Summarizing dietary patterns using multivariate analysis

Data on the frequency of consumption of 76 foods were collected from 142 native-born Australians of Australian or British parentage, 26 of Italian parentage and 140 Italian migrants to Australia. Clear separation of the three groups was achieved, using a few as 27 food items in a discriminant function analysis. Potatoes, cauliflower, pumpkin and salt were consumed more by Australians, while salad dressings and grapes were eaten more by Italians. Australian-Italians fell between the two groups, although they tended to be more like Italians. The discriminant score derived for each person was used as an overall food score and this was then related to the serum cholesterol level. There was no consistent relationship between food score and serum cholesterol level.