Change in potato consumption among Norwegian women 1998-2005—The Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC)

摘要

Studies have shown that potato consumption in Norway have been on the decline in recentyears. Increase in income and the association of potato consumption with weight gain andchronic diseases like type 2 diabetes have been identified as some of the factors responsiblefor the change. The aim of this study was to describe the change in potato consumptionwithin persons and how non-dietary variables influenced that change among participants inthe Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC). A prospective analysis was performedin the NOWAC cohort using linear regression. Data on dietary, lifestyle, socioeconomic andhealth-related factors were collected by mailed questionnaires. The change in potato consumptionamong 38,820 women aged 41±70 years was investigated using two measurementstaken at intervals of 4±6 years. At baseline, mean intake was 112g per day; this haddecreased to 94.5g per day at the second measurement. Results showed that the percentageof women who reported that they ate less than 1 potato a day increased from 24.6% atbaseline to 35.5% at the second measurement. Those who reported that they ate more than3 potatoes a day had decreased from 20.2% of the participants at baseline to 12.1% at thesecond measurement. Multivariable adjusted results show that geography was an importantpredictor of potato consumption at second measurement. Living in the north compared toOslo (the capital) was associated with higher intake of potato at second measurement (B:0.60, 95% CI: 0.55±0.65). Compared to women living with a partner, living alone was associatedwith lower potato intake at second measurement (B: -0.13, 95% CI: -0.17 ±-0.09) whileliving with children tended to be associated with higher potato intake at second measurement(B: 0.01, 95% CI: -0.02±0.04). Younger age, more years of education, higher incomeor BMI was associated with a lower potato intake at second measurement. Smoking wasassociated with a higher intake of potato at second measurement (B: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00±0.06 for smokers compared to non-smokers). Having diabetes at baseline was associatedwith lower intake of potato at second measurement (B: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.14 ±-0.06 for nondiabeticscompared to diabetics). Potato consumption among women in the NOWAC studyshowed a decline over the period studied. Change in the consumption was found to be influencedby age, education, income, household structure, region of residence as well ashealth-related factors like smoking and diabetes. The use of repeated measures is necessary to continue the monitoring and also to understand the stability and direction ofthe possible change in diet of a population.