Nursing journal, Vol. 26 No. 2, 2021.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.11608/sgnj.26.2.1
Food supplements in healthcare professionals’ diet during COVID-19 pandemic
Vedrana Rugole
; Dom zdravlja Centar, Runjaninova 4, 10 000 Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska
Jasna Pucarin-Cvetković
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Medicinski fakultet, Škola narodnog zdravlja „Andrija Štampar“, Rockefellerova 4, 10 000 Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Rockefellerova 7, 10 000 Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska
Milan Milošević
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Medicinski fakultet, Škola narodnog zdravlja „Andrija Štampar“, Rockefellerova 4, 10 000 Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska
Sažetak
Aim: The study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of healthcare professionals’ food supplement consumption.
Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted in December 2020 and January 2021 in the City of Zagreb and comprised a total of 279 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses/technicians, pharmacists) affiliated with the HC “Center”. Data were collected via a questionnaire adapted to the study’s purposes. Differences between the group which changed its food supplementation consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic and the group that did not change it were tested using the χ2 test. P-values beneath 0.05 were deemed statistically significant.
Results: The results reveal the consumption of some food supplements to be a fairly strong habit among healthcare professionals. COVID-19 pandemic urged one third of them to start taking food supplements (11.5%) or to increase the amount and frequency of their use (21.9%). As for vitamins, during the pandemic healthcare professionals have taken more C (P=0.001), D (P=0.001), and B complex vitamins (P=0.048). The major increase was seen with the D vitamin, whose daily consumption rose by 3.63. Significant differences in the consumption of minerals, proteins, and amino acids, noticeable between the group that changed its food supplementation habits and the one that did not change, arose primarily due to the changes in magnesium and zinc intake (P<0.001). On top of that, a significant rise in beta-glucan (P<0.001), ginkgo biloba (P=0.012), collagen (P=0.038), and homeopathic preparations’ intake was documented (P=0.006).
Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacts food supplements’ use among healthcare professionals. Based on the current knowledge and dietary recommendations, during the pandemic, the focus should be shifted to healthy diet principles. Daily vitamin, mineral, protein, and antioxidant needs should be satisfied through a variety of foods. In case of an increased risk of COVID-19 disease or deficiency of certain nutrients, food supplements should be introduced, too.
Ključne riječi
healthcare professionals; food supplements; COVID-19
Hrčak ID:
261384
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.8.2021.
Posjeta: 2.144 *