title: Lipid, protein and carbohydrate intake in relation to body mass index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether the same amount of energy intake has different consequences on body mass index (BMI), depending on the source of energy from specific macronutrients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study, in the context of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Communities all over Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 27 862 apparently healthy volunteers, men and women, ages 25-82 y.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary information was collected through an interviewer-administered semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. In the context of a cross-sectional analysis, we calculated changes of BMI per increments of energy intake from protein, carbohydrates, saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated lipids and ethanol, controlling for mutual confounding and other confounders, among all participants, and after exclusion of under-reporters and/or those on a diet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Protein intake was positively associated with BMI. The association was evident when nutrients were not mutually adjusted for and increased after mutual adjustment among nutrients (beta=0.80 kg/m(2) per 418.4 kJ or 100 kcal increment, 95% confidence interval 0.55-1.06 for men, and beta=1.59, 95% CI 1.30-1.88 for women), as well as after exclusion of under-reporters and/or those on a diet. The effects of other macronutrients were less substantial or consistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence indicating that protein intake is conducive to obesity. Moreover, our data suggest that neither saturated or monounsaturated lipids nor carbohydrates are likely to play a major role in increasing BMI over and beyond that indicated by their energy content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. antonia@nut.noa.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trichopoulou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gnardellis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benetou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lagiou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bamia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trichopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D000431:Ethanol