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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #295549

Title: Diet quality is inversely related to cardiovascular risk factors in adults

Author
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item O'NEIL, CAROL - LSU Agcenter
item FULGONI III, VICTOR - Nutrition Impact, Llc

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2012
Publication Date: 10/17/2012
Citation: Nicklas, T.A., O'Neil, C.E., Fulgoni III, V.L. 2012. Diet quality is inversely related to cardiovascular risk factors in adults. Journal of Nutrition. 142:2112-2118.

Interpretive Summary: The use of diet-quality indexes has become widespread. These indexes allow evaluation of the total diet in relationship to select nutrient intake, compliance with dietary recommendations, and chronic disease risk. The goal of the study was to determine if there was an association between diet quality and cardiovascular risk factors in adults. Results showed that diet quality as assessed by Healthy Eating Index varied according to sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, and race-ethnicity as well as lifestyle factors such as exercise, smoking, and alcohol use. The mean Healthy Eating Index score was higher among women, Hispanics, and individuals with higher income compared with men, blacks, and individuals with lower income, respectively. Our results suggest that Healthy Eating Index-2005 is inversely associated with several cardiovascular risk factors in the US population. However,the overall effectiveness of these guidelines in disease prevention needs to be investigated further in prospective studies and among different subpopulations.

Technical Abstract: The goal of the study was to determine if there was an association between diet quality and cardiovascular risk factors in adults. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2008 data were used to compare diet quality, as determined by using 2005 Healthy Eating Index-2005 scores, and cardiovascular risk factors in adults aged 19 years and older (n = 18,988; 51% men, 50% white, 21% African American,25% Hispanic American, 4% other). Healthy Eating Index-2005 scores were calculated by using one 24-hour dietary recall collected from the participants. Weight and adiposity, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk factors were measured. Odds ratios were calculated for Healthy Eating Index quartiles and cardiovascular risk factors. Body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome were inversely associated with Healthy Eating Index-2005. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased across Healthy Eating Index-2005 quartiles. Compared with the lowest Healthy Eating Index-2005 quartile, individuals with the highest diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2005 quartile 4) were less likely to be overweight or obese or have elevated waist circumference, elevated blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Data suggest that diet quality is inversely associated with several cardiovascular risk factors.