[Association between variety of food groups and adequacy of nutrients in a group of Tehranian adult males]

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between variety scores of food groups and specific nutrient adequacy in Tehranian adult men. In this cross-sectional study, 295 men aged 18 years and over were included. We assessed food intake by two 24-hour recalls questionnaires. Two different dietary diversity indices; dietary diversity score [DDS] and food variety [FV] score were used. Mean adequacy ratio [MAR], i.e. the mean ratio of intake to recommended amount of 12 nutrient and energy, was calculated as an indicator of nutrient adequacy. Meanwhile, nutrient adequacy ratio [NAR] was calculated. The mean of age and body mass index was 40+/-13 years and 25+/-4 kg/m[2]. The mean of DDS was 6.05+/-1.02. DDS was correlated with MAR [r=0.4, p<0.05] as well as the NAR of thiamine [r=0.2, p<0.05], vitamin A [r=0.4, p<0.05], calcium [r=0.4, p<0.05], phosphorus [r=0.4, p<0.05] and total fat [r=0.4, p<0.05]. Variety of whole grain was correlated mostly with the NAR of vitamin B2 and protein [r=0.3, p<0.05]. Variety of vegetable and fruit had the highest correlation with the NAR of vitamin C [r=0.3, p<0.05]. In the forth quartile of variety score of food groups the intake of most macro-and micronutrients were in the highest amount. Variety of meat and milk were the most important predictors of MAR. Variety of different food groups is a useful indicator of specific nutrient adequacy. Thus to determine the adequacy of a specific nutrient, the variety score of specific food groups can be considered