Associations between dietary patterns at 6 and 15 months of age and sociodemographic factors

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) have previously shown that dietary patterns are observable by 3 years. However, it is not clear when dietary patterns emerge. We aimed to describe dietary patterns in early life and their associations with maternal and infant sociodemographic characteristics. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Principal component analysis was applied to diet questionnaires of ALSPAC participants at 6 months (n¼7052) and 15 months (n¼5610) to extract dietary patterns. The sociodemographic factors associated with dietary patterns were investigated using regression analyses. RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were extracted at both 6 and 15 months. A traditional-style pattern characterized by home-prepared meats, vegetables and desserts, a second pattern characterized by ready-prepared baby foods and a third pattern characterized by discretionary foods such as biscuits, sweets and crisps were identified at both ages. At 6 months, the fourth pattern was characterized predominantly by breastfeeding and at 15 months, by contemporary-style foods including herbs, legumes, nuts, raw fruit and vegetables. Higher maternal age and education, number of siblings and lower body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher scores on the breastfeeding or meat, vegetables and desserts patterns, whereas higher discretionary food pattern scores were associated with younger maternal age, lower education, higher BMI and more siblings. Associations between sociodemographic factors and the ready-prepared baby food pattern scores were inconsistent across ages. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns emerge from infancy and are associated with sociodemographic characteristics.L.G. Smithers, L. Brazionis, R.K. Golley, M.N. Mittinty, K. Northstone, P. Emmett, S.A. McNaughton, K.J. Campbell and J.W. Lync

The differential associations of depression and diabetes distress with quality of life domains in type 2 diabetes

The present investigation aimed to understand quality of life domains relevant to adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the relative associations of depression and diabetes distress with these domains. Participants were 146 individuals with T2DM who were recruited for entry into a randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for adherence and depression. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis on the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) to establish domains of quality of life relevant to this patient population. Hierarchical multiple regression models were evaluated for each domain that emerged to determine independent associations of depression severity and diabetes distress with quality of life independent of demographic and illness factors. Results suggested four quality of life domains: achievement, psychosocial growth, interpersonal relationships, and environment, accounting for 60.1 % of variance in total QOLI scores. Depression severity was associated with poorer quality of life on the achievement, psychosocial growth, and environment domains (p’s < 0.01), while diabetes distress was associated with poorer quality of life on the achievement (p < 0.001) domain and marginally associated with quality of life on the psychosocial growth (p < 0.10) domain. Interventions designed to address both depression and diabetes distress may lead to better quality of life outcomes than a generalized depression intervention or an intervention for diabetes alone