Measuring Adherence with the New Zealand Dietary Guidelines Using an Index and Associations with Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Function in Older Adults Living in Auckland, New Zealand †
by
, , , and
Karen Mumme
1
,
Jamie de Seymour
1, 
Cathryn Conlon
1,
Pamela von Hurst
1,
Beatrix Jones
2,
Crystal Haskell-Ramsay
3 and
Kathryn Beck
1,* 1
College of Health, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
2
Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
3
Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle NEI 8ST, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of New Zealand 2022, Wellington, New Zealand, 1–2 December 2022.
Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 18(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023018021
Published: 17 March 2023
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of New Zealand 2022)
Abstract
:Poor diet is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and poor cognitive function. This study uses the Eating Index in Older Adults (the index) to measure adherence to New Zealand’s dietary guidelines in older adults and associations with metabolic syndrome and cognitive function. This cross-sectional study uses data from the Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health (REACH) study, 371 adults (65–74 years, 36% male) living in Auckland, New Zealand. A validated 109-item food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary data. Adherence to the dietary guidelines was scored using the index, which comprises a total score (maximum = 100) and two sub-scores based on adequacy (60) and moderation (40). Higher scores indicate better adherence to guidelines. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Six cognitive domains were tested using COMPASS (Computerised Mental Performance Assessment System). Regression analyses were performed, adjusted for age, sex, index of multiple deprivation, education (cognitive function only), physical activity, Apolipoprotein E-ε4 genotype (cognitive function only) and energy intake. Because of the number of tests, p ≤ 0.001 was considered statistically significant. The mean [standard deviation] index scores, for males and females, were 62 [9] and 64 [10] for total (p = 0.03); 42 [8] and 43 [7] for adequacy (p = 0.03) and 21 [5] and 21 [6] (p = 0.54) for moderation scores. Adherence to the index was not associated with metabolic syndrome (total score p = 0.55) nor cognitive function (total score and global p = 0.50; attention p = 0.32; executive function p = 0.46; episodic memory p = 0.68; working memory p = 0.04; spatial memory p = 0.17). Higher deprivation was positively associated with metabolic syndrome, while higher education was positively associated with cognitive function (both, p < 0.001). In this population, deprivation and education rather than adherence to the index were more influential factors affecting metabolic syndrome and cognitive function.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, C.C., P.v.H., B.J., C.H.-R. and K.B.; methodology, K.M., J.d.S., C.C., P.v.H., B.J., C.H.-R. and K.B.; formal analysis, K.M.; investigation, K.M., C.C., P.v.H. and K.B.; data curation, K.M.; writing—original draft preparation, K.M.; writing—review and editing, J.d.S., K.M. and K.B.; supervision, C.C., P.v.H., B.J. and K.B.; funding acquisition J.d.S., C.C., P.v.H., B.J. and K.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This research was funded by a Health Research Council of New Zealand Emerging Researcher grant, grant number 17/566. K.M. was funded by a HOPE Foundation for Research on Ageing Small Project Grant.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Ethical approval for the REACH study was obtained from the Massey University Human Ethics Committee Southern A, Application 17/69.
Informed Consent Statement
Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.
Data Availability Statement
Consent was not obtained from study subjects to release data.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Mumme, K.; de Seymour, J.; Conlon, C.; von Hurst, P.; Jones, B.; Haskell-Ramsay, C.; Beck, K. Measuring Adherence with the New Zealand Dietary Guidelines Using an Index and Associations with Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Function in Older Adults Living in Auckland, New Zealand. Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 18, 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023018021
AMA Style
Mumme K, de Seymour J, Conlon C, von Hurst P, Jones B, Haskell-Ramsay C, Beck K. Measuring Adherence with the New Zealand Dietary Guidelines Using an Index and Associations with Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Function in Older Adults Living in Auckland, New Zealand. Medical Sciences Forum. 2023; 18(1):21. https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023018021
Chicago/Turabian StyleMumme, Karen, Jamie de Seymour, Cathryn Conlon, Pamela von Hurst, Beatrix Jones, Crystal Haskell-Ramsay, and Kathryn Beck. 2023. "Measuring Adherence with the New Zealand Dietary Guidelines Using an Index and Associations with Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Function in Older Adults Living in Auckland, New Zealand" Medical Sciences Forum 18, no. 1: 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023018021
