SVIBOR - Project code: 3-01-121

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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SVIBOR

SVIBOR - Collecting Data on Projects in Croatia

Project code: 3-01-121


EVALUATION OF NUTRITION AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF POPULATION IN CROATIA


Main researcher: KAIĆ-RAK, ANTOINETTE (147742)


Assistants
Type of research: applied
Duration from: 10/05/91. to 12/31/93.
Papers on project (total): 29
Institution name: Zavod za zaštitu zdravlja Republike Hrvatske, Zagreb (5)
Department/Institute: Health ecology service Department for Nutrition
Address: Rockefellerova 7, 41000 Zagreb.
City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (0) 1 272-822/67
Fax: 385 (0) 1 276-248
Summary: Quality of meals and nutritional status of primary and secundary schools' pupils, employees and older persons' nutritional status have been assesed in order to evaluate nutrition's impact on health status of population in Croatia. Special attention has been focused on nutrition of refugees and displaced. Distribution of anthropometric indexesare simmilar to distribution in referal population. However it is possible to notice slight turning to the right side of curve (higher values of z-score) for anthropometric index height for age and slightly toward left (lower values of z-score) for anthropometric index weight for height. Analysis of distribution patterns of mentioned indexes indicate that on the average our school age population is somewhat taller and thinnier than referal. It is determined that majority of school children reached satisfactory level of height for age. Percentage of children who have low height for age in Croatia among resident children is 0.5-1 % (-2SD). Results regarding their weight for height (best indicator of present nutrition) indicate presence of significant differences. 0-5.9 % of resident pupils and 5.1 % of displaced pupils have values of weight for height below 2 SD. On the average 7 % of primary school pupils have increased body weight above 2SD. Clinical examinations confirmed presence of symptoms related to vitamin A, riboflavin and vitamin C deficiencies. BMI values in adult physicly active working population indicate sytuation that could be refered as to "turning to the left". At present we do not have under nourishment or malnoutrition among adult population but it is indicative that 11.5 % of resident women age 20-35 years and 12% of displaced women of the same age group is recorded to have lower body weight (BMI below 20).In the rest of adult population it is determined that In 17% of investigated displaced female population presence of clinical signs related to the vitamin A, vitamin B group, vitamin C and iron have been determined. Among older persons it is determined that 1.4% men are undernourished (BMI below 20), 34.7% have BMI values 20-24.9, 55% have BMI 25-29.9 and 13.2% of examined older individuals have BMI values above 30. In female population in the age group above 65 it is recorded that 6.1% women have BMI below 20, 44.3 had BMI 20-24.9, 34% had BMI values between 25-29.9 and 15.5% were extremely obese. Meal composition regarding energy and nutrient values (proteins, carbochydrates and fats) of daily meals do not show significant deviation from recomended daily intake for specific age groups. It is possible to conclude that consumed food quantities are adequate,however,it is important to mention that analyses of quality of nutrition (of all seqments of population) indicate that vitamin and mineral contant (vitamins and calcium) are significantly lower than recommended, due to low consumption of foodstafs which are biologically valuable but often quite expensive such as milk and dairy products, meat and fresh vegetables and fruits, especially during winter and spring season.

Keywords: Nutrition, nutritional status, food, consumption, deficiencies, diet, meal.

Research goals: In order to improve situation regarding quality of nutrition and impact of nutrition on health, it is necessary to develop National food and nutrition policy (complex of health, education, economic and legislative measures) with objective to coordinate nutritional needs of population with production and distribution of food. To establish continous nutritional surveilance system on the national level with the aim to ensure relevant data about physiological needs and nutritional status of all seqments of population which will serve as indicator and base for future planning and establishment of National food and nutrition policy.

COOPERATION - PROJECTS


  1. Name of project: Eurofoods-Enfant Improvement of the Quality and Compatibility of Food Consumption and Food Composition Data in Europe.
    Name of institution: Wageningen Agricultural University
    City: 6700 EV - Wageningen, Netherlands

COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS


  1. Name of institution: Wageningen Agricultural University
    Type of institution: Economical/Production
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: 6700 EV - Wageningen, Netherlands

  2. Name of institution: National Centre for Nutrition-National school of Public Health
    Type of institution: State institute
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: Atena, Grčka
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