Cheese consumption in relation to cardiovascular risk factors among Iranian adults- IHHP Study

Masoumeh Sadeghi; Hossein Khosravi-Boroujeni; Nizal Sarrafzadegan; Sedigheh Asgary; HamidReza Roohafza; Mojgan Gharipour; Firouzeh Sajjadi; Saman Khalesi; Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei

doi:10.4162/nrp.2014.8.3.336

Cheese consumption in relation to cardiovascular risk factors among Iranian adults- IHHP Study

Nutr Res Pract. 2014 Jun;8(3):336-41. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2014.8.3.336. Epub 2014 May 15.

Authors

Masoumeh Sadeghi¹, Hossein Khosravi-Boroujeni², Nizal Sarrafzadegan³, Sedigheh Asgary⁴, HamidReza Roohafza⁵, Mojgan Gharipour³, Firouzeh Sajjadi³, Saman Khalesi⁶, Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei⁷

Affiliations

¹ Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8187698191, Iran.
² Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia. ; Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8187698191, Iran.
³ Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8187698191, Iran.
⁴ Physiology research center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8187698191, Iran.
⁵ Mental health department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8187698191, Iran.
⁶ Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.
⁷ Medical Plants Research Centre, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord 8136893669, Iran.

Abstract

Background/objective: It is expected that dairy products such as cheeses, which are the main source of cholesterol and saturated fat, may lead to the development or increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; however, the results of different studies are inconsistent. This study was conducted to assess the association between cheese consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in an Iranian adult population.

Subjects/methods: Information from the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) was used for this cross-sectional study with a total of 1,752 participants (782 men and 970 women). Weight, height, waist and hip circumference measurement, as well as fasting blood samples were gathered and biochemical assessments were done. To evaluate the dietary intakes of participants a validated food frequency questionnaire, consists of 49 items, was completed by expert technicians. Consumption of cheese was classified as less than 7 times per week and 7-14 times per week.

Results: Higher consumption of cheese was associated with higher C-Reactive Protein (CRP), apolipoprotein A and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level but not with fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and apolipoprotein B. Higher consumption of cheese was positively associated with consumption of liquid and solid oil, grain, pulses, fruit, vegetable, meat and dairy, and negatively associated with Global Dietary Index. After control for other potential confounders the association between cheese intake and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.81; 96%CI: 0.71-0.94), low HDL-C level (OR: 0.87; 96%CI: 0.79-0.96) and dyslipidemia (OR: 0.88; 96%CI: 0.79-0.98) became negatively significant.

Conclusion: This study found an inverse association between the frequency of cheese intake and cardiovascular risk factors; however, further prospective studies are required to confirm the present results and to illustrate its mechanisms.

Keywords: Cheese consumption; cardiovascular risk factors; food frequency questionnaire.