The nutritional awareness of functional food among university students in Poland

Journal Title: Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny - Year 2016, Vol 67, Issue 2

Abstract

Background. A lack of knowledge or a fear of unknown products are common reasons why new foods are not accepted. A good example of such foods are those containing pro-health ingredients. These are termed functional foods. Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the level of knowledge that university students have on functional foods. Material and Methods. Subjects surveyed were 266 students from the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, majoring in Dietetics and Pharmacy. A short original questionnaire was put to the students comprising 7 closed (force-choice) questions in order to test their knowledge on definition, function, form or examples of functional foods. Results. Compared to Pharmacy students, Dietetic students had significantly greater nutritional awareness about the characteristics, forms and examples of functional foods, as well as they consumed a wider range of functional products. They also evaluated their knowledge more highly than Pharmacy students on such issues. This greater nutritional knowledge in Dietetic students, seems likely to have arisen from the very nature of their studies. Conclusions. There is a need to promote functional foods in medical schools and universities, that not only include those studying nutrition subjects but also in other health-related areas.

Authors and Affiliations

A. Morawska, I. Górna, J. Przyslawski

Keywords

Related Articles

Health policy programs realised in Poland in 2016-2017

Background. Health Policy Program (Program Polityki Zdrowotnej – PPZ) is a state policy tool for engaging local government units into the mechanism of granting provision of health services. Authors show areas in which se...

Nutritional values of diets consumed by women suffering unipolar depression

Background. Previous studies have shown that patients suffering from depression are more likely to adversely change their eating habits (eg. through increases in appetite, comfort eating and compulsive eating), which may...

Pesticide residues in stone fruits from the south-eastern region of Poland in 2012-2014

Background. Peaches, sour cherries, nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries are fruit commonly known as “stone fruit”. Their nutritional properties namely, vitamins, minerals, fiber and numerous microelements, make them...

Impact of products from ground buckwheat added to balanced diets on biochemical blood markers in Wistar rats

Background. It is believed that buckwheat can be used as a functional food ingredient in the prevention and treatment of diet-related diseases, e.g., atherosclerosis, hypertension, obesity, constipation and cancers. The...

Estrogenic activity of commercial milk as revealed in immature hamster uterotrophic assay – pilot study

Background. The risk for public health posed by endocrine disruptors present in food is relatively new issue. Our current understanding of human exposure is mainly based on the residue analysis of selected compounds. Wit...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP250715
  • DOI -
  • Views 67
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

A. Morawska, I. Górna, J. Przyslawski (2016). The nutritional awareness of functional food among university students in Poland. Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny, 67(2), 163-167. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-250715