Toxics in the diet of adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the intake of toxics among Redondela’s young people as a result of their eating habits.

Methods: A cross sectional study was performed among young people between the ages of 16 and 19. All Redondela’s high school students were included in this study with a sample size of 220. Study variables were generated by self-declaration through the RIBEFOOD questionnaire for the type, the amount of food and toxics ingested, and self-completed survey for others variables.

Results: 177 surveys were analysed (80.45%). The average age of the participants is 17 years, 54.9% are women. Mean body mass index is 22 ± 3.35 Kg/m², 3% are obese. They drink alcohol 35.4% CI95% (28.4 – 43.0), they smoke cigarettes 14.3% CI95% (9.5-20.4) and they use other drugs 5.1% CI95%(2.4-9.5). 31.1% of these students consume dioxins above permissible levels and 16.9% mercury. The intake of lead is less in the alcohol, cigarettes and drugs consumers; intake of cadmium is less in alcohol drinkers. Doses of lead higher than recommended doses are associated with depression, thyroid pathology, anorexia, bulimia (p<0.001), headache (p=0.007), gastric problems (p=0.002) and anxiety (p=0.004).  The intake of dioxins-furans in quantities greater than the maximum permitted is associated with a larger number of patients who claimed that they suffer from gastric problems (p=0.047).

Conclusions: Dioxins and mercury are the toxics ingested in dangerously high quantities. The consumption of dioxin and furan is related with the perception and declaration of gastric problems.