Abstract
BackgroundHigh intakes of phytochemical-rich foods have favorable effects on the prevention of chronic diseases. In this study we assessed the dietary phytochemical index (PI) in relation to 3-year change in weight, waist circumference (WC), body adiposity index (BAI) among Tehranian adults.MethodsThis longitudinal study was conducted in the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, between 2006–2008 and 2009–2011, on 1938 adults, aged 19–70 y. The usual intake of participants was measured at baseline using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and dietary PI was calculated. Anthropometric measures were assessed both at baseline and 3 years later. Multiple regression models were used to estimate mean difference changes in anthropometrics associated with various dietary PI.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 40.4 ± 13.0 y, at baseline, respectively. Mean weight gain was 1.49 ± 5.06 kg (1.65 ± 5.3 kg in men and 1.34 ± 4.9 kg in women) during 3-year period. After adjustment for potential confounding variables including age at baseline, sex, BMI, educational levels, smoking, physical activity, total energy intake, dietary intake of carbohydrate, fat and protein, dietary intakes of whole grains in the highest quartile category of PI were inversely associated with 3-year changes in weight and WC (P for trend <0.05). Dietary intake of fruits in the highest quartile was also associated with lower weight gain during the study period (P for trend <0.05). There was significant inverse association between the highest quartile category of dietary PI with the 3-year changes in weight and BAI (P for trend <0.05).ConclusionHigher dietary PI could have favorable effects on prevention of weight gain and reduction of body adiposity in adults.
Highlights
High intakes of phytochemical-rich foods have favorable effects on the prevention of chronic diseases
Epidemiological and cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that vegetarian diets have an inverse association with weight and body mass index (BMI) [11,12,13,14] and a recent meta-analysis conducted on 60 studies has shown that vegetarians had significantly lower weight and BMI compared with non-vegetarians [15]
Study population This study was conducted within the framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)
Summary
High intakes of phytochemical-rich foods have favorable effects on the prevention of chronic diseases. In this study we assessed the dietary phytochemical index (PI) in relation to 3-year change in weight, waist circumference (WC), body adiposity index (BAI) among Tehranian adults. Obesity is a multi-factorial disease and dietary intake is the major modifiable factor which may be responsible for the increasing trend in overweight and obesity. Several studies have documented that plant foods and plant-based diets like vegetarian diets are associated with the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases [8,9,10]. Others studies have been shown that high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes have inverse associations with obesity and weight gain and recommend high consumption of these food groups for prevention obesity and maintenance of weight [16,17,18]
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