Abstract
Assess adherence to the Saudi Dietary Guidelines and identify the diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), and measure levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an indicator of the risk of chronic diseases, among female Saudi college students.
A cross-sectional study of 401 randomly selected female students aged 19–35 years at [removed for blind peer review]. Data from an interview-based Saudi Food Frequency Questionnaire, health history, anthropometric measurements, and hs-CRP were collected. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between HEI-2015 score and hs-CRP.
There was an overall low adherence (43%) to the Saudi Dietary Guidelines, higher intake of cereal, bread, meat and sodium, and lower intake of dairy products compared to recommended levels. The mean HEI-2015 score was (62.7 ± 10.2), indicating poor diet quality, and the mean hs-CRP level was high (2.62 ± 3.31 mg/l). The HEI-2015 score was inversely correlated with the hs-CRP level (r = −0.43) and body mass index (BMI, r = −0.23). A higher HEI-2015 score per 1 SD (10 points) was associated with −0.2 (95% CI: −0.4, −0.1 mg/l) lower hs-CRP, independent of lifestyle factors and BMI.
Poor quality diet was associated with higher hs-CRP levels, an indicator of adverse health conditions. Further research and intervention studies to develop potential strategies to enhance positive dietary behavior changes are needed.