Dietary patterns and cardiovascular risk markers in the UK Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 491 - 497
• Main Authors: Hamer, M, Mishra, G.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular risk markers; Chi-Square Distribution; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet - adverse effects; Diet pattern; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Fast food; Fast Foods - statistics & numerical data; Feeding Behavior; Female; Health Behavior; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Linear Models; Low income; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Status; Poverty - statistics & numerical data; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Triglycerides - blood; United Kingdom; Fast food; Diet pattern; Low income; Cardiovascular risk markers
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2009.05.002

Abstract Background and aim Dietary patterns have been associated with various disease risk markers. There is presently little representative data about the dietary patterns of adults on low income. The objective was therefore to identify dietary patterns and how they relate to cardiovascular (CVD) risk markers in this specific population. Methods and results Exploratory factor analysis was performed to examine dietary patterns in participants from the UK Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey ( n = 2931, aged 49.4 ± 20.2 years, 65% female). Dietary intake was assessed from three 24 h dietary recalls and blood was drawn for the assessment of CVD risk markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], total and high density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine). Results of the factor analysis revealed four interpretable principle components accounting for approximately 16.5% of the total variance, with similar patterns across gender. A ‘fast food’ diet pattern explained the greatest proportion of the variance (5.5%), followed by ‘health aware’ (4.1%), ‘traditional’ (3.6%), and ‘sweet’ (3.3%) factors. Participants consuming more items from the fast food pattern were younger, more likely to be smokers and employed, but not partnered. The ‘health aware’ diet pattern was inversely associated with concentrations of CRP and homocysteine, and positively with HDL-cholesterol. Conclusions A fast food dietary pattern, high in saturated fat, explained the greatest proportion of the variance in a representative sample of adults on low income from the UK. There was, however, considerable heterogeneity in dietary intake among this socially deprived group and healthy eating was associated with lower CVD risk markers.