title: Comparing 3 dietary pattern methods--cluster analysis, factor analysis, and index analysis--With colorectal cancer risk: The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.
abstract: The authors compared dietary pattern methods-cluster analysis, factor analysis, and index analysis-with colorectal cancer risk in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-AARP Diet and Health Study (n = 492,306). Data from a 124-item food frequency questionnaire (1995-1996) were used to identify 4 clusters for men (3 clusters for women), 3 factors, and 4 indexes. Comparisons were made with adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals, distributions of individuals in clusters by quintile of factor and index scores, and health behavior characteristics. During 5 years of follow-up through 2000, 3,110 colorectal cancer cases were ascertained. In men, the vegetables and fruits cluster, the fruits and vegetables factor, the fat-reduced/diet foods factor, and all indexes were associated with reduced risk; the meat and potatoes factor was associated with increased risk. In women, reduced risk was found with the Healthy Eating Index-2005 and increased risk with the meat and potatoes factor. For men, beneficial health characteristics were seen with all fruit/vegetable patterns, diet foods patterns, and indexes, while poorer health characteristics were found with meat patterns. For women, findings were similar except that poorer health characteristics were seen with diet foods patterns. Similarities were found across methods, suggesting basic qualities of healthy diets. Nonetheless, findings vary because each method answers a different question.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA. reedyj@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reedy
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wirfält
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.forename: Panagiota N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Mitrou
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Krebs-Smith
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kipnis
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Midthune
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leitzmann
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hollenbeck
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schatzkin
authors.forename: Amy F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Subar
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology