Food behaviors accounting for the recent trends in dietary fatty acid profiles among Korean adults

Dietary patterns derived by reduced rank regression are associated with lipid disorders among Korean adults: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

Lipid disorders are a potent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the intake of dietary fatty acids has been closely related to blood lipid levels. Therefore, this cross-sectional study examined the associations between dietary patterns related to fatty acid intake and lipid disorders in Korean adults.

METHODS

From the 2013-2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data, 8399 men and 11404 women (aged ≥ 19 years) were selected. Reduced rank regression was employed to identify dietary patterns from 26 food groups, aiming to explain the maximum variation in the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), omega-3 fatty acids, and the PUFA/SFA ratio. Associations of quintiles (Q) of dietary pattern scores with lipid disorders were examined using multiple logistic regression stratified by sex.

RESULTS

Three dietary patterns were identified: dietary pattern 1 showed positive factor loadings for vegetable oils, seasonings, legumes, nuts, and fish; dietary pattern 2 was high in consumption of red meat, bread and snacks, and milk and dairy products; and dietary pattern 3 was rich in fish and milk and dairy products. In men, dietary pattern 3 was inversely associated with elevated triglycerides (Q5 vs. Q1: odds ratio [OR] = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.69-0.97, P-trend = 0.008). In women, dietary pattern 2 was positively associated with elevated total cholesterol (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.12-1.52, P-trend < 0.001) but inversely associated with low HDL-cholesterol (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.59-0.83, P-trend < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, dietary patterns explaining the intake of various types of fatty acids were differentially associated with lipid disorders in Korean adults. Dietary pattern characterized by higher intakes of red meat, bread and snacks and milk and dairy products were positively associated with elevated total cholesterol, whereas dietary pattern rich in fish consumption showed an inverse association with elevated triglycerides. These findings could be instrumental in developing dietary guidelines and strategies for preventing and managing lipid disorders in this population.

Trends in dietary intake and food sources of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids among Korean adults between 2007 and 2018

OBJECTIVES

This study examined trends in the dietary intake and food sources of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) in Korean adults from 2007 to 2018.

METHODS

In total, 46,307 adults (aged 19-64 years) were selected from the 2007-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Dietary data were obtained using 24-hour dietary recall. Intake levels and food sources of LC-PUFAs, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acid (LA), were evaluated across the survey years and assessed based on compliance with dietary recommendations over the 2007-2018 period. Linear trends in LC-PUFAs intake levels over time were examined through multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

From 2007 to 2018, ALA and LA consumption increased from 1.1 g (0.5% of energy) to 1.4 g (0.6% of energy) and from 8.6 g (3.9% of energy) to 10.0 g (4.5% of energy), respectively. EPA intake decreased from 0.14 g to 0.12 g, and EPA+DHA intake showed a decreasing trend. The proportion of individuals who did not meet the recommended intake of EPA+DHA (250 mg/day) increased (64.4 to 68.4%). Regarding changes in food sources of ALA and LA, the contributions from mayonnaise, eggs, and bread increased, while those from plant food sources decreased. Among food sources of EPA and DHA, anchovy, saury, and Atka mackerel showed lower contributions over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that strategies to encourage the consumption of EPA and DHA from healthy food sources are necessary to improve cardiovascular health in the Korean population.

20-Year Trends in Metabolic Syndrome Among Korean Adults From 2001 to 2020

Background

The number of people with metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide, and many socioeconomic and environmental factors contribute to this.

Objectives

The authors investigated tangible trends in the prevalence of MetS using the 2001 to 2020 versions of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Methods

In these surveys, stratified multistage sampling designs were used to approximate the entire population. Blood pressure, waist circumference, and lifestyle variables were examined in a standardized fashion. Metabolic biomarkers were measured in a central laboratory operated by the Korean government.

Results

The age-adjusted prevalence of MetS increased significantly from 27.1% in 2001 to 33.2% in 2020. It was more prevalent in men (25.8%→40.0%) but did not change in women (28.2%→26.2%). Among the 5 MetS components, the proportions of high glucose level and large waist circumference increased substantially by 17.9% and 12.2% over 20 years, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly, resulting in a decrease in low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 20.4%. Caloric intake derived from carbohydrates decreased from 68.1% to 61.3%, while fat consumption increased from 16.7% to 23.0%. Notably, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption showed an almost 4-fold increase from 2007 to 2020, while physical activity levels decreased by 12.2% from 2014 to 2020.

Conclusions

Glycemic dysregulation and abdominal obesity were key features contributing to the increased prevalence of MetS observed in Korean men during the past 20 years. Rapid economic and socioenvironmental changes in this period may be involved in this phenomenon. Understanding these changes in MetS could be valuable for other countries undergoing such socioeconomic transformation.