Knowledge of Polish students about vitamin D
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21164/pomjlifesci.1254Słowa kluczowe:
prevention; knowledge; vitamin D; biosynthesis; absorption; dietary sources; supplementationAbstrakt
Introduction: The multifaceted role of vitamin D and the widespread prevalence of its deficiency worldwide make it a significant subject of research. Low blood levels of this vitamin are increasingly associated with a higher risk of various diseases, including within the Polish population. Vitamin D is involved in regulating energy metabolism in the body, as well as in the synthesis of connective tissue proteins and other proteins engaged in metabolic processes, further emphasizing its importance in maintaining homeostasis.
The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge about vitamin D among students of medical and non-medical disciplines. The study encompassed 2 universities in the Silesian region – the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (SUM) and the University of Economics in Katowice (UE).
Materials and methods: The analysis included a group of 272 students, of whom 143 (52.6%) represented the SUM and 129 (47.4%) were students of the UE. The data were collected using an original, anonymous questionnaire consisting of closed-ended questions.
Results: The analysis revealed that a significant proportion of students from the SUM (42.7%) considered the number and scope of informational campaigns to be insufficient. In contrast, the most common response among students from the UE was that they had not encountered such information (44.2%). Notably, a similar percentage of respondents from both universities (19.6% from SUM and 19.4% from UE) expressed the opinion that the general public’s level of knowledge about vitamin D is adequate.
Conclusions: Students of the SUM emphasize the need to intensify efforts aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of vitamin D for human health. Particular attention is drawn to the necessity of reaching older individuals, who are most at risk of vitamin D deficiency. The insufficient level of education regarding the role of vitamin D represents a significant public health issue, highlighting the need to expand the number and reach of informational campaigns. These initiatives should involve educational and medical institutions as well as the media, in order to effectively reach a broad audience.
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Prawa autorskie (c) 2026 Wiktoria Ficoń, Renata, Maksymilian Dobosz, Beata Całyniuk
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