Food and Health Research Group

Ongoing Applied Research and Projects

1. 2021-2027.1.01.23-0180 “Applied Research on the Healthiness of Organic Food” (01.11.2023−31.10.2027). Responsible executor: A. Kutman. Institution: Tartu Applied Health Sciences University. Funder: European Regional Development Fund. Allocated amount: 124 703 euros. Project goal: to develop the Health Protection Specialist curriculum at Tartu Applied Health Sciences University. The applied research conducted within this project enables curriculum updates, as it has revealed the content of micro- and macronutrients, food safety (pesticide residues), and the amount of mycotoxins in organic and conventional food. This comparison helps students form an understanding of healthy nutrition, food safety, and the assessment of food quality and safety.
2. “Attitudes of parents/guardians in Tartu city, including towards organic food offered in general education schools” (Approved by the University of Tartu Human Research Ethics Committee, 388/T-8, 18.03.2024). Purpose: To investigate the attitudes of parents or guardians of children studying in general education schools in Tartu towards organic food in daily life and in school catering. Responsible researcher: A. Kutman
3. “Attitudes of parents/guardians of 7–11-year-old children in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, including towards organic food offered in general education schools” (Approved by the University of Tartu Human Research Ethics Committee, 399/T-5, 17.03.2025). Purpose: To investigate the attitudes of parents/guardians of 7–11-year-old children in the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) towards the provision of organic food in general education school catering. Responsible researcher: Ü. Parm. Partners: Aušra Rutelione and Loreta Bašinskienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania); Muhammad Yaseen Bhutto (North American University); Inese Siksna and Ilva Lazda (Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”, Latvia).
4. “Occurrence of hidden hunger among women who train regularly with high intensity, follow different dietary plans, and are aged over 65” (University of Tartu Human Research Ethics Committee, protocol no. 340/T-2, 19.04.2021).

Articles/publications

• Kutman, A., Parm, Ü., Tamm, A.-L., Andreson, H. (2025). Pesticide residues in organic and conventional apples and potatoes served in Tartu (Estonia) school meals. Sustainability, 17(22): 10269. DOI: 10.3390/su172210269. 
• Kutman, A., Parm, Ü., Tamm, A.-L., Andreson, H. (2025). Parental opinions and willingness to pay for organic school meals in Tartu. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 11(1): 1–12. DOI: 10.1080/23311932.2025.2546080. 
• Parm, Ü., Tamm, A.-L., Markus, T., Liiv, K., Orav, A., Jaansoo, E., Taimalu, T., Aruots, M., Luts, H. (2025). Risk factors for bone mineral density in women: A cross-sectional study. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B: Natural Exact and Applied Sciences, 79(3–4): 205–13. DOI: 10.2478/prolas-2025-0014. 
• Parm, Ü., Tamm, A.-L., Jaansoo, E., Markus, T., Liiv, K., Orav, A., Taimalu, T., Aruots, M., Luts, H., Rannula, B.-M. (2024). Availability of micro- and macronutrients from food in women belonging to different population groups. Terves Kehas Terve Teadmine, 1: 21–30. 
• Kutman, A., Liset, N. (2023). Dietary supplement consumption habits and awareness of micronutrients among Estonian vegans. In R. Urban (Ed.), Tartu Health Care College Research Papers Collection XVII (pp. 6–12). Tartu: Paar OÜ. 
• Parm, Ü., Tamm, A.-L., Aasmäe, T., Liiv, K., Orav, A., Jaansoo, E., Lohu, K., Tamme, I. (2022). Regular and long-term effects of a commercial diet on bone mineral density. Dietetics, 1(2): 78–87. DOI: 10.3390/dietetics1020009. 
• Tamm, A.-L., Jürimäe, J., Orav, A., Mäestu, E., Vesterinen, P.M., Parm, Ü. (2021). Bone mineral density, vegetarianism, vitamin D, calcium, and adipokines: A cross-sectional investigation. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, 8(4): 60–7. 

Conferences and Popularization of Science

• Kutman, A. Organic food at school. Vikerraadio https://vikerraadio.err.ee/1609859680/labor-joukus-linnas-mahetoit-koolis/ebb68de1f3ce04dbfb2a9e517b59f151 (30.11.2025). 
• Junior researcher: it is worth avoiding extremes when offering organic food at school. Novaator: https://novaator.err.ee/1609873734/nooremteadur-koolis-mahetoitu-pakkudes-tasub-aarmustest-hoiduda (2.11.2025). 
• 23rd IUNS-ICN International Congress of Nutrition (Paris, France, 23.08-29.08.2025). Presentation: „Parental opinions and beliefs on organic school meals“ 
• 18th Baltic Conference on Food Science and Technology “Baltics R&D For FutureFood” (Kaunas, Lithuania, 22-23.05.2025). Presentation: „Parents’ opinions on organicschool meals“ 
• 15th International Conference of Biosystems Engineering (Tartu, Estonia , 6.-9.05.2025). Presentation: „Attitudes of organic food supporters and neutral consumers toward organicschool meals“ 
• PhD Student Conference of the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Scienc (Tartu, Estonia, 23.01.2025). Presentation: „Parental opinions and willingness to pay fororganic school meals in Tartu“ 
• Kutman, A. (2023). Kiirtoit kui pandeemia läte (Fast Food as the Source of a Pandemic). Tartu Postimees, 05.04.2023. 
• 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress (Paris, France, 28-31.10.2024). Presentation: Factors Affecting Bone Density in Women. 
• 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress (Paris, France. 28-31.10.2024). Presentation: Association of Physical Activity in AdultWomen with Metabolic Syndrome. 
• International Conference on Public Health and Public Health System (Firenze, Italy, 21.-23.03.2024). Presentation: Differences in Bone Density and Related Blood Parametersin Women Following the Fitlap and Other Diets. 
• Conference on Public Health and Public Health System (Firenze, Italy, 21.-23.03.2024). Presentation: Bone Density in Patients with Celiac Disease and the Availability of Micronutritions Affecting it. 
• IUNS 22nd International Congress of Nutrition – Abstracts, 79. Karger, 664−664. Presentation: Effects of a balanced diet on blood parameters affecting bone density. 
• Lohu, K., Parm, Ü., Tamm, A.-L., Aasmäe, T. Liiv, K. Oran, A., Jaansoo, E. Kommertsiaalset Fitlap toitumiskava järgivate naiste luutihedus ja sellega seotud vereparameetrid. Uurimistööde kogumik XVI. (2022, 20−38) (Bone Density and Related Blood Parameters in Women Following the Commercial Fitlap Nutrition Plan. Proceedings of Research Papers XVI). Tartu Applied Health Sciences University. 
• Parm, Ü., Tamm, A.-L. Tartu Tervishoiu Kõrgkooli rakendusuuring tõestas toitumiskava positiivset mõju. Postimees, 27.07.2023. 
• 22nd IUNS-International Congress of Nutrition site (2023). Presentation: The influence of availability of nutrients and bone mineral density in women training with different level. 
• International Congress in Nutrition, Tokyo. Copyright on 22nd IUNS-International Congress of Nutrition site (2023). Presentation: Effects of a balanced diet on blood parameters affecting bone density. 
• American Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health: 2nd World Congress on Primary Healthcare and Medicare Summit (Paris, France, 19-20.02.2020. American Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health All Rights Reserved, 2020,24−24. Presentation: Effects of vegetarianism on bone mineral density.

Student Thesis Related to the Research Group

• Rannula, B.-M. (2023). Varjatud nälgus erinevas vanuses, kehalise aktiivsuse tasemega ja Fitlap toitumiskava järgivate naiste seas (Hidden Hunger Among Women of Different Ages, Physical Activity Levels, and Following the Fitlap Nutrition Plan). Supervisors: Tamm, A.-L. ja Parm, Ü. 
• Kuldmäe, G. (2023). Varjatud nälgus ja kehakoostis (sh luutihedus) tsöliaakiahaigetel (Hidden Hunger and Body Composition (Including Bone Density) in Individuals with Celiac Disease). Supervisors: Parm, Ü. ja Tamm, A.-L. 
• Luts, H. (2023). Naiste luutihedus ja seda mõjutavad tegurid (Bone Density in Women and Its Influencing Factors). Juhendajad: Parm, Ü. ja Tamm, A.-L. 
• Luts, T. Erinevused Fitlap toitumiskava ja muid dieete järgivate naiste luutiheduses ja sellega seotud vereparameetrites (Differences in Bone Density and Related Blood Parameters Between Women Following the Fitlap Nutrition Plan and Other Diets). Supervisors: Parm, Ü. ja Tamm, A.-L. 
• Mossov, V. (2023). 65+ vanusegrupi naiste luutihedust mõjutavad tegurid (Factors Influencing Bone Density in Women Aged 65 and Older). Supervisors: Parm, Ü. ja Tamm, A.-L. 
• Lohu, K. (2022). Fitlap toitumiskava järgivate naiste luutihedus ja sellega seotud vereparameetrid (Bone Density and Related Blood Parameters in Women Following the Fitlap Nutrition Plan). Supervisors: Parm, Ü. ja Tamm, A.-L. 
• Kallas, S. (2022). Kehaliselt aktiivsete naiste luutihedus ja seda mõjutavad faktorid (Bone Density in Physically Active Women and Its Influencing Factors). Supervisors: Parm, Ü. ja Tamm, A.-L.