[Identification of dietary patterns and their relationship with zinc intake in male and female workers]

Objectives　Deficiency of zinc, an essential trace element in the body, adversely affects taste, wound healing, and immunity. This study aimed to identify the dietary patterns of male and female workers using factor analysis and clarify the relationship between dietary patterns and zinc intake.Methods　The participants were 395 municipal employees (193 men and 202 women) in Northern Kyushu aged 19-71 years. To obtain the dietary intake data, participants were asked to complete a lifestyle and health questionnaire and brief self-administered dietary history questionnaire. Zn intake was evaluated per 1,000 kcal (mg/1,000 kcal). The values were adjusted for energy using the density method, and multiple regression analysis was performed.Results　Three dietary patterns were identified for each participant. Among men, "main and side dish type pattern" characterized by higher intakes of potatoes, legumes, vegetables, seafood, meat, and low for cereals, "snack type pattern" characterized by higher intakes of sweets and coffee, and "Mediterranean diet pattern" characterized by higher intakes of bread, pasta, fruits, eggs, and milk, and low for miso soup and rice were identified. For women, a "vegetarian diet type pattern" characterized by higher intakes of beans, vegetables, mushrooms, and seaweed, "main and side dish type pattern" characterized by low intake of rice, and "dinner-time drinking pattern" characterized by higher intakes of alcoholic beverages were identified. Zinc intake was positively associated with the "main and side dish type pattern" and "Mediterranean diet pattern" in men and "vegetarian diet" and "main and side dish type pattern" in women. Additionally, zinc intake was negatively associated with the "dinner-time drinking pattern" among women.Conclusion　Despite adjusting for age, BMI, marriage, occupation, smoking habits, and exercise habits, the "main and side dish type pattern" and "Mediterranean diet pattern" were positively correlated with zinc intake in men and the "vegetarian diet" and "main and side dish type pattern" in women. The data suggest awareness of the dietary patterns that are conducive to ensuring zinc intake.