The work is based on a cross-sectional epidemiological dietary survey SI.Menu 2017/18, conducted by a consortium of eight Slovenian research institutions led by the National Institute of Public Health. In the monograph, we described various aspects of nutrition in connection with health and defined the nutritional status of the population of Slovenia, for the first time also for infants and toddlers. We reported on the body weight and height of the youngest age groups and on the distribution of the body mass index and body composition of the adult population of Slovenia; we described consumer behavior; eating habits, breastfeeding and complementary food; frequency of consumption and consumption quantities of basic food categories; we evaluated the intake of dietary supplements and described different diets. We estimated average nutrient intakes for the population groups in Slovenia.
COBISS.SI-ID: 303249152
Sound and timely microbial gut colonization completes newborn’s healthy metabolic programming and manifests in infant appropriate growth and weight development. Early microbial variability in fecal samples of 60 Slovenian breastfed newborns was marked by the proportion of Bacilli, but diminished and converged in later samples, as bifidobacteria started to prevail. The first month proportions of enterococci were associated with maternity hospital locality and supplementation of breastfeeding with formulae, while Enterococcus faecalis proportion reflected the mode of delivery. Group Bacteroides-Prevotella proportion was associated with infant phenotype at first month. Infant mixed feeding pattern and health issues within the first month revealed the most profound and extended microbial perturbations. Our findings raise concerns over the ability of the early feeding supplementation to emulate and support the gut microbiota in a way similar to the exclusively breastfed infants.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3954568
Numerous reports showed high prevalence of VitD deficiency, particularly during the winter season, indicating the importance of VitD supplementation. Various factors can affect the absorption of VitD, including dosage and formulation. The primary study objective was to examine the efficiency of supplementation with three different formulations containing cholecalciferol in comparison with the control group. The secondary objective was to identify other factors affecting increase in serum 25-OH-VitD. A randomized controlled intervention study was conducted in Slovenia during wintertime (January– March) on 105 apparently healthy subjects (aged 18–65 years) with suboptimal VitD status (25-OH-VitD 30–50 nmol/L). Two months of supplementation with cholecalciferol (1000 IU; 25 ?g daily) resulted in significant increase in serum 25-OH-VitD levels in comparison with control group (p ( 0.0001). While we did not observe any significant differences between the tested formulations, the efficiency of supplementation was associated with body mass index and baseline serum 25-OH-VitD level. Higher supplementation efficiency was observed in participants with normal body weight (BMI ( 25) and in those with more pronounced VitD insufficiency.
COBISS.SI-ID: 13358083
In Slovenia, epidemiological data about vitamin D status in the population were investigated through a national Nutrihealth study—an extension to the national dietary survey SI.Menu (2017/18). The study was conducted on a representative sample of 125 adult (18–64 years) and 155 elderly (65–74 years old) subjects, enrolled in the study in different seasons. Their vitamin D status was determined by measuring the serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration. Thresholds for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were 25(OH)D levels below 30 and 50 nmol/L, respectively. Altogether, 24.9% of the adults and 23.5% of the elderly were found to be vitamin D deficient, while an insufficient status was found in 58.2% and 62.9%, respectively. A particularly concerning situation was observed during extended wintertime (November–April); vitamin D deficiency was found in 40.8% and 34.6%, and insufficient serum 25(OH)D levels were observed in 81.6% and 78.8%, respectively. The results of the study showed high seasonal variation in serum 25(OH)D levels in both the adult and elderly population, with deficiency being especially pronounced during wintertime. The prevalence of this deficiency in Slovenia is among the highest in Europe and poses a possible public health risk that needs to be addressed with appropriate recommendations and/or policy interventions.
COBISS.SI-ID: 20485635
A brief mini review article on vitamin D summarizes the current knowledge about dietary sources of vitamin D, vitamin D supplements, and its bio-viability. The best source of vitamin D is in vivo synthesis in the skin under the UVB radiation. The main dietary sources of vitamin D includes food of animal origin. Adequate intake of vitamin D through the diet alone is hard to achieve, therefore vitamin D supplementation is recommended.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5391788