Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Four Age Groups of Female Individuals: The PEP Family Heart Study

Assessment of nutritional habits and associations with cardio-metabolic risk factors in four age groups of women participating in the PEP (Prevention Education Program) Family Heart Study. Anthropometric variables, blood pressure (SBP, DBP), lipoproteins, glucose and insulin were measured in 141 children, 211 adolescents, 151 women <55 years and 150 women ≥ 55 years. Nutritional data were assessed by 7 days weighted dietary records. For statistics SPSS 15.0 was used, associations were calculated by multiple logistic regression; p<0.05 for significance. The prevalence of CVD risk factors was similar in children and adolescents except for hypertriglycridemia which was more than 3 time higher in adolescents. 36% of junior women were overweight BMI ≥25 kg/m² and 21% had central adiposity obese. 68 years old women had a far more adverse risk profile than 35 years old women. In terms of energy consumption the 14 years old women had the lowest fat intake and the highest consumption of carbohydrates whereas intake of protein was lowest in 10 years old girls. Intake of unsaturated fat was lower in youths than in adults amounting to 37 g unsaturated fat respectively 53.4% of total fat consumption. The association between energy consumption and overweight was significant and calorie intake was associated with clustering of ≥3 cardiovascular risk factors (OR 4.72; 95% CI 1.22-18.33). The prevalence of CVD risk factors increased continuously from girls and adolescents via junior to senior women. However, dietary intake was different in the four age groups. Caloric intake was associated with overweight and clustering of risk factors in adult women.