Nutrition and dyslipidemias in Lithuanian adult population in 1987–2007

The aim of the study was to evaluate dietary intake of population in five Lithuanian regions and to assess the relationship between diet and dyslipidemias in 1987–2007. For each survey, a stratified independent random sample was drawn from the lists of the inhabitants aged 25–64 years. Food frequency questionnaire and 24-h recall was used for dietary assessment. The diet of Lithuanian adult population did not meet the recommendations for healthy nutrition. It was characterized by high intake of fat, especially saturated, cholesterol, and sugars. The food groups, which are the main sources of energy and nutrients in the diet of Lithuanians, were indentified. The association between dietary pattern and serum lipid profile was assessed. For the first time in Lithuania, the contribution of dietary changes on the changes of serum total cholesterol over 20 years was evaluated. This is the first study, which assessed the association of apolipoprotein E genotype, saturated fatty acids intake and lipid level in Lithuanian population. Analysis of gene-diet interaction did not confirm that effects of diet on total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol statistically significant depend on APOE genotype