PD327 - MICROBIOTA AWARENESS, MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE, AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN TURKISH ADOLESCENTS: THE KNOWLEDGE-PRACTICE GAP

PD327

MICROBIOTA AWARENESS, MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE, AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN TURKISH ADOLESCENTS: THE KNOWLEDGE-PRACTICE GAP

B. N. Kocabaş^1,*, N. Gündüz Kıl¹

¹Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Türkiye

Rationale: The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in metabolic regulation and gastrointestinal function, particularly during adolescence, a critical developmental period. Recently, microbiota awareness has emerged as a novel dimension of health literacy. This study evaluates associations between microbiota awareness, healthy eating attitudes, Mediterranean diet adherence, and gastrointestinal symptom severity in adolescents.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 550 adolescents aged 10–19 years were recruited in Türkiye. Analyses were conducted using SPSS v27.0 (p<0.05).The study employed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (GSSI) alongside validated instruments: the Microbiota Awareness Scale (MAS), the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), and the Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN). Analyses were conducted using SPSS v27.0 (p<0.05).

Results: The participants had a mean age of 15.77 ± 2.34 years, with 52% exhibiting low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. No significant correlation was found between MAS and KIDMED (p=0.496). A strong positive correlation was observed between ASHN and KIDMED (r=0.465, p<0.01). Higher ASHN (r=-0.162) and KIDMED scores (r=-0.126) were significantly associated with reduced gastrointestinal symptom severity (p<0.01). MAS scores showed a weak positive correlation with GSSI (r=0.091, p=0.032). Regular sugar consumption was linked to significantly higher GSSI levels (p=0.004). Individuals using probiotics exhibited higher MAS (p=0.001) and GSSI (p=0.017) scores than non-users.

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Conclusion: These findings highlight a distinct "knowledge–behavior gap" in adolescents, demonstrating that dietary quality is driven not by awareness alone but by attitude. Positive attitudes toward healthy eating promote Mediterranean diet adherence and reduce gastrointestinal symptoms.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared