title: Healthy eating index and cardiovascular risk factors among Iranians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the associations between Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and cardiometabolic risk factors among Iranian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted on 9568 Iranians who participated in Isfahan Healthy Heart program (IHHP). Dietary intakes were assessed using a 48-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). HEI scores were calculated based on the number of food groups, different kinds of fat intakes, sodium intake, and dietary diversity score in 10 separate components. The assessment of anthropometric and biochemical variables was done using standard protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD of the HEI score was 39.1 ± 5.2. Those in the highest quintile of HEI consumed more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products and had lower total fat, saturated fatty acid, cholesterol, and sodium intakes. HEI scores were inversely associated with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in both women and men (β = -0.07 for both men and women; p < 0.001). Women in the highest quintile of HEI had the lowest mean values of systolic blood pressure and apolipoprotein B (mean ± SD = 112.7 ± 20.2, 112.6 ± 20.5, 110.6 ± 19.5 mmHg; p = 0.001 and mean ± SD = 99.3 ± 26.0, 100.1 ± 26.6, 97.7 ± 23.1 (mg/dL); p = 0.04, respectively). HEI weakly correlated with various cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low mean of HEI scores in this sample indicates the need to improve diet quality. Higher HEI scores were associated with healthier dietary habits and a weak inverse association was found between HEI scores and serum levels of CRP, apolipoprotein B, and systolic blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: a Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , IRAN.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haghighatdoost
authors.forename: Nizal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarrafzadegan
authors.forename: Nooshin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammadifard
authors.forename: Firozeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sajjadi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maghroon
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boshtam
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alikhasi
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Azadbakht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002097:C-Reactive Protein