Association of Nutrient Patterns and Their Relation with Obesity in Iranian Adults: a Population Based Study

In the present research, we have evaluated the association between patterns of nutrient intake and obesity. The present cross-sectional study recruited 850 adults aged between 20-59 years old. Dietary intakes were assessed with three 24-hour recalls. As well, data on anthropometric measures were collected. General obesity was specified as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m². Factor analysis was conducted, and followed by a varimax rotation, was performed to extract major nutrient patterns. Our analysis identified three major nutrient patterns: The first nutrient pattern was characterized by the high consumption of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), protein, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, B₅, B₃, B₁₂, Zinc, and iron. The second nutrient pattern was rich in total fat, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, SFAs, oleic acid, linolenic acid, zinc, vitamin E, α-tocopherol, and β-carotene. The third one was greatly loaded with protein, carbohydrate, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin C, and folate. Women in the third quintile of the first pattern were less likely to be generally obese in the fully adjusted model (odds ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.75). None of the other nutrient patterns had a significant association with obesity, even after adjusting for confounders. Adherence to a nutrient pattern rich in water-soluble vitamins was significantly associated with a greater chance of general obesity among women. Further studies in other populations, along with future prospective studies, are required to confirm these findings.