Frontiers in Public Health (Jul 2023)

Association of monetary diet cost of foods and diet quality in Spanish older adults

  • Cristina Bouzas,
  • Cristina Bouzas,
  • Cristina Bouzas,
  • Rosario Pastor,
  • Rosario Pastor,
  • Silvia García,
  • Silvia García,
  • Silvia García,
  • Margalida Monserrat-Mesquida,
  • Margalida Monserrat-Mesquida,
  • Margalida Monserrat-Mesquida,
  • Miguel Ángel Martínez-González,
  • Miguel Ángel Martínez-González,
  • Jordi Salas-Salvadó,
  • Jordi Salas-Salvadó,
  • Dolores Corella,
  • Dolores Corella,
  • Helmut Schröder,
  • Helmut Schröder,
  • J. Alfredo Martínez,
  • J. Alfredo Martínez,
  • J. Alfredo Martínez,
  • Ángel M. Alonso-Gómez,
  • Ángel M. Alonso-Gómez,
  • Julia Wärnberg,
  • Julia Wärnberg,
  • Jesús Vioque,
  • Jesús Vioque,
  • Dora Romaguera,
  • Dora Romaguera,
  • José Lopez-Miranda,
  • José Lopez-Miranda,
  • Ramon Estruch,
  • Ramon Estruch,
  • Francisco J. Tinahones,
  • Francisco J. Tinahones,
  • José Lapetra,
  • José Lapetra,
  • Lluís Serra-Majem,
  • Lluís Serra-Majem,
  • Blanca Riquelme-Gallego,
  • Blanca Riquelme-Gallego,
  • Anny Romero-Secin,
  • Anny Romero-Secin,
  • Xavier Pintó,
  • Xavier Pintó,
  • José J. Gaforio,
  • José J. Gaforio,
  • Pilar Matía,
  • Josep Vidal,
  • Miriam Zapatero,
  • Lidia Daimiel,
  • Emilio Ros,
  • Emilio Ros,
  • Ana García-Arellano,
  • Ana García-Arellano,
  • Nancy Babio,
  • Nancy Babio,
  • Inmaculada Gonzalez-Monje,
  • Olga Castañer,
  • Olga Castañer,
  • Itziar Abete,
  • Itziar Abete,
  • Lucas Tojal-Sierra,
  • Lucas Tojal-Sierra,
  • Juan Carlos Benavente-Marín,
  • Juan Carlos Benavente-Marín,
  • Antonio Signes-Pastor,
  • Antonio Signes-Pastor,
  • Jadwiga Konieczna,
  • Jadwiga Konieczna,
  • Antonio García-Ríos,
  • Antonio García-Ríos,
  • Sara Castro-Barquero,
  • Sara Castro-Barquero,
  • José C. Fernández-García,
  • José C. Fernández-García,
  • José Manuel Santos-Lozano,
  • José Manuel Santos-Lozano,
  • Maira Bes-Rastrollo,
  • Cristina Mestres,
  • Cristina Mestres,
  • Patricia Guillem-Saiz,
  • Patricia Guillem-Saiz,
  • Albert Goday,
  • Albert Goday,
  • Leire Goicolea-Güemez,
  • Leire Goicolea-Güemez,
  • Estanislao Puig-Aguiló,
  • Miguel Ruiz-Canela,
  • Antoni Palau-Galindo,
  • Antoni Palau-Galindo,
  • Antoni Palau-Galindo,
  • Montse Fitó,
  • Montse Fitó,
  • Josep A. Tur,
  • Josep A. Tur,
  • Josep A. Tur

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1166787
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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BackgroundA major barrier to a healthy diet may be the higher price of healthy foods compared to low-quality foods.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the association between the monetary cost of food and diet quality in Spanish older adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease.MethodsCross-sectional analysis was carried out in Spanish older adults (n = 6,838; 48.6% female). A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Metabolic syndrome severity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), adherence to a provegetarian dietary pattern, and dietary inflammatory index were assessed. The economic cost of the foods was obtained from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food database (2015–2017, the period of time when the participants were recruited). The total cost of diet adjusted per 1,000 kcal was computed.ResultsThe healthier dietary pattern was associated with a higher cost of the diet. Higher adherence to the MedDiet, anti-inflammatory diet, and the healthy version of the provegetarian dietary pattern were related to higher costs of the diet.ConclusionHigher diet quality was associated with a higher dietary cost of the diet per 1,000 kcal/day. Food prices can be an important component of interventions and policies aimed at improving people's diets and preventing diet-related chronic diseases.Clinical trial registry numberThe trial was registered in 2014 at the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial (ISRCT; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89898870) with the number 89898870.

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