Background: Results of the research indicate that excessive consumption of products that are a rich source of the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and cholesterol, and disturbed balance in the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake could affect the development of atherosclerotic lesions since the childhood.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the atherogenicity of the students diets, based on the content of various fatty acids (FA), their relative proportions, and the content of cholesterol.
Material and methods: The study group included 127 students (female-100, male-27) of Wrocław Medical University. Dietary habits in the study group were evaluated by the method of the three-day diet record including one weekend day. In total 381 dietary interviews: 300 from female and 81 from male were analyzed.
Results: The percentage of energy from SFA was higher than recommended 10%. The average percentage of energy from SFA in the diets of male and female was 14.3% and 15.6%. The average percentage of energy from MUFA in the diets of female and male was respectively 12.8% and 15.3%. The recommended average percentage of energy from MUFA is > or = 14% of daily energy requirements. The daily intake of cholesterol should be less than 300 mg/day. The average content of cholesterol in the diets of female was 278.7 mg/day, and male 428.1 mg/day. The Keys atherogenic score assessed in the diets of female was on average 49.2 with recommended values of 30.1-35.5, and 52.3 in the diets of male at the recommended values of 28.4-33.8. Atherogenicity estimated by P/S ratio in both students groups was 0.4 at the recommended values of > or =1. The recommended daily percentage of energy from PUFA is 6-10%. The percentage of energy from PUFA in the average diet of female was 5.3%, and 6.0% in the male diets. The sum of EPA and DHA in the female diets was average 0.1 g/day, and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was 5.8:1 (recommended 4:1). The sum of EPA and DHA in the male diets was 0.2 g/day, and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was 6.1:1.
Conclusions: It was shown that studied students diets may promote the development of atherosclerotic lesions.