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A comparison of dietary patterns derived by cluster and principal components analysis in a UK cohort of children

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 1102–1109 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The objective of this study was to identify dietary patterns in a cohort of 7-year-old children through cluster analysis, compare with patterns derived by principal components analysis (PCA), and investigate associations with sociodemographic variables.

Subjects/Methods:

The main caregivers in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) recorded dietary intakes of their children (8279 subjects) using a 94-item food frequency questionnaire. Items were then collapsed into 57 food groups. Dietary patterns were identified using k-means cluster analysis and associations with sociodemographic variables examined using multinomial logistic regression. Clusters were compared with patterns previously derived using PCA.

Results:

Three distinct clusters were derived: Processed (4177 subjects), associated with higher consumption of processed foods and white bread, Plant-based (2065 subjects), characterized by higher consumption of fruit, vegetables and non-white bread, and Traditional British (2037 subjects), associated with higher consumption of meat, vegetables and full-fat milk. Membership of the Processed cluster was positively associated with girls, younger mothers, snacking and older siblings. Membership of the Plant-based cluster was associated with higher educated mothers and vegetarians. The Traditional British cluster was associated with council housing and younger siblings. The three clusters were similar to the three dietary patterns obtained through PCA; each principal component score being higher on average in the corresponding cluster.

Conclusions:

Both cluster analysis and PCA identified three dietary patterns very similar both in the foods associated with them and sociodemographic characteristics. Both methods are useful for deriving meaningful dietary patterns.

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Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting them, and the whole ALSPAC team, which includes interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. This publication is the work of the authors and KN will serve as guarantor for the contents of this paper. This research was specifically funded by the World Cancer Research Fund (grant number 2009/23).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    A D A C Smith, P M Emmett & K Northstone

  2. Department of Pediatrics & Program in Graduate Medical Nutrition Sciences, Boston, MA, USA

    P K Newby

  3. Department of Epidemiology, University School of Medicine, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    P K Newby

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  1. A D A C Smith
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  2. P M Emmett
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  4. K Northstone
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Correspondence to A D A C Smith.

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Smith, A., Emmett, P., Newby, P. et al. A comparison of dietary patterns derived by cluster and principal components analysis in a UK cohort of children. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 1102–1109 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.96

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