Scientific and methodological approaches to the prevention of health disorders in children and adolescents living under the influence of adverse climatic and geographical factors

Introduction. The present study was conducted on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (KhMAO).

The aim of the study was to develop scientifically based approaches to the prevention of adverse climatic and geographical factors in the territories of the Far North, the Arctic and equivalent territories by optimizing nutrition with bioprophylaxis.

Materials and methods. In the course of the study, modern hygienic, epidemiological and statistical research methods were used. The study was conducted on the basis of the Education Center No. 7 in Khanty-Mansiysk. The object of the study were preschool-school-age children and adolescents living in the study area, among whom two groups were formed: the preventive group, which received the bioprophylactic complex “Immunocol Plus”, and the control group, which received a regular diet. The effectiveness of optimized nutrition was evaluated by noninvasive methods: by analyzing immunological indices in the flushing of oral fluid and intestinal microbiota, as well as on the basis of medical examinations and a survey of parents.

Results. As a result of the study, children in KhMAO were found to live in conditions of complex exposure to adverse environmental factors, which forms a deficiency of basic micronutrients that contribute to an adequate immune response of the body to the effects of infectious and non-infectious factors. According to the results of a medical examination after the course of taking Immunocol Plus, the condition of the oropharynx improved in children: the incidence of folliculosis of the posterior pharyngeal wall decreased by almost 2 times. According to the results of laboratory examination of saliva, on the one hand, a decrease in the inflammatory component (interleukin-1β) was noted, on the other hand, stimulation of immunity, which manifested itself in an increase in the secretion of IgA, lysozyme, and gamma interferon in children taking the biocomplex. In addition, the number of normal intestinal microflora in children increased by 2 times, the content of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria decreased by 4.5 times.

Limitations. The present study on the impact of actual nutrition on the alimentary status in children was conducted by non-invasive methods, including using questionnaires, limited by the age of the subjects and the place of residence.

Conclusion. Scientifically based approaches to biological prevention have been developed to increase the general nonspecific resistance of the body and reduce infectious morbidity in regions with unfavourable climatic and geographical factors.

Compliance with ethical standards. This study was conducted in compliance with biomedical ethics standards and in coordination with the Ethics Committee of the Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing (Protocol № 3 from November 7, 2023). All participants and their legal representatives gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Kuzmin S.V. – scientific idea, research concept;
Setko A.G. – research concept and design, text writing, editing;
Sinitsyna O.O. – research design, text editing;
Sutunkova M.P. – material collection and data processing;
Maisel S.G. – material collection and data processing, scientific idea.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study was conducted within the framework of the industry research program on hygiene No. 124031200020-7.

Received: October 21, 2024 / Revised: November 15, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: December 28, 2024