Relação da hipovitaminose D com excesso de peso e consumo alimentar em trabalhadores de uma unidade de alimentação e nutrição

Abstract

Currently, vitamin D deficiency is considered a global public health problem, growing in the last decades and associated with important negative effects on health. In the collective feeding, there was a greater concern and awareness regarding the working and health conditions with the performance and the productivity of the workers, as well as their quality of life, mainly because the class of workers has passed due to nutritional problems, such as overweight and deficiencies of some micronutrients, as vitamin D. In view of this the present study aims to relate hypovitaminosis D with overweight and food intake in workers of a Food and Nutrition Unit. This is a quantitative and cross-sectional epidemiological study in a Food and Nutrition Unit situated in the city of João Pessoa. Twenty employees, from both sexes, with an average age of 39.25 ± 10.53, participated in the study. The data were collected through a socio-demographic questionnaire, occupational, clinical history, skin phototype and sun exposure, a 24-hour Reminder method and biochemical analysis for the determination of vitamin D. Among the participants of the study 80% were women and 20% were men. Regarding the anthropometry performed, the average obtained from the Body Mass Index of the employees was 30.84 ± 4.48 kg/m². It was observed that the majority of employees (95%) were classified as overweight. According to the hip waist ratio, 55% did not present a risk for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases. According to waist circumference, 80% of the employees presented with risk for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases. Concerning waist height, 90% of the employees presented a risk for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases. With food intake analysis, the average daily consumption was 1627.108 ± 550.49 kcal. It was also observed that vitamin D intake is much lower than recommended, with a daily average of 1.009 ± 1.38 mcg/d, when the recommendation is 5 mcg/d. With analysis of the blood, 70% of the employees had vitamin D insufficiency. There was no significant correlation between the variables Body Mass Index, vitamin D intake and plasma levels of 25 (OH) D. Regarding the time of sun exposure and the plasma levels of 25 (OH) D, a small relation between the means could be observed, but this relation was not significant. These results may be related to the poor nutrition of the workers, the lack of physical exercise, as well as the low sun exposure, the frequent use of sun blockers and the use of vitamin supplements. Thus, it is concluded that the actions of nutritional evaluation and the accomplishment of periodic blood tests are of extreme importance for the monitoring of the nutritional status and the health of the employees in order to prevent future health problems, besides being fundamental to be associated with interventions in the field of action.