Abstract
Introduction: Limited studies are available regarding the relationship between Food Quality Score (FQS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the association of FQS with CVD risk factors in women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 368 women aged 20-50 years who randomly selected from health centers across Tehran, Iran. Dietary intake was collected using a reliable and validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The FQS includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, yogurt, nuts and legumes, coffee, refined grains, desserts and ice cream, sugar-sweetened beverages, red meats, fried food consumed outside the home, processed meats, potato and potato chips. Standard methods were used to assess blood pressure, biochemical and anthropometric measures. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between FQS and CVD risk factors. Results: Participant mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 30.7 ± 6.9 years and 24.3 ± 4.0 kg/m2, respectively. After taking potential confounders into account, FQS had no significant association with risk of overweight and obesity [Odds ratio (OR): 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68, 1.8; P = 0.683], diabetes (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.22, 1.74; P = 0.374), metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.10, 1.32; P = 0.127), hypercholesterolemia (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.29, 1.01; P= 0.051), or hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 0.71, 3.70; P = 0.244). Conclusion: The results showed that FQS was not significantly associated with CVD risk factors among women. Prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
Highlights
Limited studies are available regarding the relationship between Food Quality Score (FQS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors
There were no significant differences between groups for dietary fat, mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), saturated fatty acids (SFA), poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), vitamin B6 and zinc (P > 0.05)
In the present study, we could not find an association between FQS and risk factors of CVDs
Summary
Limited studies are available regarding the relationship between Food Quality Score (FQS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of worldwide death, which are rising in both developing and developed countries.[1] In developed countries, approximately 43% of men and 55% of women have CVDs.[2] In the past decade, CVDs have been recognized as the main cause of mortality in Iran.[3] Dyslipidemia, obesity and metabolic syndrome increase the risk of CVDs.[4] Despite developed countries,[5] CVDs risk factors have been indicated to be more prevalent among women compared with men in Iran.[6] Physical activity and healthy eating patterns can decrease the risk of CVDs. Recently, the examination of the whole diet pattern has been applied to study the role of diet on disease prevention.[7] Several dietary scores such as Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) have been developed to measure adherence to dietary patterns or recommendations.[8] Many of these scores may be associated with the reduced prevalence of CVD and mortality.[9,10,11] most of these diet-based dietary quality indices consider a combination of both nutrients and foods. Food-based scores do not require software or access to specific databases to perform the nutrient
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