Dietary patterns and the risk of abnormal blood lipids among young adults: A prospective cohort study

Tolassa W Ushula; Abdullah Mamun; Darsy Darssan; William Y S Wang; Gail M Williams; Susan J Whiting; Jake M Najman

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2022.01.030

Dietary patterns and the risk of abnormal blood lipids among young adults: A prospective cohort study

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2022 May;32(5):1165-1174. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2022.01.030. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Authors

Tolassa W Ushula¹, Abdullah Mamun², Darsy Darssan³, William Y S Wang⁴, Gail M Williams³, Susan J Whiting⁵, Jake M Najman³

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, 266 Herston Rd, Herston QLD 4006, Australia; Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. Electronic address: t.wakayoushula@uq.edu.au.
² Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, 80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly QLD 4068, Australia; The ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, 80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly QLD 4068, Australia; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly QLD 4068, Australia.
³ School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, 266 Herston Rd, Herston QLD 4006, Australia.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
⁵ College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

PMID: 35260316
DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2022.01.030

Abstract

Background and aims: The extent to which dietary patterns influence the risk of abnormal blood lipids throughout young adulthood remains unclear. The aim was to investigate whether early young adulthood dietary patterns predict the risk of abnormal blood lipids during later young adulthood.

Methods and results: We used data from a long running birth cohort study in Australia. Western dietary pattern rich in meats, processed foods and high-fat dairy products and prudent pattern rich in fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy products were derived using principal component analysis at the 21-year follow-up from dietary data obtained using a food frequency questionnaire. After 9-years, fasting blood samples of all participants were collected and their total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured. Abnormal blood lipids were based on clinical cut-offs for total, LDL and HDL cholesterols, and TG and relative distributions for total:HDL and TG:HDL cholesterols ratios. Log-binomial models were used to estimate risk of each outcome in relation to dietary patterns. Greater adherence to the Western pattern predicted increased risks of high LDL (RR: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.06, 2.03) and TG (1.90; 1.25, 2.86), and high ratios of total:HDL (1.48; 1.00, 2.19) and TG:HDL (1.78; 1.18, 2.70) cholesterols in fully adjusted models. Conversely, a prudent pattern predicted reduced risks of low HDL (0.58; 0.42, 0.78) and high TG (0.66; 0.47, 0.92) and high total:HDL (0.71; 0.51, 0.98) and TG:HDL (0.61; 0.45, 0.84) cholesterols ratios.

Conclusion: This is the first prospective study to show greater adherence to unhealthy Western diet predicted increased risks of abnormal blood lipids, whereas healthy prudent diet predicted lower such risks in young adults. Addressing diets in early course may improve cardiovascular health of young adults.

Keywords: Abnormal blood lipids; Dietary patterns; Principal component analysis; Prospective study; Young adults.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Cohort Studies
Diet* / adverse effects
Diet, Fat-Restricted
Humans
Lipids*
Prospective Studies
Young Adult

Substances

Cholesterol, HDL
Lipids
Cholesterol