Hygienic assessment of dietary intake of saturated fatty acids and trans isomers of fatty acids

Introduction. An imbalance of the fat component of the diet is one of the most common violations of the population nutrition in developed countries, leading to the risk of occurring nutrition-dependent pathologies due to hyperlipidemia and dyslipoproteinemia. A special role in the formation of risk is played by an excess of medium-chain saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids (TFA).

Materials and methods. Actual nutrition was studied by reproduction method with three times 24-hour recall. Based on the research results, the content of SFA and TFA was calculated, and their main sources were determined. Three hundred fourteen students of the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University took part in the study. Gender and age groups of respondents were analyzed separately.

Results. The intake of SFA at the level of normal physiological needs was registered in only 7.6% of students. At the same time, 80% of respondents had a significant excess of both total fat and SFA; an adequate level of TFA intake was noted in 80% of students, and a significant excess of this indicator was registered only in 13.3% of respondents. A significant quantitative increase in SFAs was noted with the additional inclusion of processed products in the diet, including those with hidden fat. Excessive consumption of TFA is associated with the inclusion of rich confectionery products containing hydrogenated fats in the diet.

Limitations. The study has age and regional restrictions: young 18–29 years people living in the Moscow region, as well as restrictions on the analyzed indicators: SFA and TFA supplied with the diet.

Conclusions. A significant risk of developing nutrition-dependent non-infectious diseases is observed in 52.9% of respondents with an SFA content in the diet of more than 150% of the norm, and the maximum risk is in 13.3% of students receiving a combined excess of SFA and TFA. The results of the study confirm the need to correct the diets of students in terms of the fat component.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was conducted in accordance with the standards set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association, approved by the local ethical committee of Sechenov University.

Patient consent. Each participant of the study gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study and publish personal medical information in an impersonal form in the journal “Gigiena i Sanitariya (Hygiene and Sanitation, Russian journal)”.

Contribution:
Korolev A.A. — the concept and design of the study, writing the text;
Lopukhova I.V. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing of material;
Nikitenko E.I., Kirpichenkova E.V., Denisova E.L. — review of literature data, analysis of the obtained results;
Onishchenko G.G. — the concept of the study, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: April 15, 2024 / Accepted: June 19, 2024 / Published: July 17, 2024