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Open Access 19-10-2023 | Hypertension | Original Contribution

Greater adherence to the Healthy Nordic Food Index is associated with lower all-cause mortality in a population-based sample from northern Germany

Authors: Paula Stürmer, Ilka Ratjen, Katharina Susanne Weber, Cara Övermöhle, Tatjana Patricia Liedtke, Sabina Waniek, Eike Andreas Strathmann, Wolfgang Lieb

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 2/2024

Abstract

Purpose

Dietary pattern scores reflecting a high intake of beneficial food groups were associated with reduced mortality risk. Data on associations of such dietary pattern scores in population-based samples from northern Germany are lacking. Therefore, we examined the association of three dietary pattern scores with all-cause mortality in a moderate-sized prospective sample from northern Germany.

Methods

The study sample comprised 836 participants (43.8% females, median age 62.4 years). Based on a validated, self-administered Food Frequency Questionnaire, the dietary scores Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Modified Mediterranean Diet Score (MMDS), and Healthy Nordic Food Index (HNFI) were calculated. Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, waist to hip ratio, education, smoking status, total energy intake, and physical activity, were used to separately relate DASH, MMDS, and HNFI to all-cause mortality.

Results

During a median follow-up period of 11 years, 93 individuals died. While DASH and MMDS scores were not associated with all-cause mortality, greater adherence to HNFI was associated with lower mortality hazards (HR: 0.47 [95% CI 0.25–0.89] when comparing the highest score quartile to the lowest; HR: 0.79 [95% CI 0.64–0.98] for HNFI modeled as a 1-Standard Deviation increment). Among different HNFI components, higher intake of oats and cereals displayed the most conclusive association with all-cause mortality (HR: 0.59 [95% CI 0.38–0.91] when comparing high and low intake).

Conclusion

In an elderly general population sample from northern Germany, we observed greater adherence to HNFI to be associated with lower all-cause mortality.

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Title: Greater adherence to the Healthy Nordic Food Index is associated with lower all-cause mortality in a population-based sample from northern Germany
Authors: Paula Stürmer
Ilka Ratjen
Katharina Susanne Weber
Cara Övermöhle
Tatjana Patricia Liedtke
Sabina Waniek
Eike Andreas Strathmann
Wolfgang Lieb
Publication date: 19-10-2023
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Hypertension
Hypertension
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 2/2024
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03271-0

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