Consumption of food supplements in the Fes-Meknes region (Morocco); profiles and typology

Background

The consumption of food supplements is increasing. This evolution is due to several factors, including nutritional deficiencies in the population, a sedentary lifestyle, and a decrease in physical activity. In addition, stress and an active lifestyle led to several dysfunctions (fatigue, deconcentration) that food supplements can help to overcome.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the profiles of food supplement consumers in the Fes-Meknes region (Morocco), distribution, and production of these products. In addition, this survey aimed to evaluate consumers' knowledge of food supplements as part of their self-medication.

Material and methods

The present study was conducted in the form of a survey using a questionnaire composed of two parts. The first part provides information on the socio-demographic status of respondents, including gender, age, and level of education. The second part concerned various information on the consumption of food supplements.

Results

The results obtained showed that of the 498 subjects, 68.88% declared that they had already consumed the food supplements. The study revealed the predominance of the female gender at 69.68% and the age group 21-30 years (80.32%). Among the reasons for consumption, improving general health comes first with 56.29%. Our results also showed high consumption of vitamins (44.04%) and minerals (24.79%), next come proteins and plant extracts at 16.62% and 14.54% respectively. The consumption of food supplements is most often done on the advice of a doctor or dietician with 43.60%, and the pharmacy and para-pharmacy remains the main distribution channel at 75.78%.

Conclusion

The present survey allowed us to update the current situation of food supplement consumption and a way of regulatory monitoring and more control for an organization of the sector.

Seasonal variability of picophytoplankton under contrasting environments in northern Tunisian coasts, southwestern Mediterranean Sea

We investigated at the single cell level during 16months (June 2012 to September 2013) the temporal distribution of picophytoplankton (picoeukaryotes, Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus) communities in two contrasted ecosystems: the Bay of Bizerte characterised by an oligotrophic regime typical of the Mediterranean Sea and the Bizerte Lagoon that exhibits a mesotrophic/eutrophic state. We aimed at depicting seasonal variations and quantifying the relationships between the environmental factors and the structure and abundance of picophytoplankton communities. Results showed that picophytoplankton groups were able to grow under a wide range of environmental conditions varying seasonally, although their abundances and contributions to the total chlorophyll biomass significantly varied and showed importance in the Bay of Bizerte. Synechococcus was the most abundant group reaching 225∗10³cells·cm^-3 in the Bay and 278∗10³cells·cm^-3 in the lagoon. This group was present all over the year in both ecosystems. Structural equation model results pointed out a different configuration regarding the picophytoplankton environmental drivers. The complexity of the configuration, i.e. number of significant links within the system, decreased under enhanced eutrophication conditions. The less exposure to anthropogenic stress, i.e. in the Bay of Bizerte, highlight a larger role of nutrient and hydrological conditions on the seasonal variations of picophytoplankton, whereas a negative effect of eutrophication on picophytoplankton communities was unveiled in the Bizerte Lagoon. We stress that such influence may be exacerbated under expected scenarios of Mediterranean warming conditions and nutrient release in coastal ecosystems.

[Time for implementation of hypolipemiant treatment in patient with dyslipidemia in general medicine: results of the Prysme study]

INTRODUCTION

Despite of specific guidelines regarding the treatment of dyslipidemia, therapeutic management of patients is not optimal. The objectives of this study were to describe the time for implementation of hypolipemiant treatment and to identify the determinants.

METHODS

This was an observational, transversal, prospective, multicenter study carried out in France by general practitioners. Adult patients with dyslipidemia diagnosed since<2 years were eligible for this study. Demographic, diagnosis and disease characteristics, and treatment procedures were collected.

RESULTS

Three thousand six hundred and twenty-four patients were enrolled by 1226 physicians, and data from 3268 patients meeting the selection criteria were analyzed. Mean age was 57 years old, 64% were male. More than 45% of the patients were overweight, 26% were obese. Only 12% of the patients had no cardiovascular risk factor at the time of dyslipidemia diagnosis. The most frequent cardiovascular risk factors consisted in arterial hypertension (50%), smoking (43%), family antecedents of coronary disease (28%), HDL-cholesterol less than 0.4g/L (20%); 15% of the patients had personal antecedents of cardiovascular disease. Initial management of dyslipidemia included implementation of lifestyle changes for 98% of the patients. More than 90% of the patients were treated with a statin. The median time for implementation of hypolipemiant treatment was 2.9 months. The hypolipemiant treatment was initiated more than 3 months after dyslipidemia diagnosis for 43% of the patients. The main determinant factor of an early implementation of hypolipemiant treatment (≤3 months) was secondary prevention (OR=2.2). The number of cardiovascular risk factors had no significant impact.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the lack of awareness towards the number of cardiovascular risk factors in the management of dyslipidemia, in primary prevention.