronounced caries activity in children, supported by a statistically significant difference (p<0.001), Rho (277)=0.438. Conclusions: The studied children aged 6 to 12 years have unhealthy dietary preferences for low molecular weight carbohydrate foods, increasing their oral risk profile. Prolonged standing in front of the TV screen correlated with an increase in the intensity of dental caries in half of the children.

The aim of the present study was to investigate in-depth the dietary intake of vitamin D of subjects with different BMI in relation to serum vitamin D status. The survey covered 264 individuals, aged 19 to 60 years. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 33.3% of the participants and 40.2% showed evidence of insufficient vitamin D intake. It was established that the daily average dietary intake of vitamin D among the whole group of subjects was 6.6 μg/day (women – 5.6 μg/day, men – 10.4 μg/day). We found significant correlations between daily average dietary intake of vitamin D and weight, % body fat, fat mass, visceral fat (in women), muscle and fat-free mass, and height-adjusted indices: fat mass index and fat-free mass index, total body water and some metabolic variables (basal insulin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein). The survey revealed that the dietary intake of vitamin D of the respondents was insufficient.

Propyl, octy- and dodecyl gallates are largely used in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry as additives – preservatives. The main source of exposure non-related with food consumption is their use of cosmetic products. Gallates are classified as skin sensitization human health hazard. This research aims to evaluate the prevalence of contact sensitization to gallates and to estimate the possible cross/concomitant sensitization to gallate mix and other cosmetics ingredients among cosmeticians and cosmetology students. Skin patch testing with Gallate mix along with 19 other haptens was performed among 109 participants – 37 cosmetology students, 26 cosmeticians, and 46 controls. The study established high prevalence of contact sensitization to gallates, with higher risk for students (45.9%) and cosmeticians (38.5%). A significantly higher (р = 0.008) prevalence of co-sensitization to decyl glucoside was established for the control group. Proper risk information, with complex programs for prevention of occupational skin diseases should be provided.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the dietary intake of vitamin D in normal-weight and overweight individuals, establishing its correlation with specific food groups. Two hundred and sixty-four individuals were studied, of which 41.3% men and 58.9% women between 19 and 60 years of age. Nutritional assessment was carried out applying 24-h recall in the months January to April in 2014 and 2015. Nutritional status was assessed by means of anthropometric indicators – anthropometric indicators and indices, whereas weight and body composition were measured by professional bioelectrical impedance using a Tanita 420 BC MA device. It was established that the average daily intake of vitamin D for the entire group of studied individuals was 6.6 µg/day (women – 5.6 µg/day and men – 10.4 µg/day). Main dietary sources of vitamin D in the diet of adults were meat and meat products, fish and fish products, eggs and milk and dairy products. In the groups based upon BMI category of participants, meat and meat products were found to be the main source of vitamin D in all groups. Average daily intake of vitamin D has values significantly below the recommended average daily intake. A policy to promote the consumption of foods rich in vitamin D in order to reduce the relative share of individuals not meeting the recommendations is required.

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread problem throughout the world, often resulting from impaired synthesis in the skin and insufficient intake. The present study aimed to provide an in-depth analysis of vitamin D intake in individuals who are normal weight, overweight, and obese in relation to plasma vitamin D levels in these individuals. Materials and methods: There were 264 participants in the study. Nutrition was evaluated using the 24-hour memory recall approach. Weight and body composition were determined by expert bioelectrical impedance using Tanita equipment (420 BC MA), while nutritional status was evaluated using anthropometric indicators, including morphological indicators and anthropometric indices. Results: The average daily intake of vitamin D was determined to be 7.6 μg for normal-weight participants, 6.6 μg for individuals who are overweight, and 6.0 μg for subjects who are obese, based on BMI categories. When comparing people who consumed more than 10 μg of vitamin D, the group with adequate vitamin D consumption had the largest relative proportion (37.3%). Those with vitamin D deficiency and obesity class I had the lowest average daily intake of vitamin D (3.3 mcg). The correlation between plasma levels of vitamin D and the main indicators of dietary intake in the subjects, separated by sex and anthropometric parameters, revealed the existence of a weak correlation between plasma levels of vitamin D and individual indicators of dietary intake, such as total fat (g; E%), MUFAs (d; E%), PUFAs (d; E%), magnesium, and retinol. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency affects many groups worldwide, including Bulgaria’s elderly citizens. In order to address this severe issue, health experts must design health policies and guidelines based on current and future scientific facts, which will only be available through new studies.