Using factor analysis to identify dietary patterns in Iranian adults: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program.

OBJECTIVE

To identify dietary patterns of a representative sample of Iranian adults using factor analysis.

METHODS

This study was conducted in 2000-2001 as the baseline survey of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP). We studied 12,514 participants aged ≥19 years who were randomly selected in three counties of Central Iran. A validated 48-item food frequency questionnaire was completed and factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns.

RESULTS

Four major dietary patterns were identified, namely "Western", "animal fat", "traditional" and "Mediterranean". In both men and women, we found a significant positive relationship between age and Mediterranean diet, and a negative relationship between age and the other three dietary patterns (P < 0.001). The Western and traditional dietary patterns showed a significant negative relationship with education in both genders (P < 0.01). The Western dietary pattern correlated positively with being single, widowed, or a divorced man (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified four major dietary patterns. As dietary pattern analysis is useful to identify dietary behaviors in relation to health risks, the results can be practical.