Association between low dairy consumption and determinants of health in Latin American university students: a multicenter study

Diego Gajardo, Georgina Gómez, Valeria Carpio-Arias, Leslie Landaeta-Díaz, Israel Ríos, Solange Parra, Jacqueline Alejandra Araneda Flores, Gladys Ruth Morales Illanes, Eliana Meza, Beatriz Núñez, Gabriela Murillo, Karla Rosángel Cordón Arrivillaga, Edna Judith Nava González, Saby Marisol Mauricio Alza, Jhon Bejarano Rocancio, Brian M. Cavagnari, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Samuel Durán Agüero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: to associate low dairy consumption with determinants of health and the Human Development Index (HDIs) in Latin American university students. Methods: a cross-sectional, multicenter, observational study in university students from eleven Latin American countries. Results: the study included 4880 subjects. In all, 66 % of the sample consumed at least one serving of dairy products per day. A higher percentage of dairy consumers was observed among participants who are in the highest quartile of quality of life as compared to those in the lowest quartile (p < 0.001). Dairy consumption was positively associated with the consumption of breakfast (OR, 1.58; 95 % CI, 1.36-1.85), healthy dinner (OR, 1.16; 95 % CI, 1.01-1.32), fruits (OR, 1.77; 95 % CI, 1.53-2.05), vegetables (OR, 1.19; 95 % CI, 1.02-1.39), fish (OR: 1.37; 95 % CI, 1.36-1.85), whole-grain foods (OR, 1.72; 95 % CI, 1.49-1.98), and the practice of physical activity (OR, 1.16; 95 % CI, 1.01-1.34), and was negatively associated with the consumption of fried food (non-consumption) (OR, 0.72; 95 % CI, 0.58-0.90), junk food (OR, 0.78; 95 % CI, 0.630.96), sweet snacks (OR, 0.69; 95 % CI, 0.57-0.82), and alcohol (OR, 0.83; 95 % CI, 0.72-0.95). Furthermore, to reside in a country whose HDI is medium-high was found to be associated as a risk factor for non-compliance with the recommended intake of at least 3 servings of dairy per day, as compared to individuals from countries with very high HDIs (OR, 2.05; 95 % CI, 1.79-2.36). In addition, the results show that being female is a protective factor and is associated with the compliance of the consumption recommendation for dairy products (OR, 0.83; 95 % CI, 0.71-0.98). Conclusion: dairy consumption is related to better diet quality and higher levels of physical activity. Complying with the recommendation to consume 3 servings of dairy per day is associated with better quality of diet, stressing the importance of promoting dairy consumption.

Translated title of the contributionAsociación entre bajo consumo de lácteos y determinantes de la salud en universitarios latinoamericanos: un estudio multicéntrico
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)527-535
Number of pages9
JournalNutricion Hospitalaria
Volume43
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2025
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dairy
  • Diet quality
  • HDI (Human Development Index)
  • Physical activity
  • Quality of life

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