Backgrounds/Aims: To assess the age- and gender-specific anthropometric parameters and blood pressure in Hungarian adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between 1997and 2000. Altogether 6,345 secondary school students (aged 15–18 years) were involved in the study. The representative sampling sites were selected randomly. In the capital city 3-stage and in the counties 4-stage stratified groups were assigned for the studies. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows 9.0. Results: The age- and gender-specific percentile distributions are given with regard to body weight, body height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and arterial blood pressure values. Elevated blood pressure values were found at the first recording in 14.1% of the boys and in 2.5% of the girls. Since it is well known that the arterial blood pressure (ABP) may exhibit considerable intra- individual fluctuation with time, we therefore categorized normotensive and hypertensive students on the basis of the mean ABP values calculated from data obtained during the course of the three separate consecutive measurement periods at least 2 weeks apart. After that, the incidence of high blood pressure was 7.5% in boys and 1.1% in girls. Conclusion: The age- and gender-specific cutoff values thus formed may serve as reference values to assess the risk of developing nutrition-related noninfectious diseases in the future on the basis of the present percentile distribution of BMI. The present study also provides data on the prevalence of hypertension in the 15- to 18-year-old age group.

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Background: The aim of the study was to assess the antioxidant status in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients compared to healthy controls. In order to determine the influence of nutrition on the level of the antioxidants, nutrient intake was also monitored in both groups at the time of the antioxidant assessment. Subjects and Methods: The authors measured the serum malondialdehyde levels in children with CF, n = 21; 9 females and 12 males, mean age: 8.71 years (6–12 years) and compared these values to the levels found in age-matched healthy control subjects, n = 24; 13 females and 11 males, mean age: 8.33 years (6–12 years). In order to assess the antioxidant status, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in washed erythrocytes, glutathione peroxidase activity of heparinized whole blood and serum ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and retinol levels were measured. Total antioxidant status (TAS) was also tested. The patients with CF received vitamin supplementation in doses prescribed in international guidelines (α-tocopherol: <10 years 100 mg daily, >10 years 200 mg daily, retinol: 2.5 mg daily, ascorbic acid: 100–200 mg daily). Results: Plasma levels of malondialdehyde were significantly higher (p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase activities were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in patients with cystic fibrosis. There were no significant differences in catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities and TAS levels between CF patients and control group. Plasma ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and retinol levels were within normal limits in both groups. Conclusion: On the basis of the present results this regime failed to provide sufficient antioxidant protection. Therefore, the authors suggest that the daily dose of these antioxidants should be either increased or to administer in parenteral route to patients with severe form of the disease.

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The results of this pilot study appear to demonstrate that the Jerusalem artichoke concentrate produced by a new technology can be a promising component of future diet therapy.

In the course of the 3rd national nutritional survey data were collected in 2003, and the paper on the energy and nutrition intake of a sample group consisting of 1179 people all aged above 19, was published in the Hungarian Medical Journal (Vol. 146, No. 34, 2005). The present paper focuses on one group of micronutrients, namely the minerals' intake. The authors evaluated the results mainly in comparison with the data of the two previous Hungarian national surveys, and the international and national recommendations. The average magnesium intake was considered adequate in both sexes, while iron, zinc and copper intakes also met the recommended level in men. On the other hand, the insufficient calcium and the excessive phosphorus intakes, as well as the disproportionate calcium-phosphorus ratio in both sexes are unfavourable facts. The adverse results include insufficient iron, zinc and copper intake in women and the excessive sodium intake in both sexes, as well. The authors emphasize the importance of spreading the principles of healthy nutrition as well as co-operating with the food industry in order to prevent the occurrence of mineral nutrients deficiency.

The 3rd Hungarian National Nutritional Survey was carried out as a part of the National Population Health Study and the data collection was done in November/December of 2003. The survey comprised a sample of adults above 19 year of age, the dietary questionnaires of 1179 people could be evaluated. The results of energy and macro-nutrient intake were published in 2005, and the results of the mineral intake in 2007, in the Hungarian Medical Journal. This paper focuses on the intake of vitamins. For the evaluation of the results authors used the data of the two previous national surveys, data of some dietary studies of other countries, and the home and international intake recommendations. In respect of the data found in the present survey, it is a favourable trend that the intake of vitamins retinol equivalent, B1 , B6 and B12 , and niacin, as well as biotin was sufficient both in case of men and women, together with adequate vitamin E intake for men. However the intake of vitamin B2 , C, D, together with pantothenic acid and folic acid of both men and women did not meet the criteria of the Hungarian recommendations, besides the vitamin E intake of women was insufficient as well. In Hungary the intake of vitamin D, biotin, folic acid and pantothenic acid was measured at first at this National Dietary Survey. The authors vigorously stress the importance of the varied and healthy nutrition in the adequate vitamin supply of the population.

Iron status was assessed in a sample of 103 male and 282 female students aged from 15 to 18 years attending secondary schools in Budapest. Using a ferritin model, in boys the prevalence of iron depletion, iron-deficient erythropoiesis and iron-deficient anemia was 3.9, 2.9 and 1.0%, respectively. In girls these values were 9.6, 8.2 and 2.8%, respectively. Males had better eating habits than females. Data for nutrients intake connected with iron status are discussed. The authors recommend the improvement of iron status by dietary means and oppose the indiscriminate iron supplementation.