title: Longitudinal study on the association between three dietary indices, anthropometric parameters and blood lipids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  From a health promotion perspective, the use of dietary indices is preferred above single nutrients and foods to evaluate diet quality. Longitudinal research about the association between dietary indices and respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal association between three dietary indices (Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI), Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and Diet Quality Index (DQI)) and respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three day diet record was completed by 373 men and 197 women in 2002-2004 and 2012-2014. HEI, MDS and DQI were calculated. Waist circumference (WC) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were used as anthropometric parameters. A linear regression analysis was performed to investigate associations between changes in dietary indices and changes in respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids, adjusted for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only in men an increase in all three dietary indices was associated with a decrease in WC and BMI in the non-adjusted analysis and for HEI and DQI also in the adjusted analysis. No longitudinal associations were found between dietary indices and blood lipids both in men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only few associations were found between dietary indices and anthropometric parameters, whilst no associations were found with blood lipids. An increase in dietary indices was associated with an improvement in anthropometric parameters only in men. As this is the first study investigating associations between changes in dietary indices and changes in respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids, further research is needed to evaluate these possible associations.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Department of Human Biometrics and Biomechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium ; Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Department of Human Biometrics and Biomechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium ; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deforche
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Department of Human Biometrics and Biomechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium ; Erasmus University College, Laerbeeklaan 121, 1090 Brussels, Belgium ; International Prevention Research Institute (iPRI), 15 chemin du Saquin, Ecully, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mullie
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lefevre
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Charlier
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knaeps
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Dietary Exposure Assessment Group (DEX), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon, France ; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Department of Human Biometrics and Biomechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium ; Erasmus University College, Laerbeeklaan 121, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarys
keywords: Blood cholesterol; Body mass index; Diet quality index; Healthy eating index-2010; Mediterranean diet score; Waist circumference