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Eating a healthy and varied diet is an important factor in supporting the maintenance of mental health. Many nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, are essential for proper brain function and a lack of them can contribute to impaired mental function. For workers who are exposed to excessive mental stress during work activities a balanced diet is particularly important to maintain cognitive performance, increase resistance to stress and maintain good overall psychophysical performance. A review was conducted to find scientific papers dedicated to studying the impact of nutrition on mental fitness. The review included papers published 2012–2025. As a result of the literature analysis, selected nutrients that play an important role in the proper functioning of the nervous system were listed. The role each component plays in the body and the consequences of deficiencies were discussed. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(6):487–497

The aim of the article is to compare people working remotely and people working at the employer's premises in terms of psychosocial working conditions and mental well-being. A longitudinal study conducted on a group of 494 people working remotely (N = 206) and those working stationary (N = 288) in 2021-2022 using the . The results of analysis of variance in the mixed design showed that some psychosocial conditions of their work (e.g., emotional work demands, demands for hiding emotions, control at work, role conflict and trust in co-workers) were assessed better by remote workers than by people working stationary. Remote workers also had better mental well-being over time than those working at the employer's premises, especially in relation to psychological strain, depression and burnout. The results of this study therefore suggest that remote work may be a desirable form of work from the point of view of improving psychosocial working conditions and the mental well-being of employees, and thus increase the quality of life of working people. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(2):135-50  .

The identification of the vitamin D receptor in tissues related to testosterone and cortisol production, in conjunction with the observed correlations between vitamin D levels and these hormones in the general population, suggest vitamin D may influence testosterone and cortisol concentrations in athletes. A cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate the association between 25(OH)D and testosterone and cortisol concentrations in young male ice hockey players ( = 50). All athletes were recruited during October from the Sosnowiec area, Poland (50° N). Commercially available ELISA kits were used to determine total serum 25(OH)D, testosterone and cortisol concentrations. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was analyzed as both a continuous and dichotomous variable, binned at the criteria for deficiency (< 20 ng·ml ), to investigate a threshold effect. Neither continuous (r = 0.18, p = 0.20) nor dichotomous ( = 0.16, = 0.27) 25(OH)D concentration was significantly correlated with testosterone concentration. A small, inverse correlation ( = -0.30, = 0.04) was detected between 25(OH)D and cortisol concentrations when analyzed as a dichotomous variable only. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was neither associated with testosterone ( = 0.09) nor cortisol concentrations ( = 0.11) after adjusting for age, fat free mass and fat mass in sequential linear regression. The inability of vitamin D status to independently predict testosterone and cortisol concentrations suggests that any performance-enhancing effects of vitamin D in athletes are unlikely to be mediated primarily through these hormones, at least amongst young male ice-hockey players.

the aim of the study was to compare two methods for measuring punching and kicking force and the reaction time of athletes. both systems were designed to measure and to analyse the mechanical characteristics of punches and strikes delivered by upper and lower limbs to a punching bag. The main difference between both punching bags was the way in which the delivered force was measured. The first method used strain gauges while the second method used accelerometer technology. Both systems consisted of a punching bag with software, attached signal diodes, and either embedded accelerometers or strain gauges. The bags were of different sizes. Acceleration transducers and gyroscopes or strain gauges were placed inside the punching bags, which allowed for measuring dynamics while the bag was struck. The software calculated strike force, the point of force application and its direction, and reaction time. Both systems were tested. the results of the accelerometer-based method show that the mean relative error of force calculation amounts to 3%. The measurement error of acceleration is less than 1%. The mean relative measurement error of the striking surface on the punching bag is 2%. However, the measurement error of force recorded with the strain gauge-based method is less than 1%. The results show that both systems are similar. the punching bag having an embedded accelerometer is equipped with more versatile software, which makes the system a good tool for practical application in combat sport training.

estimate reaction forces and muscle torque in lower limb joints during the Naeryo chagi technique in taekwondo. the parameters of the Naeryo chagi kick were measured with a Vicon motion tracking system comprising ten MX T40S cameras, two reference cameras and four AMTI BP600900-2000 force plates. Additional measurements were performed using the BTS-4AP-2K force analysis system equipped with a WB-4AP punching bag. The acquired raw data were processed and synchronized using Matlab v.R2007a software. A computer simulation created on the basis of the adopted mathematical model was used to identify reaction forces and control moments. the highest joint loads occurred at the moment when the striking leg reversed its movement direction from rising to rapidly falling towards the target. The knee and ankle joints of the supporting leg were subject to greatest reaction forces and muscle torque. it is recommended to follow an exercise routine aimed at strengthening and stabilizing the structures of motor system subject to the greatest load.

to evaluate the differences in H-reflex parameters in lying and standing positions in canoeists. twenty seven male canoeists (age 17.2 ± 1.6 year, body mass 73.7 ± 7.6 kg, height 180.9 ± 6.1 cm, training experience 6.5 ± 3.6 years) participated in the study. None of the subjects had any history of neuromuscular disorders. The soleus H-reflex was examined in each subject twice: in lying and standing position. H-reflex was elicited by one-millisecond electrical stimulation of a posterior tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa. A recruitment curve for each subject was obtained by gradually increasing the stimulus intensity. the results obtained in the present study showed statistically significant differences of the variables characterising effects of stimulations performed in lying and standing positions (F4,23 = 8.063; p < 0.001). H/M ratio was 0.50 ± 0.25 and 0.64 ± 0.27 for lying and standing positions, respectively. Our results support previous findings. the lying position is recommended for measurements as more comfortable for subjects and providing a greater level of the elicited H-reflex.

The aim of the study was to assess physiological tremor as a result of fatigue related to manual activities, taking into account age, gender and upper limb (dominant and non-dominant). The study included participants from 2 age groups, 25-35 years and 55-65 years. Work fatigue was induced during a 3-hour (180 min) 2-handed upper limb control task which consisted of 3 stages. The first stage lasted 30 min, the second stage - 60 min (90 min from the beginning of the effort) and the third stage - 90 min (180 min from the beginning of the effort). Measurements of physiological tremor were performed before exercise and at 30 min, 90 min and 180 min of exercise duration. An acceleration measurement set-up for both upper limbs was used to collect tremor time courses. The power spectral density functions of the tremor signals were analyzed. Amplitude indicators from the frequency range 1-5 Hz and 8-14 Hz were extracted for analysis. The age of the subjects did not significantly affect the parameters of physiological tremor. Amplitude indicators from lower (1-5 Hz) and higher (8-14 Hz) frequencies take lower average values for women. For both indicators, a significant difference was observed in the subsequent measurements. The mean values of both indicators for the non-dominant limb were significantly higher. Physiological tremor measurement carried out simultaneously for both upper limbs to analyze muscle fatigue during repetitive work can improve the efficiency of assessing the occurrence of fatigue on the job and increase the efficiency of assessing adaptive capabilities. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2026;39(1).

The aim was to examine the association between serum vitamin D concentration and isometric strength of various muscle groups, vertical jump performance, and repeated sprint ability in young ice hockey players. The secondary aim was to determine the association between vitamin D deficiency and indices of iron status. Fifty male ice hockey players (17.2±0.9 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Exercise performance was evaluated using isometric strength measures of upper and lower extremities, vertical jump performance and repeated sprint ability (RSA). Blood samples were collected for the determination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and multiple indicies of iron status. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 30.4 ng·ml-1 and ranged from 12.5 to 91.4 ng·ml-1. Eleven participants (22%) had vitamin D deficiency and 20 athletes (40%) had vitamin D insufficiency. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was not positively correlated with isometric muscle strength, vertical jump performance, or RSA after adjusting for age, training experience, fat mass, fat free mass and height. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was not associated with indices of iron status. Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in ice hockey players, but 25(OH)D concentration but it is not associated with exercise performance or indices of iron status.

The aim of the study was to define the changes of the characteristics of physiological postural tremor under conditions of increasing fatigue and lack of sleep during prolonged military training (survival). The subjects of the study were 15 students of the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin. The average age was 19.9±1.3 years. During the 36-hour-long continuous military training (survival) the subjects were deprived of sleep. Four tremor measurements were carried out for each of the subjects: Day 1 - morning, after rest (measurement 0); Day 2 - morning, after overnight physical exercise (measurement 1); afternoon, after continuous sleep deprivation (measurement 2); Day 3 - morning, after a full night sleep (measurement 3). The accelerometric method using an acceleration measuring kit was applied to analyse tremor. A significant difference between mean values of the index evaluating tremor power in low frequencies L2-4 in measurement 0 and measurement 3 was observed (p<0.01). No significant differences were found in mean values of index L10-20. Mean frequencies F2-4 differed significantly from each other (F2,42=4.53; p<0.01). Their values were 2.94±0.11, 2.99±0.9, 2.93±0.07 and 2.91±0.07 for successive measurements. A gradual, significant decrease of F8-14 was observed (F2,42=5.143; p<0.01). Prolonged sleep deprivation combined with performing tasks demanding constant physical effort causes long-lasting (over 24 hours) changes of the amplitude of low-frequency tremor changes. This phenomenon may significantly influence psychomotor performance, deteriorating the ability to perform tasks requiring movement precision.

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between changes in physiological tremor after exercise and changes in the traction properties of the stretch reflex indirectly assessed using the Hoffmann reflex test. The research involved 19 young men practicing canoe sprint (age 16.4 ± 0.7 years, body mass 74.4 ± 6.7 kg, body height 182.1 ± 4.3 cm, training experience 4.8 ± 1.6 years). During resting tests, Hoffmann reflex measurements were performed from the soleus muscle, physiological tremor of the lower limb, and the blood lactate concentration was determined. Then, a graded test was carried out on the kayak/canoe ergometer. Immediately after the exercise and in the 10th and 25th minute following the exercise, Hoffmann’s reflex of the soleus muscle was measured. The physiological tremor was measured at 5, 15 and 30 min after exercise. Blood lactate concentrations were determined immediately after physiological tremor. Both the parameters of Hoffmann’s reflex and physiological tremor changed significantly after exercise. There were no significant interrelationships between Hoffmann reflex measurements and physiological tremor in resting and post-exercise conditions. No significant correlation was detected between changes in physiological tremor and changes in Hoffmann reflex parameters. It is to be assumed that there is no connection between a stretch reflex and a physiological tremor.