Dietary habits and cardiovascular risk in the Spanish population: The DRECE study (I)

Backgrounds/Aims: To investigate dietary habits and their evolution with re gard to cardiovascular risk status in Spain. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed in two phases in 1991 and 1996 in 43 primary care clinics. One t housand and two hundred people classified as 'with cardiovascular risk' and 600 'without risk' were studied. Each participant answered a food frequenc y questionnaire. Results: The risk group did not change oil, cereals and da iry products consumption, decreased egg, legume and meat, and increased fis h, fruits and vegetables intake. The control group differed in increasing d airy products and not decreasing eggs and vegetables consumption. A small d ecrease in energy intake happened, from 11,315.1 to 10,941.5 kJ in the risk group (p < 0.05). Carbohydrates intake showed a not statistically signific ant falling trend from 41.3 to 40.6% in people at risk and 41.8 to 40.7% in those without risk. Protein intake increased in both groups up to 16.5% an d fat consumption kept at around 42.9% in both groups. The decrease in satu rated fat and increase in polyunsaturated fat were statistically significan t in people at risk (p = 0.000). High cholesterol intakes were found. Concl usion: People with cardiovascular problems changed their dietary habits in a 'healthier' way than people without risk. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG . Basel.