Hygienic Assessment of the Vitamin Status of Students

Introduction. Nutrition is an integral part of our lives, ensuring harmonious growth, functioning of organs and body’s resistance to external factors. However, many people of working age neglect the principles of rational nutrition, which leads to disorders of the immune system and chronic diseases. Special attention should be paid to the nutrition of students. Lack of time, exhaustion of the body, lack of sleep, increased stress on the mental state, especially during the session – all these factors can lead to diseases. The purpose of the study is to conduct a hygienic assessment of the vitamin status of students, taking into account the symptoms of vitamin deficiency and dietary characteristics. Materials and Methods. The study, which was conducted using an online questionnaire in Google forms, involved 208 students of the Faculty of Economics. They were asked to answer questions about their diet and vitamin deficiency symptoms. The study was conducted outside the examination period. Results. It turned out that 78% of students do not have a deficiency of vitamins A, D, K, B2, C, while only 34% of respondents rate their vitamin status as “excellent”. Vitamin A deficiency has become the most common problem. Vitamin B2 deficiency, on the contrary, was observed in more than 90% of students. Only 25% of students have a diet that can be described as “rational”. Legumes, liver, and bread products made from coarse flour turned out to be rarely consumed products. The most common products were milk and dairy products. Discussion and Conclusion. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that students have a discrepancy in the intake of various nutrients. More than 90% of all students have a deficiency of biologically active substances in one form or another. The results of the study can be used to create recommendations for raising awareness among young people about vitamins and their practical use, as well as for further research in this area.