Does the Dietary Pattern of Shanghai Residents  Change across Seasons and Area of Residence:  Assessing Dietary Quality Using the Chinese Diet  Balance Index (DBI)

Abstract

Background: Few studies have applied the Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI) in evaluating dietary quality across seasons. Method: The Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) included 1680 participants from all districts of Shanghai from 2012 to 2013. Dietary data were obtained using three-day 24-h recall in spring, summer, fall, and winter. Higher bound score (HBS), lower bound score (LBS) and diet quality distance (DQD) were calculated according to compliance with the dietary guidelines and based on the recommendations for consumption within the main food groups. HBS, LBS, and DQD represent over-intake, under-intake, and overall imbalance of the diet, respectively. Results: 836 males and 844 females were included. The HBS indicated that 10.08%, 11.84%, 10.31%, and 12.73% people have moderate or high levels of over-intake of food in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively; and 74.04%, 37.61%, 53.09%, and 42.72% people have moderate or high levels of deficit food intake for each of the four seasons. The mean HBS and LBS among the four seasons were statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) DQD was 43.27 (10.21), 35.67 (9.71), 39.19 (9.36), and 36.84 (9.45) in each season. A multivariable model showed statistically significant differences in DQD according to age, gender, occupational status, education, smoking, drinking status, season, and residency (p < 0.001). Conclusion: An unbalanced diet is common among people living in Shanghai. Seasonality and area of residence were found to be two significant predictors. Strengthening the accessibility and the supply of food across seasons and regions should be considered.

Association between Dietary Quality and Prediabetes based on the Diet Balance Index

“…In addition, our study showed that many participants had moderate or severe deficits in the intake of vegetables, fruits, dairy, fish, and eggs and diet variety. Although the consumption of these foods has been reported to be increasing during the last decade in China 17 , other studies indicated that the levels of consumption were still low 11 . In our study, the intake of vegetables, dairy, fish, and eggs and diet variety were significantly different between the two groups.…”

“…In the subgroup of individuals from urban regions with high levels of education who drank tea, we did not observe the effect of unfavourable dietary quality on the risk of prediabetes. Previous studies showed that people who live in urban areas and have high education levels always have superior dietary quality than others 11 . These individuals can obtain food more conveniently, pay greater attention to nutritional information and have better cooking skills.…”

“…In our study, the ranges of the HBS, LBS, and DQD were 0-38, 0-60, and 0-78, respectively. A score of 0 indicates excellent dietary intake (no problems), a score that is less than 20% of the total score indicates good dietary intake (almost no problems), a score that is 20-40% of the total score indicates acceptable dietary intake (low level of problems), a score that is 40-60% of the total score indicates poor dietary intake (moderate level of problems), and a score greater than 60% of the total score indicates the worst dietary intake (high level of problems) 11 , which is also defined as an unfavourable dietary quality.…”

Iodine status of 8 to 10 years old children within 20 years following compulsory salt iodization policy in Shanghai, China

“…Shanghai has usually been the economic center of China. Studies have reported that Shanghai residents consume more animal protein especially milk [23][24][25], which is Subtotal rich in casein. Inadequate animal protein intake, which affects the ability of the thyroid glands to absorb and utilize the trace element, is associated with a decline in iodine excretion [26].…”

Dietary patterns are associated with the prevalence of alexithymia

“…Among subjects with elevated depressive symptoms, alexithymia associated less often with a prudent dietary pattern and more frequently with an unhealthy Western dietary pattern. All these associations remained unaltered after multiple adjustments for potential confounders, such as age (Zang, Yu, Zhu et al ., ), gender (Elfhag & Lundh, ), level of education (Zang et al ., ), marital status (Hanna & Collins, ), a poor financial status (Zang et al ., ), alcohol use (Robino et al ., ; Zang et al ., ) and daily smoking (Zang et al ., ).…”