Dietary pattern as identified by factorial analysis and its association with lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose among Iranian individuals with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objectives: Plasma lipids (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C)) may be associated with dietary intakes. The purpose of this study was to identify the most common food patterns among Iranian persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and investigate their associations with lipid profile.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Tertiary rehabilitation center.

Participants: Referred individuals to Brain and Spinal Injury Research Center (BASIR) from 2011 to 2014.

Outcome Measures: Dietary intakes were assessed by 24-hour dietary recall interviews in three non-consecutive days. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify dietary patterns.

Results: Total of 100 persons (83 male and 17 female) entered the study. Four food patterns were detected. The most common dietary pattern (Pattern 1) included processed meat, sweets desserts and soft drink and was similar to ‘Western’ food pattern described previously. Pattern 1 was related to higher levels of TC and LDL-C (r = 0.09; P = 0.04 and r = 0.11; P = 0.03 for TC and LDL-C, respectively) only in male participants. Pattern 2 which included tea, nuts, vegetable oil and sugars had a positive association with TC level (r = 0.11; P = 0.02) again in male participants. Pattern 3 which represented a healthy food pattern showed no significant influence on lipid profiles.

Conclusion: In this study, the four most common dietary patterns among Iranian individuals with SCI have been identified. Western food pattern was the most common diet and was associated with increased TC and LDL-C. The healthy food pattern, in which the major source of calories was protein, was not associated with variance in lipid profile.

Keywords:

• Lipid
• Triglyceride
• Cholesterol
• Spinal cord injury
• Nutrition
• Factor analysis

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We like to thank all staff that helped us in the progression of this study.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors HS contributed to the study design and interpretation of data; ZS contributed to data collection; SL contributed to statistical analysis and writing the manuscript; ANJ contributed to intellectual editing of the paper and obtained the ethical approval.

Funding This study has been financially supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences. No other external sponsor exists.

Conflicts of interest There is no conflict of interest in any terms and conditions related to this paper.

Ethics approval The study was approved by ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences