DIETARY-INTAKE PATTERNS AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN THE ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN COMMUNITIES STUDY

Background. Comprehensive and up-to-date data on differences in dietar y intake according to various sociodemographic factors are needed to u nderstand the potential impact of dietary factors on disease risks in the United States. Methods. Usual dietary intake assessed by a food fr equency questionnaire was examined in relation to race, sex, and educa tional attainment using baseline data obtained from randomly selected samples of 15,800 middle-aged black and white men and women who partic ipated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Results. In a lmost all comparisons, higher educational attainment was associated wi th recommended dietary intake patterns-lower per energy intakes of mea ts, eggs, chicken with skin, and whole milk and higher intakes of frui ts, vegetables, fish, chicken without skin, and low-fat milk. As expec ted from these food intake patterns, higher educational attainment was associated with lower intakes of saturated fatty acid and cholesterol and with higher intakes of dietary fiber and various micronutrients. Compared with women's diets, men's diets were slightly more atherogeni c (in whites only) based upon Keys score and had lower micronutrient l evels. Although there were large differences in the food intakes betwe en blacks and whites, the differences in nutrient intakes were general ly smaller. However, intakes of cholesterol and vitamin A were somewha t higher and intakes of saturated fatty acid, calcium, and potassium w ere lower among blacks than in whites. Conclusions. This community-bas ed study clearly demonstrated that regardless of race and sex, high ed ucational attainment is associated with recommended dietary intake pat terns. Continuing efforts to improve general educational level and to promote healthy dietary habits among those with low socioeconomic stat us are warranted. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.