Association of dietary patterns and food groups intake with multimorbidity: A prospective cohort study

Background Although diet has been extensively studied in relation to individual chronic conditions, studies linking diet with multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity) remained scarce. We aimed to undertake a comprehensive analysis evaluating associations of overall dietary patterns and specific food groups with long-term risk of multimorbidity. Methods The study included 348,290 participants from UK Biobank who completed eligible food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and were not diagnosed with any of the 38 chronic or mental health conditions of interest at baseline (2006–2010). Dietary patterns were identified using exploratory factor analysis. Cox regression models were used to estimate corresponding hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The median follow-up was 8.01 years, and 50,837 (14.60%) participants developed multimorbidity. Among the three identified dietary patterns, the Western Pattern was associated with an increased risk of multimorbidity (HRQ5 vs Q1 = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03–1.09), while inverse associations were observed for moderate adherence to the White Meat Pattern (HRQ3 vs Q1 = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99) and highest adherence to the Prudent Pattern (HRQ5 vs Q1 = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.90–0.95). For specific food groups, more frequent intakes of processed meat and poultry were associated with higher risks of multimorbidity, whereas higher intake frequency of fish and more intakes of fruits and cereal were associated with decreased risks. Conclusion Dietary patterns and specific food groups are associated with the risk of multimorbidity. These findings suggest the importance of considering dietary interventions in the prevention and management of multimorbidity.