Is Food Insecurity Associated With Lipid Profile and Atherogenic Indices in Iranian Adults? A Population-Based Study

Abstract

The associations between food insecurity and lipid profile and atherogenic indices were assessed. Food insecurity data were collected through the short form of the Household Food Security Scale. The serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level, TC/HDL, and log (TG/HDL) were calculated. The analysis of variance and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. There was a significant difference in the mean TC/HDL and log (TG/HDL) ratios between men in different categories of food security. The mean TC/HDL cholesterol level was significantly higher in men in the low food secure group (P = .03). Among women, the mean level of TC/HDL in the very low food secure group was significantly higher than that in 2 other categories (P = .04). According to the results of logistic regression, very low food secure men compared with food secure men were more likely to have lower level of HDL cholesterol (2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-7.12) and higher ratio of log (TG/HDL) (3.03, 95% CI: 1.17-7.58). Compared with the food secure group, very low food secure women were more likely to have higher level of TG values (2.55, 95% CI: 1.01-6.45). The association observed between food insecurity and dyslipidemia strengthens the growing evidence that food insecurity may be a marker of poor overall health.