Abstract P077: Differences and Similarities in Dietary Pattern and Nutrient Profiles between the Sexes and Blacks and Whites. The Adventist Health Study 2

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2012-03, Vol.125 (suppl_10)
• Main Authors: Rizzo, Nico S, Jaceldo-Siegl, Karen, Fraser, Gary
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.AP077

Abstract only Objective: To describe the associations between dietary patterns with nutrient intakes differentiated by sex and race. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 71751 subjects (mean age 59 years, 65% female, 76% white) from the Adventist Health Study 2. Participants completed a 204-item validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Five dietary patterns were established: non vegetarian, semi vegetarians, pesco vegetarians, lacto ovo vegetarians and strict vegetarians. ANCOVA and linear regression analysis were used to determine differences of nutrient intakes by dietary patterns. Non-dietary variables, such as age, smoking and physical activity were taken into account and associations between dietary pattern and BMI were compared. Analysis was repeated by stratifying for sex and race. Results: Strict vegetarians had the lowest BMI, with graded higher BMI levels for dietary patterns with greater fractions of animal plant protein, total fat and saturated fatty acids but similar total caloric intakes. Mean nutrient intake was more dissimilar across dietary pattern than between the sexes or blacks and whites. In general nutrient intakes were more similar between males and females than between blacks and whites with blacks revealing a strikingly higher percentage of non vegetarians than whites. Supplement intakes were often markedly higher in females than in males and higher in whites than in blacks with mean micronutrient intakes for all dietary patterns being well above the estimated average requirements for American adults in both sexes and blacks and whites. Conclusions: All groups met current American nutrient requirements. Nutrient intakes varied more markedly between dietary pattern than between sex or race. Lower BMI levels were associated with dietary patterns characterized by higher plant food intake despite generally similar caloric intake across dietary patterns warranting further investigation.