A lower energy intake contributes to a better cardiometabolic profile in adolescence: Data from the EPITeen cohort

Caloric restriction has been associated with improved cardiometabolic health. Available data in humans are commonly based on short follow-up periods, specific diets, or population groups. We hypothesized that participants of a population-based cohort (Epidemiological Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto) with a dietary pattern characterized by a lower energy intake during adolescence have a better cardiometabolic profile in adolescence and young adulthood than other dietary patterns. At aged 13 and 21 year evaluations, diet, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic measures were assessed. Diet was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire and, at 13 years, summarized in dietary patterns identified by cluster analysis. The lower intake dietary pattern included 40% of the participants. The energy intake misreport was estimated using the Goldberg method. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used to compare cardiometabolic risk factors according to dietary patterns. The mean energy intake was 2394 and 2242 Kcal/d for the total sample at aged 13 years (n = 962) and 21 years (n = 862), respectively. Those belonging to the lower intake dietary pattern showed a 25% and 5% lower energy intake, respectively. In the cross-sectional analysis at aged 13, adolescents belonging to the lower intake dietary pattern presented lower glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and blood pressure values after adjusting for body mass index and parents’ education level. Among the plausible reporters, differences were only statistically significant for glucose and systolic blood pressure. Our data support that a dietary pattern characterized by a lower energy intake may contribute to a better cardiometabolic profile in adolescents. However, no significant effect was found in young adulthood.