title: Physical activity and dietary behavior with red blood cell distribution width.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No studies, to date, have examined the concurrent effects of physical activity and healthy eating on red blood cell distribution width.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Examine the association between accelerometer-determined physical activity and daily dietary patterns with red blood cell distribution width (RDW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2003-2006 NHANES were used. 4538 participants provided data on the study variables. Physical activity was assessed over a 7-day period via accelerometry. Dietary behavior was assessed using 2 recall surveys. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between physical activity and diet with RDW (outcome variable).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent of established CVD risk factors, physical activity (β=-0.07, p=0.002), but not diet (β=-0.05, p=0.13), was associated with lower RDW. There was no evidence of multiplicative interaction (interaction term: β=0.02, p=0.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity, but not diet, was inversely associated with RDW. If confirmed by prospective studies, adoption of regular physical activity may help to prevent cardiovascular disease and mortality via changes in RDW.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Behavior Research, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States. Electronic address: pdloprin@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
authors.affiliation: Center for Excellence in Cardiovascular-Renal Research, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004032:Diet; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Accelerometry; Epidemiology; Healthy eating index; NHANES