Association between dietary profiles and chronic disease patterns

Abstract:

The global rise of non-communicable diseases necessitates a deeper understanding of the modifiable lifestyle factors involved. While the link between diet and health is established, specific dietary patterns associated with distinct disease categories require further investigation. This study examines the associations between dietary habits, lifestyle choices, and the prevalence of major disease categories, including cardiovascular, nervous system, and inflammatory diseases. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Algeria using an online questionnaire administered to over 300 adults. The questionnaire included items on sociodemographic data, physical activity, food frequency, health status, diseases, and other lifestyle habits.

The results reveal highly significant correlations between dietary profiles and specific pathologies. A strong association was found between cardiovascular diseases and the infrequent consumption of protective foods, including vegetables (P < 0.0001), whole grains (P=0.002), and legumes (P=0.004). Conversely, nervous system disorders were significantly linked to the daily consumption of "risky" items, with 50% of this group consuming sweets (P=0.005) and 50% consuming fizzy drinks (P=0.006) on a daily basis. Lifestyle factors also proved influential, as smoking was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of inflammatory diseases (P=0.005).

These findings underscore the existence of distinct dietary signatures for different chronic conditions. They highlight the critical need for targeted public health strategies and personalized nutritional counseling, emphasizing increased plant-based food intake to mitigate cardiovascular risk and reduced sugar consumption to support neurological health.