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Nutritional knowledge, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors as determinants of diet quality – a Polish population-based study
Alicja Kucharska, Beata Irena Sińska, Mariusz Pańczyk, Piotr Samel‐Kowalik, Filip Raciborski, Aneta Czerwonogrodzka–Senczyna, Iwona Boniecka, Iwona Traczyk. Frontiers in Public Health, 2025-08-21
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Introduction Nutritional knowledge is a recognized determinant of dietary behaviors, though its impact may vary with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. To capture such interactions and population variability, advanced methods like moderation and latent class analyses are needed. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional knowledge and diet quality among Polish adults, accounting for socioeconomic determinants, and to identify subgroups at risk of poorer dietary patterns. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from two nationally representative surveys (2017–2020), totaling 4,000 adults. Nutritional knowledge was measured with the validated KomPAN questionnaire, and diet quality was assessed with the Diet Quality Index (DQI). Associations were tested via linear regression, moderation analysis explored interactions between knowledge and demographics, and latent class analysis (LCA) identified dietary lifestyle subgroups. Results The mean DQI score was −0.79 (SD = 13.40). Higher nutritional knowledge (β = 0.87, p < 0.001) and higher education were positively associated with diet quality. Women and older adults had better diets; smoking and alcohol consumption were linked to poorer outcomes. Multivariate models confirmed nutritional knowledge, sex, and age as independent predictors. The beneficial effect of knowledge was weaker in older adults (β = −0.49, p < 0.001). LCA revealed three profiles; the poorest diets occurred among younger men with low knowledge and unhealthy behaviors, and younger adults with higher socioeconomic status. Conclusion Nutritional knowledge supports better diet quality but may not suffice especially in older adults. Tailored public health strategies are needed for vulnerable groups, including younger men with low knowledge and those with higher socioeconomic status but poor diets.
Key findings
- Results The mean DQI score was −0.79 (SD = 13.40).
- Higher nutritional knowledge (β = 0.87, p < 0.001) and higher education were positively associated with diet quality.
- LCA revealed three profiles; the poorest diets occurred among younger men with low knowledge and unhealthy behaviors, and younger adults with higher socioeconomic status.
Why it matters
This study examined nutritional knowledge and diet quality in Polish adults, not Alzheimer's disease, so it provides no information on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's. It found that higher nutritional knowledge and education were linked to better diet quality.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants4,000
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Public Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Public Health: journal h-index 174 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 4,000 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 13 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Iwona Traczyk: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Medical University of Warsaw: institution h-index 348 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40917426) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1613598
- PubMed: 40917426
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Public Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kucharska, A., Sińska, B. I., Pańczyk, M., Samel‐Kowalik, P., Raciborski, F., Czerwonogrodzka–Senczyna, A., et al. (2025). Nutritional knowledge, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors as determinants of diet quality – a Polish population-based study. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1613598
Vancouver
Kucharska A, Sińska BI, Pańczyk M, Samel‐Kowalik P, Raciborski F, Czerwonogrodzka–Senczyna A, et al. Nutritional knowledge, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors as determinants of diet quality – a Polish population-based study. Frontiers in Public Health. 2025. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1613598. PMID: 40917426.
BibTeX
@article{kucharska2025-40917426,
author = {Kucharska, Alicja and Sińska, Beata Irena and Pańczyk, Mariusz and Samel‐Kowalik, Piotr and Raciborski, Filip and Czerwonogrodzka–Senczyna, Aneta and Boniecka, Iwona and Traczyk, Iwona},
title = {{Nutritional knowledge, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors as determinants of diet quality – a Polish population-based study}},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2025.1613598},
pmid = {40917426},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1613598}
}
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