Identification of dietary patterns and their geographic distribution in the adult population of Colombia

Abstract

Abstract

The identification of dietary patterns is a topic of growing study in nutritional epidemiology. Scientific literature indicates that certain dietary patterns act as an exposure factor to certain chronic diseases and that the level of adherence to a pattern may be affected by the socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of each region. The dietary patterns approach has been scarcely studied in Colombia. This work aimed to identify dietary patterns in the adult population of Colombia in 2015 and to analyze their geographical distribution.

An observational-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, using data from the 2015 National Nutritional Situation Survey (ENSIN) of Colombia (mixed multi-stage probabilistic sampling). A subsample of 8959 people aged 18-64 years was extracted, whose dietary intake data were obtained by using the 24-hour recall method. A factorial analysis of principal components was used to characterize the dietary patterns, based on 15 selected food groups. Sample adequacy was tested by using the KMO index. An individual adherence score was estimated for each pattern through regression, and maps illustrating the population adherence level (average score) to each pattern at the departmental level (n=33) were constructed. ENSIN follows the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained by the Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar.

Four dietary patterns were identified (total variance explained=41%): "Plant-based drinks and non-meat proteins" pattern (fruit juice, infusions, eggs and legumes as dominant groups), "Traditional" Pattern (fats/oils, unprocessed meats, starchy vegetables), "Soft drinks and snacking" pattern (sugary drinks, meat products, and snacks), and "Prudent" pattern (dairy, fruits, and non-starchy vegetables). The spatial distribution of the levels of adherence was differential by dietary pattern. In particular, the Prudent pattern showed higher levels of adherence in highly populated and urbanized departments, and in turn, with better socioeconomic conditions.

Concluding, the identified patterns summarize some key characteristics of the usual diet of adults in Colombia. Their spatial distribution suggests that the adherence to these patterns could be conditioned by underlying demographic, socioeconomic, or cultural factors.