Table 4 Association of diet quality indices with prospective health-related outcomes in paediatric populations (n = 12).
Index | Study | Setting | Study quality | Health-related results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (DQI-A) | Vyncke et al. (2013) [88] | - Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden. - μ14.7 (SD: 1.2) y; 52.6%F - Data set: ‘Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) (2006–2007) | + | Anthropometry: No significant association. Nutritional biomarkers: Adjusted models: DQI-A scores positively associated with plasma 25(OH)D nmol/l (β = 0.005, 95% CI = 0·002, 0·008, p < 0.0001) and holo-transcobalamin pmol/l (indicator of B12) (β = 1·005, 95% CI = 1·002, 1·007, p = 0.0002) and n-3 FA status μmol/l (β = 0·376, 95% CI = 0·105, 0·646, P < 0·007). |
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet score | - USA - T1DM: μ14.7 (SD: 3.1) y; 46.8%F - T2DM: μ16.8 (SD: 2.8)y; 65.4%F - Data set: SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study | + | Anthropometry: No significant association. Blood pressure: DASH score negatively associated with SBP (β = − 2.02, SE = 0.97, p = 0.0406) in T2DM sample. HbA1c: DASH score negatively associated with HbA1c% (β = − 0.2, SE = 0.07, p = 0.0063) in T1DM sample. Lipid profile: No significant association. | |
Healthy nutrition score based on food intake for pre-schoolers (HNSP) | Peng et al. (2015) [74] | - China - μ4.5 (SD: 0.87) y; 54%F - Data set: N/A | ∅ | Anthropometry: No significant association. Nutritional biomarkers: HNSP scores significantly associated with plasma retinol (r = 0.128, p = 0.004). No other significant associations. |
Complementary Feeding Utility Index (CFUI) | Golley et al. (2013) [269] | - UK - Baseline: 6 m (48%F), follow-up: 7 (49%F) & 8y (50%F) - Data set: Birth cohort from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) | ∅ | Anthropometry: Simple model: CFUI score was negatively associated with BMI (β = −0.13 [− 0.20, − 0.07], p < 0.001) and WC (β = − 0.31 [− 0.45, − 0.17], p < 0.001). Adjusted models: CFUI score was negatively associated with WC (β = − 0.15 [− 0.31, − 0.002], p = 0.046). Blood pressure: Simple models: CFUI score was negatively associated with SBP (β = − 0.66 [− 0.95, − 0.38], p < 0.001) and DBP (β = − 0.42 [− 0.63, − 0.21], p < 0.001). Adjusted models: CFUI score was negatively associated with DBP (β = − 0.15 [− 0.31, − 0.002], p < 0.001). Stratified by gender, CFUI score was associated with SBP in girls (p = 0.018), but not boys (p = 0.84). IQ scores: Simple model: CFUI score positively associated with total, verbal, and performance IQ scores. Adjusted models: CFUI score positively associated with total IQ (β = 1.92 [1.38, 2.47], p < 0.001), verbal IQ (β = 1.92 [1.37, 2.48], p < 0.001) and performance IQ (β = 1.33 [0.74, 1.92], p < 0.001). Lipid profile: No significant association. |
Healthy and unhealthy diet score | Jacka et al. (2011) [275] | - Australia - μ11-18y; majority of students <15y (data not shown); 44%F - Data set: It’s Your Move (IYM) | + | Mental health: Adjusted models: Healthy diet score positively associated with PedsQL scores (β = 0.29, 95%CI 0.17, 0.43, p < 0.001). Unhealthy diet scores negatively associated with PedsQL scores (β = − 0.17, 95%CI − 0.28, − 0.05, p < 0.004). |
Alternative Health Eating Index (AHEI) | Harris et al. (2016) [244] | - USA - Range 3-18y; 100%F - Dataset: The Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS ll) | + | Premenopausal breast cancer: Adjusted models: Top third, fourth and fifth quintiles of diet quality negatively associated with premenopausal breast cancer incidence (HR: 0.78, 95%CI = 0.63,0.97; HR: 0.86, 95%CI = 0.69,1.07; HR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.67,1.04 respectively). Postmenopausal breast cancer: No significant association |
Nutrition Quality Index (NQI) and Revised Children’s Diet Quality Index (RC-DQI) | Cheng et al. (2010) [117] | - Germany - Baseline: μ7.4y(SD: 1.3y), Age of onset of pubertal growth spurt: μ9.4y(SD: 1.2y); 53.6% F - Data set: The DONALD Study | + | Anthropometry: Simple models: NQI score positively associated with FFMI Z-score (− 0.2 95%CI − 0.4, 0.1, p = 0.04). RC-DQI negatively associated with BMI Z-score (− 0.1 95%CI − 0.3, 0.2, p = 0.048) and FMI Z-score (− 0.1 95%CI − 0.3, 0.2, p = 0.04) at the onset of puberty growth spurt. Adjusted models: no significant association. Timing of puberty: Adjusted models: scores positively associated with timing of puberty (9.2, 95% CI 9.0, 9.4, p = 0.02). RC-DQI score not associated with the onset of pubertal growth spurt. |
Modified Healthy Eating Index (mHEI) | Hooshmand et al. (2018) [149] | - Iran - Baseline: μ13.6y(SD: 3.7y);57%F - Dataset: the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) Baseline (1999–2001), surveys II (2002–2005), III (2006–2008), and IV (2009–2011). | + | MetS: Simple models: mHEI score negatively associated with MetS incidence (OR: 0.38, 95%CI 0.14,1.04). Adjusted models: mHEI score negatively associated with MetS incidence (OR: 0.35, 95%CI 0.13, 0.98). |
Modified Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (m-KM) | Martin-Calvo et al. (2016) [254] | - USA - Range: 8-15y; 55%F - Dataset: The ongoing Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) II cohort (est. 2004, follow up: 2006, 2008, 2011) | + | Anthropometry: Simple model: m-KM score was negatively associated with BMI (β = − 0.04 95%CI − 0.07, 0.02, p = 0.001). Adjusted model: m-KM score was negatively associated with BMI (p < 0.001). |
Raine Eating Assessment in Toddlers (EAT) score | Meyerkort et al. (2012) [38] | - Australia - Range: mid gestation-17y (follow up at: 3, 5, 8, 10, 14 or 17y); 49%F - Dataset: The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study (1989–1991) | + | Anthropometry: Simple models: The EAT score at 1y associated with BMI at 5y (p = 0.009), 8y (p = 0.003), 10y (p = 0.001), 14y (p = 0.001) and 17y (p < 0.001). Adjusted models: EAT score at 1y associated with BMI at 5y (p = 0.025), 8y (p = 0.019), 10y (p = 0.013). |
Unnamed dietary score | Okubo et al. (2015) [85] | - UK - 6 m, 12 m, 3y & 6y; 44.9%F - Dataset: The Southampton Women’s Survey study | + | Anthropometry: Simple models: score associated with fat mass at 6 yrs. (P < 0.001). Adjusted models: score negatively associated with fat mass at 6 yrs. (P = 0.01). |
Diet Quality Index International (DQI-I) | Setayeshgar et al. (2017) [252] | - Canada - Range: 8-10y Baseline: μ9.6(SD: 0.9) Follow up: μ 11.6(SD: 0.9); 45%F - Dataset: QUALITY (QUebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth) study | + | Anthropometry: Adjusted models: DQI-I score was negatively associated with lower gain in CFMI (β = − 0·08; 95% CI − 0·17, − 0·003) and %BF (β = − 0·55; 95% CI −1·08, − 0·02). |