Prevalence of dyslipidemias and food consumption: a population-based study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its association with an adequate intake of carbohydrates, saturated, monounsaturated, trans, and omega-3 fats among adults living in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study with 884 adults aged 20 to 59 years. Sociodemographic, food intake, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected. Associations between study variables were investigated by the chi-square test. There was a high prevalence of dyslipidemia in the study population (64.25%), with most individuals having abnormal levels of at least one serum lipid component. Inadequate intakes of saturated, trans, and monounsaturated fats and carbohydrates were predominant. It is noteworthy that omega-3 intake levels were adequate in most individuals. Eutrophic adults showed a higher prevalence of excessive intake of saturated and trans fats. It was found that 38.7% of individuals with low levels of High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) had an excessive intake of saturated fat. Most individuals with high triglyceride levels or high triglyceride/HDL-c ratios had an insufficient intake of monounsaturated fat. Further studies are needed to evaluate other factors that may influence dietary patterns.

Key words:
Dyslipidemias; Eating; Adults; Nutritional epidemiology

Resumo

O presente artigo objetivou estimar a prevalência de dislipidemias e sua associação e adequação da ingestão de gorduras saturadas, monoinsaturadas, trans, ômega-3 e carboidratos, em adultos de Viçosa-MG. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 884 adultos com idades entre 20 e 59 anos. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, de consumo alimentar, antropométricos e bioquímicos da população. As associações entre as variáveis foram verificadas utilizando-se o teste qui-quadrado. Verificou-se elevada prevalência de dislipidemias na população (64,25%), com pelo menos um dos lipídeos séricos alterados. Houve predomínio de inadequação na ingestão de gorduras saturadas, trans, monoinsaturadas e carboidratos. Ressalta-se que a ingestão de ômega-3 esteve adequado para a maioria dos indivíduos. Adultos eutróficos apresentaram maiores prevalências de ingestão excessiva de gorduras saturadas e trans. Observou-se que 38,7% dos indivíduos com HDL-c reduzido apresentaram ingestão acima do recomendado de gordura saturada. A maioria dos indivíduos com triglicerídeos e razão TG/HDL-c elevada possuíam ingestão insatisfatória de gordura monoinsaturada. Faz-se necessária a avaliação de outros fatores que podem influenciar o padrão alimentar.

Palavras-chave:
Dislipidemias; Ingestão de alimentos; Adultos; Epidemiologia nutricional

Introduction

Dyslipidemia is defined as changes in plasma concentration of lipoproteins, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and triglycerides (TG)¹. Increased serum TG and LDL-c concentrations, as well as reduced HDL-c concentrations, are independent risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic diseases². These conditions contribute to the occurrence of coronary events, including infarction, angina, and cardiovascular death³, and to the status of atherosclerotic diseases as the first cause of death in Brazil and worldwide^4,5.

The global cardiovascular mortality rate associated with hypercholesterolemia is 1.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, whereas, in Brazil, the rate is equivalent to 2.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to 2010 data⁶. Marinho et al.⁷ found that high total cholesterol (TC) was the eighth risk factor that most contributed to the morbidity and mortality of women and men in Brazil and should, therefore, be the focus of public policies.

Given its high prevalence in Brazil, dyslipidemia may be an important health indicator. Population-based observational studies revealed that dyslipidemia prevalence ranges from 60%^8,9 to 75%¹⁰ in obese individuals. National studies investigating self-reported dyslipidemia also produced worrisome results. According to the 2013 National Health Survey (NHS)¹¹, dyslipidemia has a prevalence of 12.5% in individuals aged 18 years and older. The 2016 Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL)¹² found that the prevalence of medically diagnosed dyslipidemia was 24.8% in the 26 Brazilian capitals and the Federal District.

Early identification of dyslipidemia risk factors may be an effective strategy for the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular mortality. Although the determinants of dyslipidemia vary considerably between individuals, the main factors are diet, level of physical activity, and genetic inheritance¹³. Serum concentrations of TC and TG are increased by high intake of cholesterol, carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fatty acids, and high-energy foods¹⁴. A highly atherogenic dietary pattern may contribute by up to 62% to the occurrence of deaths before the age of 70 years in Brazil¹⁵.

Considering the presence of dyslipidemia in Brazil and the aggravating effects of an inadequate diet, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its association with dietary levels of carbohydrates, saturated, monounsaturated, trans, and omega-3 fats in adults living in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Methods

Study design

This is a cross-sectional, population-based study with a descriptive and analytical approach analyzing data collected as part of the research project entitled “Metabolic syndrome and associated factors: a population-based study of adults in Viçosa, MG”, conducted by the Health and Food Study (ESA) group between 2012 and 2014 in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study population included female and male individuals aged 20-59 years living in the urban area of Viçosa.

In the first phase of the study, a structured questionnaire containing socioeconomic and demographic questions was administered to the population during home visits. The second phase included the use of a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)¹⁶, anthropometric assessment, and blood collection.

Calculation of sample size and participant selection

The recommended sample size was calculated using the online software OpenEpi® version 3.03a, considering the 2010 census population estimate for Viçosa (43,431 individuals), an expected prevalence of 60.3%⁹, a sampling error of 4.5%, and a design effect of 1.7. This gave a total of 765 individuals. To this value, we added 10% for sample losses and 10% for control of confounding variables, resulting in an estimated sample size of 918 individuals.

Individuals were selected by conglomerate two-stage sampling, where the first stage was the census unit (according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE) and the second stage was the household. Thirty census units were randomly chosen out of the 99 units located in the urban area of Viçosa. Then, city blocks and corners were randomly selected. Home visits for data collection were performed in a clockwise fashion from the selected city corners. The sampling procedure is described in detail in Segheto et al.¹⁷.

Exclusion criteria were as follows: pregnancy, being bedridden, mental disabilities that precluded answering the questionnaire, and inability to perform anthropometric measurements.

Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics

Age, categorized into the age groups 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 years, was used as a demographic variable. Level of education and socioeconomic status were treated as socioeconomic variables. Level of education was categorized into ≤8, 9-11, and ≥12 years of study. Socioeconomic status was classified according to the economic classification of the Brazilian Association of Research Companies (ABEP)¹⁸ into high (classes A1, A2, B1, and B2), middle (classes C1 and C2), and low (classes D and E).

Anthropometric and biochemical evaluation

The following anthropometric variables were evaluated: body weight, height, and waist circumference (WC). Body weight (kg) was measured using a portable anthropometric scale (Tanita, maximum load of 200 kg), and height (m) was measured using a 2.5 m long stadiometer (Welmy) fixed on the wall. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from these data, and individuals were classified into overweight (BMI≥25 kg/m²) and normal weight (BMI≤24.9 kg/m²)¹⁹. WC (cm) was measured using a 1.5 m long inelastic tape at the midpoint between the last rib and the iliac crest. WC values were classified as high (≥80 cm in women and ≥90 cm in men) and normal (<80 cm in women and <90 cm in men) and used as a predictive factor of increased risk for cardiovascular diseases²⁰.

A registered nurse was responsible for blood collection. Participants were instructed to engage in a 12 h fast prior to collection and not change their normal daily habits. For biochemical analysis, blood was stored in vacuum tubes containing gel separator and clot activator, and the material was centrifuged for 15 min at 3000 rpm (2000 G). TC, TG, and HDL-c levels were measured using enzymatic reagents and quantified photometrically using a Cobas Mira Plus autoanalyzer (Roche Diagnostics Systems). LDL-c concentration was calculated using the Friedewald²¹ equation. Blood samples were analyzed in the Health Division of the Federal University of Viçosa.

TC/HDL-c, LDL-c/HDL-c, and TG/HDL-c ratios were calculated and classified as adequate according to the following values: TC/HDL-c of ≤5 for men and ≤4.5 for women, LDL-c/HDL-c of ≤3.5 for men and ≤3.0 for women, and TG/HDL-c of <4 for both sexes^22,23.

Dyslipidemia diagnosis was based on the cut-off points established by the Brazilian Guideline for Dyslipidemia and Atherosclerosis prevention, as follows: isolated hypercholesterolemia, isolated high LDL-c (≥160 mg/dL); isolated hypertriglyceridemia, isolated high serum TG (≥50 mg/dL); mixed hyperlipidemia, high LDL-c (≥160 mg/dL) and TG (≥150 mg/dL); low HDL-c, low HDL-c (men, <40 mg/dL; women <50 mg/dL) alone or in association with high LDL-c or TG²⁴.

Food consumption

The quantitative FFQ used in this study included information on the consumption of 95 food items, distributed in 26 food groups. Intake of carbohydrates, omega-3, monounsaturated, saturated, and trans fats was estimated on the basis of FFQ information and food tables using the Brazil-Nutri software, developed for the 2008-2009 Brazilian Consumer Expenditure Survey carried out by IBGE^25,26.

Daily consumption of nutrients was quantified using Excel spreadsheets (version 2010, Microsoft Corporation, United States of America) and the following formula: number of servings consumed at a meal × weight/serving size × frequency of consumption × nutritional composition of the serving. Individuals whose estimated energy intake surpassed 6000 Kcal were considered outliers and were excluded from the analysis²⁷.

Inadequacy of saturated fat, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, and omega-3 fatty acid intake was determined according to the I Guideline on Fat Consumption and Cardiovascular Health³, as follows: saturated fat, >10% of the total energy intake; trans fat, >1% of the total energy intake; monounsaturated fat, <15% of the total energy intake; and omega-3 fatty acid, <1 g/day. Dietary carbohydrate intake was considered inadequate when greater than 130 g/day, as determined by Dietary Reference Intakes of the Institute of Medicine²⁸.

Statistical analyses

Statistical analyses were performed using STATA software version 13.1. The effects of sample expansion were accounted for by applying the survey command (svy), which adjusts estimates for sampling effects. Data were weighted by sex, age group, and education level. Weights were calculated as proportions of individuals, according to IBGE data and sample characteristics.

All variables were treated categorically and described using absolute and relative frequencies. Associations between study variables were assessed by Pearson’s chi-square test. The level of significance was set at 5% (α≤0.05).

Ethics statement

The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Viçosa. All participants signed an informed consent form and were aware of the purpose of the study.

Results

The final sample consisted of 884 individuals, 52.31% of which were male. The mean age was 37.7 years. Most individuals belonged to the 20-29 years age group (31.80%), and 46.32% had excess weight (Table 1). Dyslipidemic subjects had higher education level, BMI, and WC than individuals without dyslipidemia (p<0.001).

Table 1
Socioeconomic, demographic, and anthropometric characteristics of dyslipidemic and non-dyslipidemic adults (age 20 to 59 years, n=884) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil (2012-2014).

Variable		Total (%)	Dyslipidemic		p*
			Yes (%)	No (%)
Sex
	Female	47.69	34.09	13.61	0.263
	Male	52.31	32.56	19.75
Age group (years)
	20-29	31.80	16.58	15.22	<0.001
	30-39	26.50	16.65	9.85
	40-49	22.78	17.62	5.16
	50-59	18.91	15.79	3.13
Level of education (years)
	0-4 anos	15.92	10.95	4.97	0.337
	5-8 anos	14.27	10.31	3.96
	9-11 anos	20.74	14.52	6.22
	≥12 anos	49.07	30.86	18.21
Socioeconomic status
	A/B	27.33	18.86	8.47	0.489
	C	65.81	42.81	23.00
	D/E	6.86	5.03	1.83
Weight status
	Normal weight (<25 kg/m2)	53.68	30.12	23.56	<0.001
	Overweight/obese (≥25 kg/m2)	46.32	36.47	9.86
Waist circumference
	Normal (men, <80 cm; women, <90 cm)	56.32	30.48	25.83	<0.001
	High (men, ≥80 cm; women, ≥90 cm)	43.68	36.16	7.52

• *Significant at p<0.05 by Pearson’s chi-square test.
• Source: Elaborated by the authors.

The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 64.25%. No significant differences in fat and carbohydrate intake were observed between individuals with and without dyslipidemia (Table 2).

Table 2
Daily fat and carbohydrate intake of dyslipidemic and non-dyslipidemic adults (age 20 to 59 years, n=884) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil (2012-2014).

Variable		Total (%)	Dyslipidemic		p*
			Yes (%)	No (%)
Saturated fat intake (% of total energy)
	Adequate (<10)	6.53	4.55	1.98	0.633
	Inadequate (≥10)	93.47	62.09	31.38
Trans fat intake (% of total energy)
	Adequate (<1)	25.80	18.24	7.57	0.191
	Inadequate (≥1)	74.20	25.79	25.79
Monounsaturated fat intake (% of total energy)
	Adequate (>15)	3.41	2.00	1.41	0.261
	Inadequate (≤15)	96.59	64.65	31.95
Omega-3 intake (g)
	Adequate (≥1)	91.49	60.77	30.72	0.688
	Inadequate (<1)	8.51	5.87	2.64
Carbohydrate intake (g)
	Adequate (≤130)	0.67	0.34	0.33	0.295
	Inadequate (>130)	99.33	66.30	33.03

• *Significant at p<0.05 by Pearson’s chi-square test.
• Source: Elaborated by the authors..

Sociodemographic, biochemical, and clinical variables were compared taking into account the adequacy of saturated fat, trans fat, and carbohydrate intake, as determined by nutritional guidelines (Table 3). The intake of saturated (p=0.012) and trans (p<0.001) fats was above the recommended mainly in the lower age group (20-29 years). Education level was also associated with inadequate intake of saturated (p<0.001) and trans (p=0.009) fats, which were higher among individuals with more than 12 years of schooling. Regarding socioeconomic level, most individuals with inadequate intake of trans fat belonged to class C (p=0.027).

Table 3
Sociodemographic characteristics and biochemical profile of adults aged 20 to 59 years (n=884) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil (2012-2014), stratified by daily intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and carbohydrates.

Variables		Saturated fat intake			Trans fat intake			Carbohydrate intake
		<10% energy	≥10% energy	p*	<1% energy	≥1% energy	p*	≤130g	>130g	p*
		(%)	(%)		(%)	(%)		(%)	(%)
Sex
	Female	16.49	31.20	0.374	11.33	36.36	0.568	52.05	47.29	0.497
	Male	22.30	30.00		14.47	37.84		0.26	0.41
Age group (years)
	20-29	7.96	23.84	0.012	4.59	27.21	<0.001	0.45	31.36	0.205
	30-39	9.53	16.96		5.97	20.52		0.11	26.38
	40-49	10.36	12.43		6.96	15.82		0.00	22.78
	50-59	10.95	7.97		8.28	10.64		0.10	18.81
Level of education (years)
	0-4	9.91	6.01	<0.001	6.42	9.51	0.009	0.00	15.92	0.670
	5-8	7.02	7.24		4.77	9.50		0.00	14.27
	9-11	8.41	12.33		5.32	15.42		0.17	20.57
	≥12	13.45	35.62		9.30	39.77		0.50	48.57
Socioeconomic status
	A/B	8.96	18.37	0.161	6.22	21.11	0.027	0.19	27.14	0.728
	C	26.64	39.17		16.35	49.46		0.48	65.33
	D/E	3.23	3.63		3.26	3.60		0.00	6.86
Weight status
	Normal weight (<25 kg/m2)	19.80	33.87	0.254	12.78	40.89	0.259	0.50	53.17	0.259
	Overweight/obese (≥25 kg/m2)	18.95	27.37		12.89	33.43		0.17	46.16
Waist circumference
	Normal (men, <80 cm; women, <90 cm)	18.88	37.44	0.038	12.24	44.08	0.010	0.50	55.82	0.256
	High (men, ≥80 cm; women, ≥90 cm)	19.92	23.77		13.56	30.12		0.17	43.52
TC
	Normal (<200 mg/dL)	22.72	39.23	0.327	13.66	48.29	0.068	0.67	61.28	0.004
	High (≥200 mg/dL)	16.08	21.98		12.15	25.91		0.00	38.06
HDL-c
	Normal (men, ≥40 mg/dL; women, ≥50 mg/dL)	17.53	22.50	0.022	10.26	29.78	0.918	59.64	39.69	0.454
	Low (men, <40 mg/dL; women <50 mg/dL)	21.27	38.70		15.55	44.42		0.33	0.34
LDL-c
	Normal (<160 mg/dL)	34.49	54.26	0.932	23.14	65.60	0.730	0.67	88.08	0.239
	High (≥160 mg/dL)	4.31	6.95		2.66	8.60		0.00	11.26
TG
	Normal (<150 mg/dL)	27.43	46.16	0.270	15.41	58.19	0.001	0.56	73.03	0.539
	High (≥150 mg/dL)	11.37	15.04		10.39	16.01		0.10	26.30
TC/HDL-c ratio
	Normal (men, ≤5; women, ≤4.5)	25.92	46.33	0.025	16.37	55.89	0.033	0.58	71.68	0.306
	High (men, >5; women, >4.5)	12.88	14.87		9.44	18.31		0.00	27.66
LDL-c/HDL-c ratio
	Normal (men, ≤3.5; women, ≤3)	29.25	9.54	0.048	19.41	58.74	0.423	0.58	7.758	0.505
	High (men, >3.5; women, >3)	48.90	12.30		6.39	15.46		0.00	21.76
TG/HDL-c ratio
	Normal (<4)	27.51	49.60	0.047	17.61	59.49	0.011	0.67	76.44	0.014
	High (≥4)	11.29	11.61		8.19	14.71		0.00	22.89

• *Significant at p<0.05 by Pearson’s chi-square test.
• Source: Elaborated by the authors.

Inadequate intake of saturated fat was higher among individuals with normal WC, TC/HDL-c ratio, and TG/HDL-c ratio (p=0.038, p=0.025, and p=0.047, respectively); the same was observed for trans fat intake (p=0.010, p=0.033, and p=0.011, respectively). Subjects with low HDL-c had high intake of saturated fat (p=0.022) and those with normal TG consumed trans fat above the recommended level (p=0.001). Individuals with high LDL-c/HDL-c ratio had higher saturated fat intake, as shown in Table 3. The overall prevalence of inadequate intake of saturated and trans fats among the study population was 61.2 and 74.2%, respectively.

Except for TC (p=0.004) and TG/HDL-c ratio (p=0.014), which were inversely proportional to carbohydrate intake, no other variable was associated with high carbohydrate intake (Table 3). Nevertheless, the majority of the sample (99.1%) had an excessive intake of carbohydrates (343.30±14.24 g), much higher than that recommended by Dietary Reference Intakes (130 g).

Table 4 shows that individuals aged 30-39 years with normal TG levels and normal TG/HDL-c ratio had a higher intake of monounsaturated fat (p=0.024, p=0.015, and p=0.020, respectively). The average daily consumption of monounsaturated fat was 32.20±1.96 g. Most individuals (96.6%) consumed less monounsaturated fat than the recommended. On the other hand, omega-3 was the only nutrient consumed at the recommended levels by most of the population (91.5%, 1.97±0.6 g/day), that is, more than 1 g/day. Adequate intake of omega-3 was more frequent among individuals with normal TC (p=0.015).

Table 4
Sociodemographic characteristics and biochemical profile of adults aged 20 to 59 years (n=884) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil (2012-2014), stratified by daily intake of monounsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids.

Variables		Monounsaturated fat intake			Omega-3 intake
		≤15% energy	>15% energy	p*	≤1 g	>1 g	p*
		(%)	(%)		(%)	(%)
Sex
	Female	50,82	1,49	0,282	3,38	48,93	0,111
	Male	45,77	1,92		5,13	42,56
Age group (years)
	20-29	31,10	0,71	0,024	2,17	29,63	0,179
	30-39	25,22	1,27		2,12	24,37
	40-49	21,71	1,08		1,37	21,42
	50-59	18,57	0,35		2,85	16,06
Level of education (years)
	0-4	15,81	0,11	0,313	1,37	14,56	0,943
	5-8	13,70	0,57		1,14	13,13
	9-11	20,04	0,70		1,54	19,19
	≥12	47,05	2,02		4,47	44,61
Socioeconomic status
	A/B	26,15	1,17	0,618	1,75	25,58	0,197
	C	63,87	1,94		5,61	60,20
	D/E	6,57	0,30		1,16	5,70
Weight status
	Normal weight (<25 kg/m2)	51,75	1,92	0,794	4,54	49,14	0,934
	Overweight/obese (≥25 kg/m2)	44,84	1,49		3,99	42,34
Waist circumference
	Normal (men, <80 cm; women, <90 cm)	54,31	2,01	0,799	4,73	51,59	0,897
	High (men, ≥80 cm; women, ≥90 cm)	42,28	1,40		3,78	39,90
TC
	Normal (<200 mg/dL)	59,67	2,27	0,618	3,93	58,01	0,015
	High (≥200 mg/dL)	36,92	1,14		4,58	33,48
HDL-c
	Normal (men, ≥40 mg/dL; women, ≥50 mg/dL)	38,88	1,16	0,464	2,78	37,25	0,223
	Low (men, <40 mg/dL; women <50 mg/dL)	57,72	2,25		5,73	54,24
LDL-c
	Normal (<160 mg/dL)	85,68	3,06	0,848	7,54	81,20	0,961
	High (≥160 mg/dL)	10,91	0,35		0,97	10,29
TG
	Normal (<150 mg/dL)	70,41	3,18	0,015	6,30	67,30	0,951
	High (≥150 mg/dL)	26,18	0,23		2,21	24,19
TC/HDL-c ratio
	Normal (men, ≤5; women, ≤4.5)	69,52	2,73	0,315	6,11	66,15	0,941
	High (men, >5; women, >4.5)	27,07	0,68		2,40	25,34
LDL-c/HDL-c ratio
	Normal (men, ≤3.5; women, ≤3)	75,58	21,01	0,637	6,69	71,46	0,936
	High (men, >3.5; women, >3)	2,57	0,83		1,82	20,03
TG/HDL-c ratio
	Normal (<4)	73,82	3,28	0,020	6,63	70,48	0,899
	High (≥4)	22,77	0,12		1,88	21,01

• *Significant at p<0.05 by Pearson’s chi-square test.
• Source: Elaborated by the authors.

Discussion

The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia (64.25%) among adults in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, was higher than that observed by Souza et al.²⁹ (24.2%) in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro State, and by Fernandez et al.¹ (12.2%) in eight cities of São Paulo State. Our results were similar to those of Moraes et al.⁸, who found a prevalence of 61.9% in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, and Garcez et al.⁹, who reported 60.3% dyslipidemia prevalence in São Paulo. Differences in prevalence between studies can be attributed to the use of different cut-off points, age groups, and socioeconomic levels of the investigated populations. The form of dyslipidemia diagnosis (whether self-reported or tested) might also have influenced the results.

Dyslipidemia, as diagnosed in this study by alteration of at least one serum fat component, was mainly observed among overweight individuals with high WC in the 40-59-year age group. According to Oliveira et al.³⁰, individuals with excess weight and abdominal fat, regardless of sex, are at a higher risk of chronic alterations. This is because accumulation of intra-abdominal adipose tissue increases the amount of free fatty acids transported to the liver. Excess free fatty acids impact lipoprotein secretion, altering TG and HDL-c blood levels³¹.

According to the 2008-2009 Brazilian Consumer Expenditure Survey, which included a representative sample of the Brazilian population, the prevalence of inadequate saturated fat intake among adults is 87%²⁶, much higher than that found for the Viçosa population (61.2%). The 2013 NHS revealed that 37.2 and 62% of the population regularly consumes meat containing excess fat and whole milk, respectively³². Consumption of these highly saturated foods was more frequent among men, young people, and individuals with a low education level.

Inadequate consumption of saturated, trans, and monounsaturated fats was more frequent among adults aged 20 to 29 years. Castro et al.³³ found that trans fatty acid consumption decreased with increasing age in a sample of adolescents, adults, and the elderly in São Paulo, São Paulo State, in 2003. This finding was attributed to dietary patterns rich in ultraprocessed foods. Food and nutrition education actions are crucial for stimulating healthy food choices, such as reduced fat intake, particularly in young adults, regardless of the presence of dyslipidemia. Such actions may prevent the development of diseases.

High intake of saturated and trans fats was more frequent among individuals having more than 12 years of formal education. Among participants of the Pelotas birth cohort study, consumption of ultraprocessed foods rich in saturated and trans fats was 4.8 times higher in individuals with more than 12 years of education than in those with 4 years. The association between education and consumption of fatty foods was believed to stem from a greater access to and demand for these products among more educated individuals³⁴.

For the same reason as that given for education level, there seems to be a direct relationship between socioeconomic status and fat intake^34,35, although this was not observed in the present study among adults living in Viçosa. Trans fat consumption was significantly higher in individuals in socioeconomic class C. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that consumption of high-fat and high-carbohydrate foods has increased in Brazil, particularly among the economically vulnerable³⁶.

Dyslipidemia status was not associated with diet variables, but serum lipid ratios were significantly influenced by dietary fat and energy intakes. High consumption of saturated and trans fats was more frequent among subjects with normal values of TC/HDL-c and TG/HDL-c. These findings may be explained by the fact that dyslipidemia is manifested in the long term. Because the majority of participants were young, the effects of inadequate nutrition might not have been clinically evident³⁶.

Research in the country has shown that, even after diagnosis of dyslipidemia, individuals might not adopt healthy habits (diet, physical activity, pharmacotherapy) and tend to seek assistance only when serious clinical complications occur³⁷.

In this study, individuals with low HDL-c and high LDL-c/HDL-c ratio were more frequently found to have inadequate intake of saturated fat (>10% of total energy intake). According to Mensink et al.³⁸, the effect of saturated fats on HDL-c should be interpreted with caution, as it depends greatly on the type of saturated fatty acid consumed (carbon chain size) and the proportion of saturated fat in relation to other dietary nutrients. The authors found that HDL-c increased when saturated fats were replaced by monounsaturated fats or lauric acid. The opposite was observed when dietary saturated fats were replaced by carbohydrates or other long-chain fatty acids.

Souza et al.³⁹, in their systematic review, identified that trans fats have an established relationship with global mortality, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes, independent of other factors. The same, however, cannot be said for saturated fats, whose relationship with cardiovascular diseases is inconclusive⁴⁰. For decades, nutritional guidelines have recommended reducing saturated fat intake for prevention of cardiovascular diseases, but the effect of this component should be evaluated together with that of other dietary nutrients. Thus, analysis of dietary patterns, rather than nutrient intake alone, is more appropriate for investigation of the relationship between saturated fat and cardiovascular diseases^41,42.

Carbohydrate intake was high among the study population, regardless of dyslipidemia status. The mean carbohydrate intake was about 343 g, 164% higher than the recommended (130 g). The observed intake was also much higher than those reported in the 2008-2009 Consumer Expenditure Survey, which showed that women and men aged 19-59 years consume 240 to 290 g of carbohydrates/day. Carbohydrate-rich diets based on processed foods and foods with high glycemic index contribute to hypertriglyceridemia, favoring the formation of small dense LDL particles and reduction of plasma HDL-c concentrations⁴³.

Low intake of monounsaturated fats was mainly observed in subjects with normal serum TG and TG/HDL-c ratio. In a previous study in Viçosa, TG/HDL-c ratio was positively correlated with unfavorable health outcomes⁴⁴. Even when their blood parameters are normal, individuals with low consumption of monounsaturated fats are at risk, because moderate intake of these fats can reduce serum TG and increase HDL-c⁴⁵. A clinical trial observed that, by replacing 1% of energy from trans fats with energy from monounsaturated fat, individuals can reduce the TC/HDL-c ratio by 0.54⁴⁶.

Adequate omega-3 intake was higher among subjects with TC levels below 200 mg/dL. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids seems to reduce TC⁴⁷. Although the prevalence of other markers did not differ in the sample, it is known that omega-3 activates systemic and intracellular mechanisms responsible for a reduction in serum TG and a modest increase in HDL-c. This fatty acid also has important anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and vasodilating properties, resulting in cardiovascular and atherosclerotic protection⁴⁸.

The cross-sectional nature of this study may be seen as a limitation, as it precludes establishment of temporal relationships between variables. Food frequency questionnaires are highly effective and have high correlation with true intake; however, their efficacy depends on participants’ memory⁴⁹. We aimed to reduce this limitation by showing participants a food photo album during administration of the questionnaire to help them estimate more accurately the size of portions normally consumed.

In this representative sample of the adult population of Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, we observed a high prevalence of dyslipidemia, excessive intake of saturated fats, trans fats, and carbohydrates, and low intake of monounsaturated fats. Inadequate consumption of saturated and trans fats was higher among individuals with elevated HDL-c and TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL-c, and LDL-c/HDL-c ratios, whereas individuals with normal TC levels had a more adequate intake of omega-3. Further studies are needed to elucidate the association between fat and carbohydrate intake and changes in serum lipid levels.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the volunteers who participated in the study.

We are also grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), BIOCLIN, and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for supporting the research project.

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Edited by

Chief editors:

Romeu Gomes, Antônio Augusto Moura da Silva

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  26 Nov 2021
• Date of issue
  Nov 2021

History

• Received
  28 May 2020
• Accepted
  15 Sept 2020
• Published
  17 Sept 2020