A COMPARISON OF DIETARY-INTAKE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS AND THE CURRENT AMERICAN-DIABETES-ASSOCIATION NUTRIENT GUIDELINES FOR FATS AND CHOLESTEROL - THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DIABETES COMPLICATIONS STUDY, PITTSBURGH, PA, USA

Study objective: To document the fat and cholesterol intakes of indivi duals with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and to relate t hese intakes to gender, current American Diabetes Association (ADA) gu idelines and to serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) conc entrations. Population: A cohort of childhood (<17 yr) onset IDDM pati ents (64% of those eligible: 312 men and 311 women: mean age 28 yr, me an duration of diabetes 20 yr). Data extraction: Dietary nutrients wer e assessed using the Harvard/Willett Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (H/WSFFQ). Serum samples were drawn following an overnig ht fast and were used to determine lipoprotein concentrations. Results : Men, especially those 18-29 yr, were less likely to have intakes con sistent with ADA guidelines for cholesterol (i.e.<300 mg daily) than w omen (40.4 vs 63.3%, p<0.001). Low but significant correlations of die tary cholesterol, total and saturated fat with LDL-C were seen. Men ov er 30 years with intakes above the saturated fat guidelines were less likely to have a serum LDL-C concentration below 130 mg/dl. Conclusion s: Conformity to ADA guidelines is low and varies by age and sex. The results show a weak relationship between dietary factors (as measured) and LDL-C.