Association of Mediterranean and DASH Diets Adherence with Dyslipidemia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sanaz Mehrabani; Shirin Gerami; Mehran Nouri; Milad Rajabzadeh-Dehkordi; Moein Askarpour; Maryam Najafi; Niloofar  Omidbeigi; Shiva Faghih

doi:10.18502/jimc.v6i3.12851

Sanaz Mehrabani Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Shirin Gerami Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mehran Nouri Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Milad Rajabzadeh-Dehkordi Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Moein Askarpour Student Research Committee, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Maryam Najafi Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Niloofar Omidbeigi Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Shiva Faghih Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v6i3.12851

Keywords: DASH, Mediterranean diet, Lipid profile

Abstract

Background: Some dietary patterns like Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (DASH) and/or Mediterranean Diet (MED) are often recommended to prevent Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) based on their effects on lipid profile. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the DASH diet score and Mediterranean diet score with lipid profile in healthy individuals aged 20-50 years in Shiraz, Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 236 participants were selected from Shiraz (Iran) medical centers through random cluster sampling. Information about food intake was collected using a 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), then DASH score and MED diet score were calculated. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relation between DASH and MED score adherence and lipid profile.

Results: Individuals in the highest tertile of MED and DASH pattern adherence had significantly lower Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) compared with those in the first tertile (p<0.05). In both crude and adjusted model, higher adherence to the MED pattern was associated with reduced odds of Total Cholesterol (TC) (OR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.13–0.66 and OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.12–0.61) and LDL (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.17–0.77 and OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.15–0.70). Moreover, higher adherence to the DASH pattern was associated with reduced OR of LDL in crude (OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.19–0.94) and TC in adjusted model (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.20–0.96).

Conclusion: The study illustrated a negative association between the MED diet and serum levels of TC and LDL. Also, a higher DASH score was associated with lower TC. Future studies are necessary to confirm these findings.