Original Communication
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 584–591. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602112 Published online 2 March 2005
Dietary habits, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors in a clinically healthy Italian population: the 'Florence' diet is not Mediterranean
Guarantors: F Sofi, R Abbate and A Casini.
Contributors: FS designed the protocol of the study, did statistical analysis and wrote the manuscript. RA, GFG, AC and CS designed the protocol of the study and supervised the execution of the study and of the manuscript. SV, GG and FM organised the field work. RM and AMG supervised the execution of the study. SF did laboratory analyses.
F Sofi1,2,5, S Vecchio1,2, G Giuliani1,2, R Marcucci1,2,5, A M Gori1,2,5, S Fedi1,2,5, A Casini3,4,5, C Surrenti3,4,5, R Abbate1,2,5 and G F Gensini1,2,5
- 1Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- 2Dipartimento del Cuore e dei Vasi, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
- 3Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, Nutrition Centre and Gastroenterology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- 4Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
- 5Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per la Valorizzazione degli Alimenti (CeRA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Correspondence: F Sofi, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, Florence, Italy. E-mail: francescosofi@gmail.com
Received 19 July 2004; Revised 27 October 2004; Accepted 10 December 2004; Published online 2 March 2005.
Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate dietary habits and lifestyle of Italian subjects, to provide current data on adequacy of the nutritional guidelines and recommendations especially in relation to primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and to assess the influence of dietary habits on lipid profile and homocysteine levels.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Setting:
Population-based study.
Subjects:
A sample of 520 clinically healthy subjects (211 males, 309 females) with a mean age of 46 y, living in Florence area, Italy.
Interventions:
Dietary pattern was assessed by trained dietitians through a semiquantitative food questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were drawn for assessment of lipid profile, homocysteine and circulating vitamins.
Results:
Contribution from total fats was over 30% in about 70% of subjects and intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was above the recommended values in at least 40% of the study population. Furthermore, almost the whole (99.6%) population reported low intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). High levels of total cholesterol were present in over 40% of the study population, whereas abnormal values of LDL-cholesterol were observed in about 30%. High levels of homocysteine were found in 11.7% of the study population. An extremely high percentage of subjects reported low intake of vitamins, especially with regard to folic acid (89%), vitamin B6 (70.1%) and vitamin E (99.6%). In a multiple linear regression model, circulating levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid, and intake of alcohol and vitamin C resulted in being independently associated with homocysteine plasma levels.
Conclusions:
In a typical Mediterranean country, general outlines of Mediterranean diet are not completely followed, especially concerning total fats, SFA, PUFA and vitamins' intake.
Sponsorship:
Ministero della Salute (Italy) — 'Progetto per la Salute e la Prevenzione di Malattia' 2001–2003.
Keywords:
dietary habits, cardiovascular diseases, Mediterranean diet, homocysteine, vitamins
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