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Cited by 403Nutritional Studies and DietNutrition, Health, and Society StudiesCardiovascular Health and Risk Factors

Adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and risk of major chronic disease in men

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McCullough, Marjorie L, Feskanich, Diane, Rimm, Eric B, Giovannucci, Edward L, Ascherio, Alberto, Variyam, Jayachandran N, Spiegelman, Donna, Stampfer, Meir J +1 more·2000·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1093/ajcn/72.5.1223
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Abstract

Background The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the food guide pyramid aim to reduce the risk of major chronic disease in the United States, but data supporting their overall effectiveness are sparse. The healthy eating index (HEI) measures the concordance of dietary patterns with these guidelines.Objective We tested whether a high HEI score (range: 0-100; 100 is best) calculated from a validated food-frequency questionnaire (HEI-f) could predict lower risk of major chronic disease in men.Design A cohort of US male health professionals without major disease completed detailed questionnaires on food intake and other risk factors for heart disease and cancer in 1986 and repeatedly during the 8-y follow-up. Major chronic disease outcome was defined as incident major cardiovascular disease (stroke or myocardial infarction, n = 1092), cancer (n = 1661), or other non-trauma-related deaths (n = 366).Results The HEI-f was weakly inversely associated with risk of major chronic disease [comparing highest with lowest quintile of the HEI-f, relative risk (RR) = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.00; P: < 0.001 for trend]. The HEI-f was associated with moderately lower risk of cardiovascular disease (RR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.88; P: < 0.001) but was not associated with lower cancer risk.Conclusions The HEI-f was only weakly associated with risk of major chronic disease, suggesting that improvements to the HEI may be warranted. Further research on the HEI could have implications for refinements to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the food guide pyramid.

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Authors
McCullough, M. L., Feskanich, D., Rimm, E. B., Giovannucci, E. L., Ascherio, A., Variyam, J. N., Spiegelman, D., Stampfer, M. J., & Willett, W. C.
Affiliations
Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
  • McCullough, Marjorie L
  • Willett, Walter C
ORCID
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2000-11
Volume
72
Issue
5
Pages
1223-1231
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/72.5.1223
OpenAlex
W1947804490
Cited by
403
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 22
FWCI
16.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL035464, HL35464)
  • National Cancer Institute (CA-55075)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Nutrition, Health, and Society Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
Keywords
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Healthy Eating Index, dietary adherence, chronic disease risk, cardiovascular disease, cancer risk, mortality, food frequency questionnaire, men, Food Guide Pyramid
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Energy Intake, Cardiovascular Diseases, Edible Grain, Chronic Disease, Diet, Dietary Fats, Humans, Life Style, Male, Meat, Neoplasms, Risk Factors, Vegetables, Cohort Studies, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Nutrition Policy

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