title: Dietary intake in midlife and associations with standard of living, education and nutrition literacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in New Zealand, but risk factors may be decreased by consuming a heart healthy diet. This pilot study investigated whether participants met the guidelines for a heart healthy diet and whether a novel heart healthy dietary pattern could be identified using principal components analysis (PCA). The second aim of this project was to assess if higher education, standard of living and nutrition literacy are associated with a heart healthy dietary pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  This exploratory study was undertaken using data from the first participants enrolled in the Canterbury Health Ageing and Lifecourse study: an observational study of 50 year olds in the Canterbury District Health Board region. Eighty-two people were selected from the General and Maori electoral role and interviewed prior to the 22 February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake. PCA was conducted to identify dietary patterns, based on intake of specific nutrients as indicated by the New Zealand and international heart healthy dietary guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  62 participants completed questionnaires and an estimated food record. No participants met all five of the heart healthy dietary guidelines. One dietary pattern was produced by PCA: a "higher CVD risk" pattern. Regression analysis indicated that higher standard of living, education and nutrition literacy were inversely associated with a "higher CVD risk" pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher standard of living, education and nutrition literacy were associated with a healthier dietary eating pattern. However, as no participants met all the dietary recommendations more education and support is needed to help people meet these.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gearry
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Winsome
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Parnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. paula.skidmore@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Paula M L
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Skidmore
mesh_terms: D049628:Body Size; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology; D015930:Diet Records; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires