Abstract: (12535 Views)
Background: The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between variety scores of food groups and specific nutrient adequacy in Tehranian adult men.
Materials and methods: 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.
Results: The mean of age and body mass index was 40±13 years and 25±4 kg/m2. 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.
Conclusion: 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.