. 2022 Jun 1;10:892233. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.892233

Table 4.

Health characteristics of the study group.

Overall (%)	All participants	Poland (n = 1,317)		Germany (n = 1,184)		United Kingdom (n = 1,087)
		Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male
	n = 3,588	1,030 (78.21)^B	287 (21.79)^a	994 (83.95)^A	190 (16.05)^b	911 (83.81)^A	176 (16.19)^b
Diagnosed disease
No	2,394 (66.72)	637 (61.84)^B	201 (70.03)^a	653 (65.69)^AB	135 (71.05)^a	633 (69.48)^A	135 (76.70)^a
Anemia	101 (2.81)	26 (2.52)^A	1 (0.35)^a	30 (3.02)^A	2 (1.05)^a	42 (4.61)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Atherosclerosis	4 (0.11)	3 (0.29)^A	0 (0.00)^a	1 (0.10)^A	0 (0.00)^a	0 (0.00)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Diabetes	23 (0.64)	5 (0.49)^A	2 (0.70)^a	9 (0.91)^A	2 (1.05)^a	3 (0.33)^A	2 (1.14)^a
Hypertension	59 (1.64)	10 (0.97)^A	12 (4.18)^a	13 (1.31)^A	13 (6.84)^a	6 (0.66)^A	5 (2.84)^a
Hyperthyroidism	10 (0.28)	3 (0.29)^A	0 (0.00)^a	3 (0.30)^A	1 (0.53)^a	3 (0.33)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Hypothyroidism	301 (8.39)	118 (11.46)^A	5 (1.74)^a	103 (10.36)^AB	8 (4.21)^a	65 (7.14)^B	2 (1.14)^a
Liver disease	15 (0.42)	1 (0.10)^A	4 (1.39)^a	0 (0.00)^A	4 (2.11)^a	4 (0.44)^A	2 (1.14)^a
Osteoporosis	7 (0.20)	1 (0.10)^A	2 (0.70)^a	2 (0.20)^A	0 (0.00)^a	2 (0.22)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Rheumatism	30 (0.84)	11 (1.07)^A	1 (0.35)^a	10 (1.01)^A	1 (0.53)^a	6 (0.66)^A	1 (0.57)^a
Other	644 (17.95)	215 (20.87)^A	59 (20.56)^a	170 (17.10)^A	24 (12.63)^a	147 (16.14)^A	29 (16.48)^a
Bowel disease
No	3,227 (89.94)	903 (87.67)^A	262 (91.29)^a	905 (91.05)^A	177 (93.16)^a	812 (89.13)^A	168 (95.45)^a
Coeliac disease	24 (0.67)	7 (0.68)^A	2 (0.70)^a	10 (1.01)^A	0 (0.00)^a	5 (0.55)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Crohn's disease	15 (0.42)	3 (0.29)^A	0 (0.00)^a	8 (0.80)^A	0 (0.00)^a	4 (0.44)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Intestinal ulcers	21 (0.59)	4 (0.39)^A	2 (0.70)^a	4 (0.40)^A	2 (1.05)^a	5 (0.55)^A	4 (2.27)^a
SIBO/IBS	128 (3.57)	46 (4.47)^A	9 (3.14)^a	10 (1.01)^A	2 (1.05)^a	58 (6.73)^A	3 (1.70)^a
Other	173 (4.82)	67 (6.50)^A	12 (4.18)^a	57 (5.73)^A	9 (4.74)^a	27 (2.96)^A	1 (0.57)^a
Gastrointestinal problems (flatulence; bloating; rumbling in intestines)
daily	510 (14.21)	153 (14.85)^A	43 (14.98)^a	145 (14.59)^A	22 (11.58)^a	121 (13.28)^A	26 (14.77)^a
a few/weeks	1,015 (28.29)	301 (29.22)^A	73 (25.44)^a	282 (28.37)^A	55 (28.95)^a	261 (28.65)^A	43 (24.43)^a
a few/months	1,004 (27.98)	322 (31.26)^A	91 (31.71)^a	260 (26.16)^A	38 (20.00)^b	258 (28.32)^A	35 (19.89)^b
a few/years	195 (5.43)	58 (5.63)^A	19 (6.62)^a	43 (4.33)^A	10 (5.26)^a	57 (6.26)^A	8 (4.55)^a
No	864 (24.08)	196 (19.03)^B	61 (21.25)^b	264 (26.56)^A	65 (34.21)^a	214 (23.49)^AB	64 (36.36)^a
Vomit/diarrhea
Daily	31 (0.86)	10 (0.97)^A	2 (0.70)^a	9 (0.91)^A	2 (1.05)^a	7 (0.77)^A	1 (0.57)^a
a few/weeks	163 (4.54)	42 (4.08)^A	13 (4.53)^a	54 (5.43)^A	10 (5.26)^a	37 (4.06)^A	7 (3.98)^a
a few/months	567 (15.80)	173 (16.80)^A	42 (14.63)^a	161 (16.20)^A	32 (16.84)^a	141 (15.84)^A	18 (10.23)^a
a few/years	498 (13.88)	155 (15.05)^AB	42 (14.63)^a	101 (10.16)^B	13 (6.84)^a	168 (18.44)^A	19 (10.80)^a
No	2,329 (64.91)	650 (63.11)^A	188 (65.51)^a	669 (67.30)^A	133 (70.00)^a	558 (61.25)^A	131 (74.43)^a
Immune disorders (throat infection;sinusitis; flu) in the last years
No	1,404 (39.13)	306 (29.71)^C	94 (32.75)^b	496 (49.90)^A	105 (55.26)^a	331 (36.33)^B	72 (40.91)^ab
1x/season	1,162 (32.39)	367 (35.63)^A	91 (31.71)^a	248 (24.95)^B	55 (28.95)^a	337 (36.99)^A	64 (36.36)^a
1x/quarter	758 (21.13)	259 (25.15)^A	80 (27.87)^a	186 (18.71)^B	23 (12.11)^b	179 (19.65)^AB	31 (17.61)^ab
1x/months	200 (5.57)	78 (7.57)^A	14 (4.88)^a	47 (4.73)^A	7 (3.68)^a	47 (5.16)^A	7 (3.98)^a
> 2x/months	64 (1.78)	20 (1.94)^A	8 (2.79)^a	17 (1.71)^A	0 (0.00)^a	17 (1.87)^A	2 (1.14)^a
Headaches
Daily	103 (2.87)	30 (2.91)^A	4 (1.39)^a	31 (3.12)^A	4 (2.11)^a	27 (2.96)^A	7 (3.98)^a
a few/weeks	640 (17.84)	189 (18.35)^A	30 (10.45)^a	214 (21.53)^A	20 (10.53)^a	161 (17.67)^A	26 (14.77)^a
a few/months	1,457 (40.61)	481 (46.70)^A	88 (30.33)^a	394 (39.64)^B	52 (27.37)^a	398 (43.69)^AB	44 (25.00)^a
a few/years	415 (11.57)	128 (12.43)^A	47 (16.38)^a	97 (9.76)^A	22 (11.58)^a	100 (10.98)^A	21 (11.93)^a
No	973 (27.12)	202 (19.61)^B	118 (41.11)^a	258 (25.96)^A	92 (48.42)^a	225 (24.70)^AB	78 (44.32)^a
Concentration problems
Daily	591 (16.47)	170 (16.50)^A	54 (18.82)^a	153 (15.39)^A	19 (10.00)^a	166 (18.22)^A	29 (16.48)^a
a few/weeks	1,046 (29.15)	323 (31.36)^A	85 (29.62)^a	285 (28.67)^A	47 (24.74)^a	265 (28.10)^A	50 (28.41)^a
a few/months	801 (22.32)	242 (23.50)^A	54 (18.82)^a	235 (23.64)^A	39 (20.53)^a	206 (22.61)^A	25 (14.20)^a
a few/years	121 (3.37)	26 (2.52)^A	7 (2.44)^a	35 (3.52)^A	6 (3.16)^a	41 (4.50)^A	6 (3.41)^a
No	1,029 (28.68)	269 (26.12)^A	87 (30.31)^a	286 (28.77)^A	79 (41.58)^a	242 (26.56)^A	66 (37.50)^a
Muscle tremors
Daily	134 (3.73)	37 (3.59)^A	17 (5.92)^a	26 (2.62)^A	5 (2.63)^a	38 (4.17)^A	11 (6.25)^a
a few/weeks	457 (12.74)	140 (13.59)^A	41 (14.29)^a	106 (10.66)^A	24 (12.63)^a	123 (13.50)^A	23 (13.07)^a
a few/months	1,055 (29.40)	364 (35.34)^A	89 (31.01)^a	259 (26.06)^B	40 (21.05)^a	257 (28.21)^B	46 (26.14)^a
a few/years	464 (12.93)	154 (14.95)^A	45 (15.68)^a	103 (10.36)^A	19 (10.00)^a	125 (13.72)^A	18 (10.23)^a
No	1,478 (41.19)	335 (32.52)^C	95 (33.10)^b	500 (50.30)^A	102 (53.68)^a	368 (40.40)^B	78 (44.32)^ab
Skin problems(multiple choice)
No	821 (22.88)	161 (15.63)^A	105 (36.59)^b	192 (19.32)^A	93 (48.95)^a	185 (20.31)^A	85 (48.30)^ab
Acne	1,321 (36.82)	425 (41.26)^A	72 (25.09)^a	379 (38.13)^A	37 (19.47)^a	379 (41.60)^A	29 (16.48)^a
Discoloration	1,098 (30.60)	424 (41.17)^A	46 (16.03)^a	257 (25.86)^B	19 (10.00)^a	321 (35.24)^A	31 (17.61)^a
Dry and rough	1,725 (48.08)	571 (55.44)^A	110 (38.33)^a	524 (52.72)^A	66 (34.74)^a	391 (42.92)^B	63 (35.80)^a
Flaking	428 (11.93)	124(12.04)^A	45 (15.68)^a	119 (11.97)^A	23 (12.11)^a	87 (9.55)^A	30 (17.05)^a
Perleche	312 (8.70)	111 (10.78)^A	28 (9.76)^a	105 (10.56)^A	7 (3.68)^a	52 (5.71)^B	9 (5.11)^a
Slow wound healing	504 (14.05)	163 (15.83)^A	17 (5.92)^a	147 (14.79)^A	14 (7.37)^a	146 (16.03)^A	17 (9.66)^a
Keratosis	474 (13.21)	140 (13.59)^AB	47 (16.38)^a	184 (18.51)^A	14 (7.37)^a	78 (8.56)^B	11 (6.25)^a
Other	422 (11.76)	104 (10.10)^A	21 (7.32)^a	130 (13.08)^A	18 (9.47)^a	136 (14.93)^A	13 (7.39)^a
Hair problems (multiple choice)
No	1,082 (30.16)	211 (20.49)^B	167 (58.19)^a	284 (28.57)^A	111 (58.42)^a	210 (23.05)^AB	99 (56.25)^a
Dandruff	642 (17.89)	194 (18.83)^A	41 (14.29)^a	190 (19.11)^A	23 (12.11)^a	169 (18.55)^A	25 (14.20)^a
Dry and brittle	1,641 (45.74)	568 (55.15)^A	32 (11.15)^a	511 (51.41)^A	26 (13.68)^a	485 (53.24)^A	19 (10.80)^a
Loss	1,981 (55.21)	677 (65.73)^B	89 (31.01)^a	526 (52.92)^A	58 (30.53)^a	580 (63.67)^B	51 (28.98)^a
Matt	1,013 (28.23)	361 (35.05)^A	25 (8.71)^a	295 (29.68)^A	16 (8.42)^a	299 (32.82)^A	17 (9.66)^a
Other	337 (9.39)	94 (9.13)^A	19 (6.62)^a	103 (10.36)^A	14 (7.37)^a	92 (10.10)^A	15 (8.52)^a
Nail problems (multiple choice)
No	1,700 (47.38)	393 (38.16)^A	214 (74.56)^a	476 (47.89)^B	146 (76.84)^a	349 (38.31)^A	122 (69.32)^a
Fragile and brittle	1,449 (40.38)	549 (53.30)^A	45 (15.68)^a	371 (37.32)^B	25 (13.16)^a	433 (47.53)^A	26 (14.77)^a
Grow slowly	520 (14.49)	155 (15.05)^A	6 (2.09)^a	168 (16.90)^A	11 (5.79)^a	172 (18.88)^A	8 (4.55)^a
Inflammations	122 (3.40)	20 (1.94)^A	8 (2.79)^a	49 (4.93)^A	7 (3.68)^a	32 (3.51)^A	6 (3.41)^a
Splitting	1,066 (29.71)	343 (33.30)^A	27 (9.41)^a	314 (31.59)^A	17 (8.95)^a	343 (37.65)^A	22 (12.50)^a
White spots	562 (15.66)	170 (16.50)^A	27 (9.41)^a	154 (15.49)^A	13 (6.84)^a	170 (18.66)^A	28 (15.91)^a
Other	148 (4.12)	26 (2.52)^A	12 (4.18)^a	51 (5.13)^A	7 (3.68)^a	40 (4.39)^A	12 (6.82)^a
Medicaments (multiple choice)
No	2,443 (68.09)	636 (61.75)^B	227 (79.09)^a	650 (65.39)^AB	147 (77.37)^a	643 (70.58)^A	140 (79.54)^a
Anticancer	5 (0.14)	0 (0.00)^A	0 (0.00)^a	4 (0.40)^A	0 (0.00)^a	1 (0.11)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Antiepileptic	10 (0.28)	5 (0.49)^A	0 (0.00)^a	5 (0.50)^A	0 (0.00)^a	0 (0.00)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Contraceptives	367 (10.23)	135 (13.11)^A	0 (0.00)^a	128 (12.88)^A	0 (0.00)^a	104 (11.42)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Diuretics	16 (0.45)	7 (0.68)^A	4 (1.39)^a	5 (0.50)^A	0 (0.00)^a	0 (0.00)^A	0 (0.00)^a
For stomach acidity	62 (1.73)	17 (1.65)^A	7 (2.44)^a	18 (1.81)^A	5 (2.63)^a	9 (0.99)^A	6 (3.41)^a
Metformin	42 (1.17)	23 (2.23)^A	1 (0.35)^a	9 (0.91)^A	2 (1.05)^a	5 (0.55)^A	2 (1.14)^a
Salicylates	8 (0.22)	3 (0.29)^A	1 (0.35)^a	3 (0.30)^A	0 (0.00)^a	1 (0.11)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Steroids	40 (1.11)	20 (1.94)^A	4 (1.39)^a	4 (0.40)^A	3 (1.58)^a	6 (0.66)^A	3 (1.70)^a
Chelation therapy	1 (0.03)	0 (0.00)^A	0 (0.00)^a	1 (0.10)^A	0 (0.00)^a	0 (0.00)^A	0 (0.00)^a
Other	773 (21.54)	254 (24.66)^A	51 (17.77)^a	231 (23.24)^A	35 (18.42)^a	175 (19.21)^A	27 (15.34)^a
Antibiotics in the last 4 years
No	1,306 (36.40)	285 (27.67)^B	92 (32.06)^b	367 (36.92)^A	93 (48.95)^a	373 (40.94)^A	96 (54.55)^a
1–2x	1,434 (39.97)	441 (42.82)^A	117 (40.77)^a	390 (39.24)^A	75 (39.47)^a	354 (38.86)^A	57 (32.39)^a
3–4x	575 (16.03)	199 (19.32)^A	47 (16.38)^a	158 (15.90)^A	13 (6.84)^a	139 (15.26)^A	19 (10.80)^a
5+	273 (7.61)	105 (10.19)^A	31 (10.80)^a	79 (7.95)^A	9 (4.74)^a	45 (4.49)^A	4 (2.27)^a

^ABCValues with different letters in the same row are significantly different at p <0.05 in the female group (Kruskal–Wallis test). ^abcValues with different letters in the same row are significantly different at p <0.05 in the male group (Kruskal–Wallis test).

SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome.