Relationship between the dietary glycemic loadof the adult Polish population and socio-demographicand lifestyle factors – results of the WOBASZ II study

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs more often among people with a low sociodemographic status, so it is worth knowing if any sociodemographic factor also has an impact on diet quality, defined by glycemic load (GL). OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the relationship between the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, health status self-assessment and dietary GL of the adult Polish population based on WOBASZ II study results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included a representative group of the Polish population aged ≥20 years (2,554 men and 3,136 women). A 24-hour dietary recall was collected to assess the dietary intake. The total GL was calculated by summing the GL values of the consumed food. RESULTS: The average GL/1,000 kcal was significantly higher in women's than in men's diets (74.0 ±15.9 vs 71.2 ±15.7). Dietary GL/1,000 kcal increased with age (men: aged <35 - 70.3 and aged ≥65 - 73.9, women: 73.5 and 76.5, respectively). The lowest dietary GL/1,000 kcal was found among people living in large population centers. Dietary GL/1,000 kcal decreased with education level (men with primary, secondary and higher education: 73.4, 69.5 and 68.9, respectively, and women: 76.7, 73.4 and 70.9, respectively). Dietary GL decreased as an income increased. The highest GL/1,000 kcal was observed in the diets of participants who performed less physical activity. The highest GL/1,000 kcal was observed in the participants who defined their health status as very poor/poor and the lowest among those who defined their health status as good/very good. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional education about the proper selection of products that are sources of carbohydrates in the diet should be addressed mainly to people with low sociodemographic status, such as: people in the older age group, living in small population centers, and with lower levels of education and lower income. It should also be directed to people with a lower level of physical activity. Greater awareness of the choices of carbohydrate products is recommended to improve diet quality in these groups of people.