title: Evaluation of dietary habits and assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors among Greek university students.
abstract: The aim of this study was the evaluation of dietary habits in regard to cardiovascular risk status in university students in Northern Greece. 215 students (101 males) (age 21.5±2.3 years) participated in the study. Dietary intake was determined by using 3-day food record (1 weekend day). Recorded energy and nutrient intakes were compared to RDA and recommendations given by the American Heart Association (AHA). Students' smoking status and familial chronic diseases were recorded. A percentage of 55.8% (males) and 45.7% (females) were physically moderately active. When compared to AHA guidelines, the students had averagely significantly higher intake of total fat, saturated fat, sodium and dietary cholesterol and lower intake of polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, folate, vitamin E and fiber. 95% of them failed to meet all AHA dietary recommendations, with polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio and the percentage of total fat being the top two failed parameters and sodium (10.2%) being the one less problematic. Dietary habits of Greek university students differ from what is considered as health promoting and, in the case that it they are not altered, may have an adverse effect on their CV health, despite the fact that their mean body weight is only moderately high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 1532, GR-54006 Thessaloniki, Greece. mhourd@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chourdakis
authors.forename: Thrasivoulos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tzellos
authors.forename: Chryssa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pourzitaki
authors.forename: Konstantinos A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Toulis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papazisis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kouvelas
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014481:United States; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid