Adolescent Health Risk Research Articles

Prediction of mental health risk in adolescents via a smartphone app: a feasibility pilot study

Abstract Background The prevalence of mental health problems in adolescents is a global public health concern. Machine learning (ML) can analyse multidimensional data collected by phone sensors (passive tracking) and symptom self-reporting (active tracking) to model and predict mental health states. However, research in adolescents is lacking. This study investigated the feasibility of using ML to predict mental health in a non-clinical population of adolescents from active and passive data collected through the Mindcraft mobile app. Methods We recruited 103 secondary students (aged 14-18) who first completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and then used the Mindcraft app for two weeks. The app integrates sensor data (location, steps, noise, light, battery, app usage) and self-reports. We extracted 85 sensor-based features and 19 from questionnaires to develop a gradient-boosted ensemble ML model. This model identifies students with abnormal SDQ scores and was evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation. Results All students completed the active questionnaires; 67 also provided passive sensor data. 31 had abnormal SDQ scores. Using passive data, the ML model reached a balanced accuracy of 0.64 and an AUC score of 0.57. Incorporating both data types improved accuracy to 0.67 and AUC to 0.70. Feature importance scores showed step count and questionnaire on racing thoughts and hopefulness as most significant. Conclusions Our findings affirm the potential of integrating passive and active data collection to monitor mental health in real-world settings. Our ML model demonstrated moderate accuracy in predicting adolescents’ mental health risk measured with a behavioural screening questionnaire. This study will guide the development of a ML-driven, personalised mobile intervention for early symptom detection and mental health self-management, which might constitute an innovative and scalable tool for mental health prevention and intervention in adolescents. Key messages • This study shows the feasibility of using active and passive data to predict mental health risk in adolescents. • This study informs the development of a personalised machine learning-driven mobile intervention.

Multi-scale asynchronous correlation and 2D convolutional autoencoder for adolescent health risk prediction with limited fMRI data.

Adolescence is a fundamental period of transformation, encompassing extensive physical, psychological, and behavioral changes. Effective health risk assessment during this stage is crucial for timely intervention, yet traditional methodologies often fail to accurately predict mental and behavioral health risks due to the intricacy of neural dynamics and the scarcity of quality-annotated fMRI datasets. This study introduces an innovative deep learning-based framework for health risk assessment in adolescents by employing a combination of a two-dimensional convolutional autoencoder (2DCNN-AE) with multi-sequence learning and multi-scale asynchronous correlation information extraction techniques. This approach facilitates the intricate analysis of spatial and temporal features within fMRI data, aiming to enhance the accuracy of the risk assessment process. Upon examination using the Adolescent Risk Behavior (AHRB) dataset, which includes fMRI scans from 174 individuals aged 17-22, the proposed methodology exhibited a significant improvement over conventional models. It attained a precision of 83.116%, a recall of 84.784%, and an F1-score of 83.942%, surpassing standard benchmarks in most pertinent evaluative measures. The results underscore the superior performance of the deep learning-based approach in understanding and predicting health-related risks in adolescents. It underscores the value of this methodology in advancing the precision of health risk assessments, offering an enhanced tool for early detection and potential intervention strategies in this sensitive developmental stage.

Mental Health and Suicide Risk Among High School Students and Protective Factors - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023.

Adolescent mental health and suicide risk remain substantial public health concerns. High pre-COVID rates of poor mental health and suicide-related behaviors have continued to rise, highlighting the need to identify factors that might foster positive mental health outcomes and reduce suicide-related behaviors at population levels. Using CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, CDC analyzed the prevalence of mental health and suicide risk indicators and their associations with individual-, family-, and school- or community-level protective factors. Prevalence estimates were calculated for each of the mental health and suicide risk indicators by demographic characteristic. Prevalence ratios adjusted for sex, sexual identity, grade, and race and ethnicity were calculated to examine the association between protective factors and mental health and suicide risk indicators. Overall, 39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 28.5% experienced poor mental health, 20.4% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9.5% had attempted suicide. Mental health and suicide risk indicators differed by sex, sexual identity, grade, and race and ethnicity. All protective factors were associated with lower prevalence of one or more risk indicators. Findings from this report can serve as a foundation for the advancement of research on protective factors and for the development and implementation of programs, practices, and policies that protect and promote mental health and emotional well-being among youth.

Relationships between the external exposome and proteome linked to mental health risk in adolescents

Relationships between the external exposome and proteome linked to mental health risk in adolescents

Paternal and maternal psychological distress and adolescent health risk behaviors: The role of sensitive periods.

Adolescent health risk behaviors are linked to poor physical and mental health outcomes. While past research shows that maternal psychological distress predicts those behaviors, we know less about the role of paternal psychological distress and the role of sensitive periods. Using 11,128 data from families (50.5% female children) from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study, we examined the role of timing of exposure to paternal and maternal psychological distress in engagement in health risk behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, binge drinking, and sexual activity) at age 14. Paternal and maternal psychological distress, measured with the Kessler-6 scale, were assessed at child ages 3, 7, and 11. We performed path analysis, adjusting for key covariates, modeling maternal distress parallel to paternal, and allowing for autoregressive paths. Paternal distress experienced at age 11 predicted a higher likelihood of smoking at age 14. Maternal distress at age 7 also predicted a higher likelihood of smoking, alcohol use, and binge drinking, but only for boys. Moreover, maternal distress at age 3 was associated with a lower risk for alcohol use. Effects were not replicated in the sensitivity analysis we performed, including only families with resident biological fathers across the study period. Instead, maternal and paternal distress at age 11 raised girls' risk for binge drinking and sexual activity, respectively. Parental distress in early childhood does not predict adolescent health risk behaviors. In late childhood, however, both paternal and maternal distress seem to influence the likelihood of engagement in such behaviors.

Maternal Incarceration and Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Patterns: Exploring Gender and Racial Differences

Objectives: Research suggests that adolescents exposed to maternal incarceration have higher odds of being classified into more severe health risk behavior patterns than those without such experiences. However, the potentially heterogeneous effect of maternal imprisonment on adolescents with distinct individual characteristics remains under-investigated. This study aimed to advance the knowledge base by examining its impact based on adolescent gender and race. Methods: Specifically, this research used a nationwide dataset to examine the moderating effect of adolescent gender and racial background on the association between maternal incarceration and adolescent health risk behavior patterns. Results: The interaction terms were not statistically significant in predicting health risk behavior patterns, except for some trends toward significance worth noting. Specifically, black adolescents with maternal incarceration experiences trended toward lower odds, and Hispanic and multiracial or other adolescents trended toward higher odds of being classified into Class 3 than Class 2, compared to their white counterparts. Additionally, multiracial or other adolescents with maternal incarceration experiences trended toward higher odds of being classified into Class 4 than Class 2, compared to their white peers. Conclusions: Maternal incarceration may have a distinct impact on the health risk behavior patterns of adolescents with different racial backgrounds.

Optimization of air parameters in classrooms of educational organizations using interactive panels

Modern education involves the active use of digital learning tools, which may have potential health risks for children and adolescents. Thus, the use of interactive panels (IP) in educational organizations, which everywhere replace traditional blackboards, causes a negative impact on the air parameters of classrooms: temperature rises, humidity decreases, and an imbalance in the content of positive and negative polarity aeroions appears. As you know, these indicators affect a person’s well-being, determine their performance, which determines the need to optimize classroom air. Comparative studies of the microclimate and aeroion composition of the air of classes equipped with IP have been carried out in the process of applying various methods of air optimization: additional wet cleaning, the use of an air humidifier and an air ionizer with a humidification function. Measurements were carried out in the dynamics of the educational organization’s school day: in the first, third and fifth lessons. The use of a humidifier and an ionizer helps to maintain the temperature, relative humidity and aeroionic composition of the air at a relatively stable level. In the absence of additional means of optimizing the air environment in classrooms with IP, the temperature, humidity and content of aeroions already in the middle of the school day go beyond the limits of hygienic standards. During additional wet cleaning, an almost similar pattern is observed, with the exception of the air humidity level, the decrease of which can be somewhat delayed. The results obtained indicate the expediency of optimizing classroom air when using an interactive panel: the use of a humidifier and/or an air ionizer contributed to maintaining the studied parameters practically within the normalized values throughout the school day.

Risk-stratified analysis of sex risk behaviors and correlates among school-going adolescents in Argentina: insights from a national survey.

This study was conducted to address a critical gap in understanding adolescent sexual health risks in Argentina, a country that has undergone substantial socio-economic changes that made significant strides in education and healthcare. A secondary data analysis of the 2018 Argentina Global School-based Student Health Survey was performed. In this study, 23,262 sexually active adolescents were categorized into four risk groups based on the predicted granular risk: number of sexual partners and condom use in their last sexual encounter. Males and older adolescents were more prone to high-risk sexual behaviors. Additionally, key psychosocial factors such as loneliness, anxiety, experiences of violence, and school absenteeism were significantly associated with high-risk sexual behaviors. Early alcohol use and recent experiences of hunger were also identified as strong predictors of heightened sexual risk behaviors. Conversely, positive parental engagement and awareness exhibited protective factors. These findings highlight the necessity for policy interventions that focus on mental health support, parental involvement, and awareness of adolescent issues and activities.

Contraception Use and Pregnancy Risk Among Adolescents in Pediatric Emergency Departments

Unintended pregnancy is a major health risk for adolescents in the US, and adolescents face many barriers to obtaining effective and reliable contraception. To measure and describe the use of contraception, pregnancy risk index (PRI), and emergency contraception (EC) prescriptions among female adolescents accessing the emergency department (ED) for care. This cross-sectional study is a planned secondary analysis of a multicenter trial from April 2021 through April 2022 that used a tablet-based, content-validated, confidential sexual health survey at 6 urban, pediatric tertiary care EDs affiliated with the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. Participants were individuals aged 15 to 21 years presenting to the ED who completed the confidential sexual health survey and indicated female sex assigned at birth and prior penile-vaginal sexual intercourse. Data analysis was performed from January 2023 to February 2024. The primary outcomes were the type and proportion of contraception use, the PRI, and provision of EC. Separate multivariable logistic regression models were performed to identify sociodemographic factors associated with these outcomes. A total of 1063 participants (median [IQR] age, 17.5 [16.5-18.3] years) were included in this analysis; 219 (20.8%) identified as Hispanic, 464 (44.1%) identified as non-Hispanic Black, 308 (29.3%) identified as non-Hispanic White, and 61 (5.8%) identified as other races and ethnicities. In total, 756 participants (71.1%) reported contraception use during their last sexual encounter. Long-acting reversible contraception use (LARC) was the least used (164 participants [15.4%]), and 307 (28.9%) reported no contraception use. Sociodemographic factors associated with overall contraception use, and LARC use specifically, included insurance and race and ethnicity. The overall PRI was 7.89, or an expected 8 pregnancies per 100 female individuals per year. Although 108 participants (10.2%) were eligible for EC, EC was ordered for only 6 (5.6%) of those eligible. In this cross-sectional study of sexually active adolescents presenting to the ED, the majority of participants reported using at least 1 form of contraception; however, LARCs were the least used option, and 28.9% of participants reported no contraceptive use. The unintended pregnancy risk was almost 8% in the study population. Few patients eligible for EC received it. These data suggest a high need and potential opportunity for provision of contraception services in the ED setting.

Emergency department utilisation and treatment for trauma-related presentations of adolescents aged 16–18: a retrospective cross-sectional study

BackgroundA recent study conducted at our tertiary hospital emergency department (ED) reviewed ED consultations and found that adolescents aged 16–18 years present significantly more often for trauma and psychiatric problems than adults over 18 years. Accidental injuries are one of the greatest health risks for children and adolescents. In view of the increased vulnerability of the adolescent population, this study aimed to further analyse trauma-related presentations in adolescents.MethodsWe conducted a single-centre, retrospective, cross-sectional study of all adolescent trauma patients aged 16 to 18 years presenting to the adult ED at the University Hospital (Inselspital) in Bern, Switzerland, from January 2013 to July 2017. We analysed presentation data as well as inpatient treatment and cost-related data. Data of female and male patients were compared by univariable analysis. A comparison group was formed consisting of 200 randomly chosen patients aged 19–25 years old with the same presentation characteristics. Predictive factors for surgical treatment were obtained by multivariable analysis.ResultsThe study population included a total of 1,626 adolescent patients aged 16–18 years. The predominant causes for ED presentation were consistent within case and comparison groups for sex and age and were sports accidents, falls and violence. Male patients were more likely to need surgical treatment (OR 1.8 [95% CI: 1.2–2.5], p = 0.001) and consequently inpatient treatment (OR 1.5 [95% CI: 1.1–2.1], p = 0.01), associated with higher costs (median 792 Swiss francs [IQR: 491-1,598]). Other independent risk factors for surgical treatment were violence-related visits (OR 2.1 [95% CI: 1.3–3.5, p = 0.004]) and trauma to the upper extremities (OR 2.02 [95% CI: 1.5–2.8], p < 0.001). Night shift (OR 0.56 [95% CI: 0.37–0.86], 0.008) and walk-in consultations (OR 0.3 [95% CI: 0.2; 0.4, < 0.001] were preventive factors for surgical treatment.ConclusionsMale adolescents account for the majority of emergency visits and appear to be at higher risk for accidents as well as for surgical treatment and/or inpatient admission due to sports accidents or injuries from violence. We suggest that further preventive measures and recommendations should be implemented and that these should focus on sport activities and injuries from violence.

The Role of the Pediatrician in the Promotion of Healthy, Active Living.

Few children and adolescents meet federal nutrition or physical activity recommendations, and many experience poor or inadequate sleep and negative health effects from screen use and social media. These lifestyle factors exacerbate physical and mental health risks for children and adolescents. This clinical report provides guidance to help pediatricians address the nutritional, physical activity, sleep, media and screen use, and social-emotional factors that affect child and adolescent health and wellness. The recommendations in this clinical report aim to promote health and wellness practices for infants, children, and adolescents across several domains of influence, including the individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and public policy levels.

Analysis of Adolescent Reproductive Health Risk Factors in Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia

Adolescent reproductive health is an important issue in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze risk factors for adolescent reproductive health in Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia. This research used a cross-sectional survey method involving 400 teenagers aged 15-24 years. Data was collected through questionnaires. Data analysis used the Chi-square test. The research results show that risk factors for adolescent reproductive health in Purwakarta Regency include: Low adolescent knowledge about reproductive health (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.45-3.24); Risky sexual behavior, such as having had premarital sexual relations (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.99-4.19); Unsafe use of contraceptives, such as not using contraceptives at all (OR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.99-4.19); Lack of adolescent access to reproductive health services (OR: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.87-3.83). The conclusion of this study shows that efforts need to be made to increase teenagers' knowledge about reproductive health, reduce risky sexual behavior, increase the use of safe contraceptives, and increase teenagers' access to reproductive health services.

Links between mental health problems and future thinking from the perspective of adolescents with experience of depression and anxiety: a qualitative study

BackgroundDepression and anxiety are common during adolescence and could have detrimental impacts on young people’s ability to make and implement plans for their future. However, to the best of our knowledge, no other study has adopted a qualitative approach in investigating these effects from the perspective of adolescents with lived experiences of depression and anxiety. We sought to understand how young people perceive and interpret the impact of mental health conditions on their thinking about the future.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 adolescents aged 16–19 years in the UK (median age = 19, IQR = 1.5), who had a history of protracted periods of clinical or subclinical depression and/or anxiety. They were asked to reflect on how their ability to think about the future and the content of the future-related thinking was impacted during periods of poor mental health, compared with periods of feeling well. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic content analysis.ResultsFive domains were identified. First, the impact of mood on future thinking capability focuses on reduced ability and motivation to engage in future thinking. Second, the impact of mood on images, thoughts, and feelings about the future includes the emotional valence of future-related thoughts, their vividness, structure, and the extent to which they intimated subjective feelings of control (i.e., agency). Third, social influences focuses on social factors that might ameliorate or exacerbate future thinking. Fourth, reflections on personal worries and expectations about the future captures personal interpretations of past worries and hopes and how future thinking affected mood. Finally, personal coping refers to how young people cope with the negative emotions that come with future thinking.ConclusionsThis study provided a nuanced and granular account of how depression and anxiety impacted young people’s future thinking based on their lived experiences. By highlighting the different ways that variations in future thinking were experienced as a function of depression and anxiety, our analysis highlighted new factors that should be considered in studies of adolescent mental health risk, which could inform the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Role of polygenic risk scores in the association between chronotype and health risk behaviors

BackgroundThis study explores the association between chronotypes and adolescent health risk behaviors (HRBs) by testing how genetic background moderates these associations and clarifies the influence of chronotypes and polygenic risk score (PRS) on adolescent HRBs.MethodsUsing VOS-viewer software to select the corresponding data, this study used knowledge domain mapping to identify and develop the research direction with respect to adolescent risk factor type. Next, DNA samples from 264 students were collected for low-depth whole-genome sequencing. The sequencing detected HRB risk loci, 49 single nucleotide polymorphisms based to significant SNP. Subsequently, PRSs were assessed and divided into low, moderate, and high genetic risk according to the tertiles and chronotypes and interaction models were constructed to evaluate the association of interaction effect and clustering of adolescent HRBs. The chronotypes and the association between CLOCK-PRS and HRBs were examined to explore the association between chronotypes and mental health and circadian CLOCK-PRS and HRBs.ResultsFour prominent areas were displayed by clustering information fields in network and density visualization modes in VOS-viewer. The total score of evening chronotypes correlated with high-level clustering of HRBs in adolescents, co-occurrence, and mental health, and the difference was statistically significant. After controlling covariates, the results remained consistent. Three-way interactions between chronotype, age, and mental health were observed, and the differences were statistically significant. CLOCK-PRS was constructed to identify genetic susceptibility to the clustering of HRBs. The interaction of evening chronotypes and high genetic risk CLOCK-PRS was positively correlated with high-level clustering of HRBs and HRB co-occurrence in adolescents, and the difference was statistically significant. The interaction between the sub-dimensions of evening chronotypes and the high genetic CLOCK-PRS risk correlated with the outcome of the clustering of HRBs and HRB co-occurrence.ConclusionsThe interaction of PRS and chronotype and the HRBs in adolescents appear to have an association, and the three-way interaction between the CLOCK-PRS, chronotype, and mental health plays important roles for HRBs in adolescents.

Retracted: Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Intervention of Sports on Adolescent Health Risk Behavior

Retracted: Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Intervention of Sports on Adolescent Health Risk Behavior

Associations between healthy lifestyle behavioral patterns and mental health problems: A latent class analysis of 161,744 Chinese young adults

BackgroundYouth mental health problems are a public health priority. Multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors may cluster into healthy lifestyle behavioral patterns (HLBPs) that increase mental health risks in adolescents and older adults, but little is known regarding young adults. This study aimed to explore the associations between cluster HLBPs and mental health problems in young adults. MethodsWe selected 161,744 young adults aged 20–39 as participants from the database of a Chinese general hospital health management center for the years 2015–2020. The latent class analysis was used to identify HLBPs. ResultsA total of 15.0 % of young adults have at least one mental health problem. Five clusters of HLBPs were identified, characterized as low-risk class (1.6 %), moderate-risk class 1 (12.0 %), moderate-risk class 2 (2.1 %), moderate-risk class 3 (56.8 %), and high-risk class (27.4 %). The odds ratios (ORs) for young adults with two mental health problems increased with the risk grade of HLBPs, while the ORs for young adults with one or three mental health problems ranged from high to low according to the risk grade of HLBPs: high-risk class, moderate-risk class 2, moderate-risk class 3, moderate-risk class 1. LimitationsCross-sectional design and no causal conclusions could be drawn. ConclusionYoung adults demonstrated a cluster phenomenon of healthy lifestyle behaviors and significant associations between HLBPs and mental health problems. Young adults with a higher risk grade for HLBPs were more likely to have mental health problems. Different HLBPs should be taken into account when implementing mental health interventions.

Longitudinal impacts of adverse childhood experiences on multidimensional health outcomes: Predicting trajectories in mental, physical, and behavioral health

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) elevate the risk of poor health later in life. ObjectiveThis study aims to provide a more comprehensive investigation of the multidimensional health risks associated with ACEs, to address a gap in the understanding of their longitudinal impact on mental, physical, and behavioral health domains. Participants and settingThis study included 6, 504 participants (51.61 % females) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (1994–2018). MethodsWe utilized latent class growth analysis to identify trajectories from adolescence to adulthood in three health domains: depression (Mental Health, MH), self-report physical health (SRH), and binge drinking frequency (BDF). Binary logistic regression was then used to assess the unique contributions of different types of ACEs to these longitudinal health trajectories. ResultsThree to four trajectories were identified for MH (consistently low, decreasing, increasing), SRH (consistently low, decreasing, increasing, consistently high), and BDF (consistently low, decreasing, moderate). Regression results showed that experience of emotional abuse and witnessed community violence elevated the risk associated with unfavorable trajectories in the mental health and behavioral health domains, respectively. ConclusionsIndividual ACEs differentially predicted mental, physical, and behavioral health trajectories, potentially through various pathways. Prevention of ACEs could mitigate health risks for adolescents and young adults across these domains.

The dimensionality of perceptual anomalies and their relationships with bullying victimization among Chinese adolescents: From a network perspective

Anomalous perceptual experiences in adolescents are common and may predict future psychotic disorders and other psychopathologies. However, the underlying structure and their specific relationships with bullying victimizations, a typical stressor for adolescents, remain unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to clarify the structure of perceptual anomalies as assessed by the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) using exploratory graph analysis (EGA), a new factor retention method based on network psychometrics. The second aim was to explore whether specific dimensions of perceptual anomalies are particularly associated with certain forms of bullying victimization. Data from a validated sample of 1199 Chinese adolescents (56.0 % females, age range: 14–20) on perceptual anomalies and bullying victimizations were analyzed using network approaches, including EGA and mixed graphical modeling (mgm). Results showed that each anomalous perception was experienced by 13.8–50.3 % of the participants. EGA identified four dimensions: aberrant bodily perceptions, altered daily experiences, chemosensation (i.e., abnormal gustatory and olfactory experiences), and clinical psychosis (i.e., visual and auditory hallucinatory experiences). Among them, the altered daily experiences dimension possessed the highest centrality. Physical bullying and cyberbullying were directly and positively linked to two of the aberrant bodily experiences. Bootstrap analyses suggest that the results are reliable. The current findings support the existence of multiple contributive factors to perceptual anomalies and underscore the importance of bullying prevention in reducing mental health risks for adolescents, particularly the risk of psychosis.

Assessment of health risks due to toxic metals in demersal fish captured from Saros and Edremit Bays, Northern Aegean Sea.

Bays are vulnerable ecosystems generally located near densely populated areas where toxic metals tend to accumulate and stay longer, affecting marine life. This study aimed to investigate the age-based health risks arising from Hg, Cd, Pb, and As in demersal fish captured from two major bays in the Aegean Sea. For this purpose, red mullet, whiting, piper gurnard, and tub gurnard, frequently consumed species, were caught from Saros and Edremit Bays. Toxic metal concentrations were determined from the muscle tissue of fish. Health risk assessments were conducted by the estimation of weekly intake (EWI), provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ (TTHQ), and target carcinogenic risk (TR). Red mullet from Edremit Bay was the species with the highest toxic metal levels, which were 1.597mg/kg, 0.041mg/kg, 0.070mg/kg, and 19.351mg/kg for Hg, Cd, Pb, and As, respectively. Whiting from Edremit Bay had higher mean concentrations of Hg and As than those from Saros Bay. The levels of Hg, Pb, and As (0.328, 0.043, and 0.574mg/kg) in the tub gurnard were higher in comparison with the piper gurnard (0.252, 0.020, and 0.382mg/kg) caught in the same station in Saros. TTHQs of red mullet and whiting from the same bay were found to be > 1, indicating potential health risks for all nine age categories studied. On the other hand, TTHQs of all species from Saros Bay were determined to be > 1 for the first four age categories, which might trigger health risks for children and adolescents. According to the TR index for Pb, no risk was determined for the fish from both bays. However, TR calculations for inorganic As indicated high cancer risk in most of the age categories for red mullet and whiting from Edremit Bay. To sum up, the results revealed that the fish captured from Edremit Bay posed serious health risks in terms of Hg and As concentrations for all nine age categories. Surveillance and monitoring of toxic metal levels in demersal fish and population-based health risk evaluation are vital in heavily populated bays.

Questionable advisability of vitamin and mineral dietary supplement use in adolescents

ObjectivePresent study aimed to assess potential health risk in Slovenian adolescents due to inadequate diet and/or dietary supplement (DS) use.MethodsData on DS use, micronutrient intake (24-h recall), eating habits (FFQ), body height and mass were collected within ACDSi (Analysis of Children’s Development in Slovenia) cross-sectional study conducted in 2014. Adolescents enrolled in first year of 15 secondary schools (average (SD) age: 15.4 (0.7) years, N = 342) were included in the sample.ResultsAdolescents’ use of DS (especially multivitamins ingested as a popular drink (60%), magnesium (16%), and vitamin C (10%)) significantly contributed to their absolute intake of vitamins/minerals, resulting in higher percentage of DS users meeting reference values proposed by the nutrition societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (D-A-CH recommendation). Simultaneously, DS users did not exceed the upper tolerable level proposed by the European Food Safety Authority for daily intake. With diet alone, adolescents consumed less than recommended amounts of the following vitamins/minerals: the intake was lowest for fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E; water-soluble vitamins folate, biotin, and pantothenic acid; and minerals fluoride, iodine, chromium, and molybdenum. Suboptimal intake was due to the fact that around ¾ of adolescents consumed less than 54% of the recommended amounts (according to Optimized Mixed Diet (OMD) recommendations) for fruits, vegetables, milk/dairy products, fish, and cereals/cereal products. In contrast, the diet contributed to the consumption of 200–300% of D-A-CH minimum value for sodium. Furthermore, almost ¾ of adolescents exceeded the recommended amount for meat/meat products (320% of OMD) and sweet/salty snacks (453% of OMD).ConclusionsAlthough DS use improved micronutrient intake in adolescents (especially vitamin C and magnesium), activities on public-health interventions should be focus to improve their diets, especially to achieve increased intakes of fruits, vegetables, cereals/cereal products and milk/dairy products, and to reduce consumption of sweet/salty snacks and meat products.