Meal-specific dietary patterns and their contribution to habitual dietary patterns in the Iranian population

Recent studies have focused on habitual intake without addressing meal-specific intakes. We aimed to identify meal-specific dietary patterns and their contribution to habitual dietary patterns. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 838 adults, both sexes who attended the health centres in Tehran. Dietary data were recorded by three 24-h dietary recalls (24hDR). Dietary patterns were identified by using principal component analysis on meal-specific and overall food intakes. Intraclass correlation (ICC) was used as a measurement of consistency across meals and days. Correlation analysis and linear regression (partial R (2)) were used for meals contribution. Four habitual dietary patterns were derived from average dietary intake of 3-d 24hDR labelled as 'Western', 'Healthy', 'Traditional' and 'Legume and broth'. Also, we identified two major dietary patterns on each meal level (factor 1 and 2 for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner). The highest contribution of energy intake was observed in lunch (25 center dot 7 %), followed by dinner (20 center dot 81 %). Consistency of food groups was the highest across days (ICC tea = 0 center dot 58) and breakfasts (ICC tea = 0 center dot 60). Dinner had a strong correlation coefficient with the 'Western' habitual dietary pattern then followed by lunch. Similarly, dinner and lunch contributed the most (r and partial R (2)) to the 'Western' habitual dietary pattern. Our results suggest that habitual dietary patterns to several extents are formed at meal levels, and dinner has a greater contribution to the habitual dietary patterns in Iranian people. This may help planning for local dietary guidelines according to the time of eating to promote public health.

Automated summary

Recent studies have found that habitual dietary patterns in Iranian people are formed at meal levels, with dinner having the greatest contribution to these patterns.