Dietary energy density is inversely associated with the diet quality indices among Iranian young adults.

Dietary energy density (DED) might be associated with the quality of the consumed diet. Therefore, this study was conducted to report the relationship between dietary energy density and diet quality index in Iranian youths. In this cross-sectional study we enrolled 410 female young adults in Isfahan-Iran who were selected according to the stratified random sampling method from among students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. A validated semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the usual dietary intakes. Dietary energy density was calculated as each individual's reported daily energy intake (kcal/d) into total weight of foods (excluding beverages) consumed (g/d). Diet quality was assessed by healthy eating index (HEI), nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), and mean adequacy ratio (MAR). For calculating the NAR the ratio of daily individual intakes to standard recommended amounts for the subject's sex and age category was used. MAR was calculated as the sum of NARs divided by the number of nutrients (n=10). Mean dietary energy density was 1.5±0.2 kcal/g and mean HEI was 57.5±16.0. Those in the highest quartile of DED had the lowest value for HEI, MAR, and NAR of zinc, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B12 and vitamin B2 (p<0.05). Those in the highest quartile of DED had the highest prevalence of calcium, zinc, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, and vitamin C deficiency (p<0.05). Dietary energy density was inversely associated with the diet quality indices among Iranian young women adults.