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Previous studies provided contradictory results regarding the influence of maternal, seasonal, and infant factors on breastmilk cortisol, and its associations with breastmilk composition and infant development. This study aimed to assess breastmilk cortisol levels at the first, third, and sixth months of lactation and evaluate the associations with maternal psychosocial, seasonal, and infant factors, breastmilk composition, and infant anthropometric and psychomotor development and temperament. Cortisol concentrations were assessed by ELISA in 24 h breastmilk samples obtained from 38 healthy mothers. Maternal psychological status was assessed by EPDS and PSS-10 and infant psychomotor development was assessed using the Children’s Development Scale (DSR). Breastmilk cortisol was 11.2 ± 6.2, 11.2 ± 4.3, and 12.7 ± 6.2 ng/mL at the first, third, and sixth months of lactation (p > 0.05), respectively. In the spring-summer season, we observed lower and higher levels of cortisol in the first and sixth months of lactation (p ≤ 0.05), respectively, but no other associations were detected regarding maternal or infant characteristics. In the third month of lactation, cortisol was related to breastmilk crude protein (β = 0.318, 0.007–0.630) and infant BMI z-score before adjustment for infant birthweight and sex (Model 2: β = 0.359, 0.021–0.697), but no other associations with breastmilk composition, infant development, or temperament were confirmed. Our results indicated that breastmilk cortisol is unrelated to maternal and infant factors and has limited influence on breastmilk crude protein, but not on infant anthropometric and psychomotor development.

The study aimed to analyze the dietary–physical activity patterns (D-PAPs) in the health context of Polish people aged 60+ years. A total of 418 respondents across Poland were recruited; however, the final analysis included 361 women and men aged 60–89 years old. D-PAPs were derived using a principal component analysis (PCA); input variables were the frequency of consumption of 10 food groups and physical activity. Finally, three D-PAPs were identified: ‘Pro-healthy eating and more-active’, ‘Sweets, fried foods and sweetened beverages’, and ‘Juices, fish and sweetened beverages’. We developed the Functional Limitations Score (FLS) using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®). A logistic regression was applied to verify the association between the D-PAPs and health-condition outcomes. Older adults were more likely to adhere to the upper tertile of the ‘Pro-healthy eating and more-active’ pattern, with good/better self-reported health status in comparison with their peers (OR = 1.86) or with good/very good self-assessed appetite (OR = 2.56), while this was less likely for older adults with malnutrition risk (OR = 0.37) or with a decrease in food intake (OR = 0.46). Subjects with a decrease in food intake (OR = 0.43), who declared a recent weight loss (OR = 0.49), or older adults in the upper tertile of the FLS (OR = 0.34) were less likely to adhere to the upper tertile of the ‘Sweets, fried foods and sweetened beverages’ pattern. The decrease in food intake due to a loss of appetite or chewing or swallowing difficulties was inversely associated with the ‘Pro-healthy eating and more-active’ pattern characterized by a relatively high frequency of consumption of vegetables, fruit, water, dairy, and grains and a high physical activity. In the interest of the good nutritional status and health of older adults, special attention should be paid to removing limitations in meal consumption, including improved appetite.

Background: Nutrition knowledge, through its direct influence on dietary behaviours, can be considered as an important factor that indirectly influences human health. Dietary behaviours are formed in childhood, and many of them are relatively stable over time. It follows that changing dietary behaviours and developing nutrition knowledge should take place before undesirable dietary habits become established. The study aimed to evaluate the sustainability of a multi-component education (ABC-HEat) program related to healthy nutrition and lifestyle after three months and nine months and to assess the socioeconomic context in improving teenage nutrition knowledge.Methods: The study was designed as a clustered, controlled, education-based intervention. A sample was chosen and allocated into either an educated group (under intervention) or a control group (outside of intervention). The study covered 464 students 11-12-year-old (educated/control 319/145) from primary schools in locations covering the entire territory of Poland. In the educated group, data were collected three times: before education, after three months and after nine months to measure the short- and the long-term effect of education, respectively. In the control group, data were collected in parallel. Changes in nutrition knowledge score (NKS, points) by sex, residence, family affluence scale (FAS) were the main outcome measures. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate chance of no increase in the NKS with two reference categories: any increase or an increase by ≥ 4 points.Results: The increase in the NKS was significantly higher in the educated group than in the control group – three months after education on average by 1.4 to 2.7 points (all P < 0.001) in the total sample and all subgroups (girls, boys, rural residence, urban residence, low FAS, higher FAS), and nine months after education in rural residents by 2.2 points (P < 0.001) and in the total sample by 0.4 (P < 0.05). In the educated group, the chance of no increase in the NKS was higher in urban than rural residents after three months and nine months (adjusted odds ratios [OR] and 95% Confidence Intervals [95% CI]: 3.63, 1.80-7.31 and 2.99, 1.60-5.59, respectively, both P < 0.001) using the increase in the NKS by ≥ 4 points as a reference.Conclusions: The multi-component education program improved the nutrition knowledge of teenagers in the short-term regardless of socioeconomic variables, but in the long-term this effect was visible only in rural residents. It suggests that a special path of nutrition education addressed to urban teens may be required.

The study aimed at identifying the socioeconomic, eating- and health-related limitations and their associations with food consumption among Polish women 60+ years old. Data on the frequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, legumes, eggs, water and beverages industrially unsweetened were collected with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®) and were expressed in the number of servings consumed per day or week. Three indexes: the Socioeconomic Status Index (SESI), the Eating-related Limitations Score (E-LS) and the Health-related Limitations Score (H-LS) were developed and applied. SESI was created on the base of two variables: place of residence and the self-reported economic situation of household. E-LS included: difficulties with self-feeding, decrease in food intake due to digestive problems, chewing or swallowing difficulties, loss of appetite, decrease in the feeling the taste of food, and feeling satiety, whereas H-LS included: physical function, comorbidity, cognitive function, psychological stress and selected anthropometric measurements. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the socioeconomic, eating-, and health-related limitations of food consumption. Lower socioeconomic status (vs. higher) was associated with a lower chance of consuming fruit/vegetables ≥ 2 servings/day (OR = 0.25) or consuming dairy ≥ 1 serving/day (OR = 0.32). The existence of multiple E-LS limitations (vs. few) was associated with a lower chance of consuming fruit/vegetables ≥ 2 servings/day (OR = 0.72), consuming dairy ≥ 1 serving/day (OR = 0.55) or consuming water and beverages industrially unsweetened ≥6 cups/day (OR = 0.56). The existence of multiple H-LS limitations was associated with a lower chance of consuming fruit/vegetables ≥ 2 servings/day (OR = 0.79 per 1 H-LS point increase) or consuming dairy ≥ 1 serving/day (OR = 0.80 per 1 H-LS point increase). Limitations found in the studied women were related to insufficient consumption of selected groups of food, which can lead to malnutrition and dehydration. There is a need for food policy actions, including practical educational activities, to eliminate barriers in food consumption, and in turn to improve the nutritional and health status of older women.

The aim of this study was the assessment of antioxidant vitamins intake among students of the Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences of Warsaw University of Life Science. The investigation was done among 145 students at the age 21-28 in the 2008 year. Data about food intake were collected using a 3-day dietary records method. On this basis intake of vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin E and C was calculated The results shows that the quantity of antioxidant vitamins was adequate for vitamin C (64 mg/d, 102% EAR), but for vitamin A and E was higher then recommended value (698 microg retinol equivalent/d, 135% EAR and 11,5 mg tocopherol equivalent/d, 138% of AI). About 12-15% students used supplements, providing additional 574 microg vitamin A, 116 mg vitamin C and 4 mg vitamin E. It covered together with food intakes 260%, 298% EAR value and 199% of AI value, in case of vitamin E. In smokers, for which recommendations of intake antioxidant vitamins are slightly different, it was found too low their intake.