Association between legume consumption and the intake of other foods and nutrients in the Finnish adult population

The role of legumes in healthy and sustainable diets is increasingly of interest. Few studies have investigated the association between legume consumption and the consumption of other food groups and the intake of nutrients. This study examined how legume consumption is associated with the consumption of other foods and the intake of nutrients among Finnish adults. Our study used cross-sectional data from the population-based FinHealth 2017 Study consisting of 2250 men and 2875 women aged ≥18 years. The associations between legume consumption (quartile classification), food groups, and nutrients were analysed using multivariable linear regression. The models were initially adjusted for energy intake and additionally for age, educational level, smoking status, leisure-Time physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). Legume consumption had a positive association with age, education level and leisure-Time physical activity. The consumption of legumes was positively associated with the consumption of fruits and berries, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and fish and fish products and inversely associated with the consumption of red and processed meat, cereals, and butter and butter-based fat spreads. Furthermore, legume consumption was positively associated with the intakes of protein, fibre, folate, thiamine and salt in both sexes and inversely associated with the intake of saturated fatty acids and sucrose (sucrose, women only). Thus, legume consumption appears to reflect overall healthier food choices. An increase in legume consumption could accelerate the transition to more sustainable diets. The confounding role of other foods and nutrients should be considered when studying associations between legume consumption and health outcomes.Peer reviewe