Association between food group intake and serum total cholesterol in the Japanese population: NIPPON DATA 80/90.
BACKGROUND
Dietary habit is one of the important determinants of health. Investigation of the association between diet and blood lipids at the food product level is more advantageous than that at the nutrient level because the results can be applied more directly to improving dietary habits for disease prevention.


METHODS
The integrated datasets of the NIPPON DATA and National Nutrition Surveys in Japan conducted in 1980 and 1990 were used for analysis. The association between serum total cholesterol concentration and food group intake was examined by multiple linear regression analysis separately for sex and survey year with data adjusted for age, body mass index and total energy intake.


RESULTS
Intakes of rice, sugar, sweets and snacks, fruit and vegetables other than green and yellow ones were lower and intakes of green and yellow vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, eggs and milk were higher in the 1990 survey than in the 1980 survey. Intakes of meat, milk and eggs showed a positive association with serum total cholesterol concentration in both sexes while intake of legumes showed a negative association only in men in both the 1980 and 1990 surveys.


CONCLUSIONS
Sex- and age-specific food group intakes for 1980 and 1990 were identified, and positive and negative associations between serum total cholesterol concentration and food group intake were revealed in a representative sample of the Japanese population. The results provide some insights into the improvements in dietary habits that can be made for disease prevention in Japan.
Kondo
Imako
I
Faculty of Health Promotional Sciences, Hamamatsu University, Shizuoka, Japan.
Funahashi
Kaori
K
Nakamura
Mieko
M
Ojima
Toshiyuki
T
Yoshita
Katsushi
K
Nakamura
Yosikazu
Y
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012737:Sex Factors
D002784:Cholesterol