Association of nutrient patterns with anthropometric indices in children and adolescents: The weight disorders survey of the CASPIAN-IV study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nutrient patterns play a role as an interface between food patterns and the food metabolome integrating measurements. The nutrients can improve our knowledge about the reason of some chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the major nutrient patterns in adolescents and to assess their relationship with obesity. METHODS: This is a nationwide cross-sectional study. Usual dietary intakes were collected using a validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). RESULTS: Dietary data were analysed in 4288 subjects aged 11.43 +/- 3.23 years. Subjects in the fourth quartile of the first nutrient pattern tended to have higher weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference than those in the first quartile. Individuals in the fourth quartile of the second nutrient pattern had significantly lower means of weight, WC and hip circumference than those in the first quartile. The third nutrient pattern was not correlated with any alteration in BMI and wrist circumference in boys as well as in BMI, waist circumference and wrist circumference among girls. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicated that second nutrient pattern which mostly characterized by high consumption in mono-unsaturated fatty acid, poly-unsaturated fatty acid, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, biotin and vitamin K was associated with lower risk of obesity, while first nutrient pattern with high amounts of carbohydrate, thiamin, iron and manganese was correlated with higher risk of obesity.