The association between Minimum Diet Diversity (MDD) and socio-demographic factors and nutritional status among adults and adolescents in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Background: The Minimum Diet Diversity (MDD) tool is used mainly to assess diet diversity in women of child-bearing age. However, this tool was not properly used to assess nutritional adequacy in other groups in the UK, such as males and adolescents. This study aims to investigate diet, diversity and health using the MDD tool on male adults and .adolescents in the UK Method: This secondary analysis study extracted data from National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). MDD was calculated and a dichotomous indicator that is based on a set of ten food groups was implemented. Results: The number of male adults, male and female adolescents included in the analysis was 3,468, 1,452 and 1,470 respectively. Male adults with low diverse diets represented 40%, whereas adolescents represented 42%. Male adults with high diverse diets had higher intake of calories, fibre, saturated fat, selenium, zinc, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folate, a lower intake of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES), with no statistical difference in fat intake. Adolescents of both sexes with high diverse diet had higher energy, fibre, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, folate, selenium, zinc, and calcium, and lower NMES with no significant difference in intake of fat. The MDD score was inversely associated with BMI in male adults; no association in adolescents (males and females) was found. Conclusion: Male adults with high diverse diets have better intake of macronutrients and micronutrients, including better general blood nutrient profile. MMD is thus a promising tool to assess dietary diversity in these categories.