Current intake levels of potatoes and all-cause mortality in China: A population-based nationwide study

Nutrition. 2021 Jan:81:110902. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2020.110902. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Abstract

Objective: Current levels of potato consumption in relation to mortality in Chinese people remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the intakes of total potatoes, fried potatoes, non-fried potatoes, and sweet potatoes as dietary carbohydrate sources in relation to all-cause mortality in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS).

Methods: Overall 14 117 participants ≥20 y of age were included, with a median follow-up of 14 y. The cumulative average consumption of potatoes and other foods were calculated and validated using weighing methods in combination with 3-d, 24-h dietary recalls at both household and individual levels. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models after multivariate adjustment.

Results: We documented 1007 deaths among the participants. The low and moderate intakes of total potatoes, fried potatoes, and non-fried potatoes were inversely associated with mortality. Compared with non-consumers, the intakes of total potatoes (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.38-0.59), fried potatoes (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.34-0.56), and non-fried potatoes (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.37-0.61) at low consumption levels were most significantly related to lower mortality. Sweet potato consumption was inversely associated with mortality after full adjustment (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.96) compared with non-consumers. Substituting grains and mixed beans for potatoes with equal amounts at high consumption levels strengthened the inverse associations.

Conclusion: In the CHNS, current low and moderate, but not high levels of total potato and fried/non-fried potato consumption as well as sweet potato consumption were inversely associated with all-cause mortality among Chinese people.

Keywords: China Health and Nutrition Survey; Fried/Non-fried potatoes; Mortality; Nationwide; Potatoes; Sweet potatoes.

MeSH terms

  • China / epidemiology
  • Diet
  • Humans
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Factors
  • Solanum tuberosum*