Latvian citizens knowledge about dietary fiber

The positive benefits of DF associated with the regulation of the intestinal transit, and the prevention or treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and regulate colon cancer and obesity. The aim of this research was to collect information on knowledge about dietary fibre on citizens’ of Latvia. The questionnaire consists 22 questions, which aim was to evaluate knowledge on three distinct areas: six for knowledge about food fibres; six for the relation between fibres and variety of foods and 12 for the relations between fibres and diseases. The methodological study was conducted with 231 participants, from which 64.9% were female and 35.1% male, aged between 17 and 80 years. The respondents were selected by convenience, although of age, literacy, gender, geographical area of residence, including people from different cities and smaller villages. 67% of respondents consider that the consumption of sufficient amounts of fibres can prevent or treat different diseases. 85% of respondents have noted that legumes (peas, beans) are source of fibres, but more possible take up the fibre with a combination of vegetables and animal products. This research was prepared in the ambit of the multinational project from CI&DETS Research Centre (IPV e Viseu, Portugal) with reference PROJ/CI&DETS/2014/0001.

Atitudes da população portuguesa em relação à fibra alimentar

Introdução: A fibra dietética (FD) tem feito parte da dieta humana desde há milénios, embora os seus benefícios tenham sido reconhecidos, principalmente, nas últimas décadas. Objetivos: Porque a FD é um componente importante de uma dieta saudável, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os hábitos de consumo dos Portugueses, bem como o seu conhecimento sobre os alimentos ricos em fibras e as suas atitudes em relação à rotulagem dos alimentos. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal usando uma amostra não-probabilística de 382 participantes. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que a ingestão de alimentos ricos em fibras, como frutas, vegetais e cereais, foi muito menor do que a ingestão recomendada. Os resultados também indicaram que a maioria das pessoas não presta a atenção desejada à rotulagem de alimentos ou à informação nutricional. Conclusões: O nível geral de conhecimento sobre FD foi considerado insatisfatório, e, portanto, é necessário mais educação nutricional e desenvolver esforços para informar as pessoas acerca da importância da FD como parte da sua dieta diária.

Consumers knowledge about dietary fibre : Results of a survey questionnaire in Hungary and Romania

Dietary fi bres (DFs) are essential components of the balanced diet. Even though the adequate level of their consumption can be ensured from several natural (e.g. fruit, vegetables, legumes) and ‘artifi cial’ sources (e.g. functional foods), the consumed levels are below the recommendations. To analyse the Hungarian and Romanian consumers’ knowledge level, their perceptions of the health benefi ts associated with fi bre, as well as the recognition of the potential information sources, a survey questionnaire was conducted with the total of 713 consumers. Results showed that the level of knowledge about DFs was not adequate. Internet was found to be widely used and identifi ed as one of the most appropriate information sources to encourage the consumption of DF. It was a favourable result that three-quarter of the respondents was interested in the topic of healthy food consumption; however, just less than half of them took into consideration the label information during their shopping decisions. To increase the consumption of DF and to support the responsibility and conscious consumer decisions steps must to be done (e.g. education of children, pointing out of the sources). For this purpose, modern information technology and communication channels fi tting to the consumers’ cultural and personal particularities can be utilized.