Nutritional Changes and Contributing Factors in Iran: A Comprehensive Study From PERSIAN Cohort Study
II)

  1. Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah Iran.
  2. 2Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.
  3. 3Infectious Diseases Research Center, Health Institute Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah Iran.
  4. 4Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Social Health Research Institute University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences Tehran Iran.
  5. 5Department of Social Welfare Management University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences Tehran Iran.
  6. 6Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Nutritional Sciences and Food Technology Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah Iran.
  7. 7Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.
  8. 8Digestive Disease Research Center Ardabil University of Medical Sciences Ardabil Iran.
  9. 9Research Center for Molecular Medicine Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences Bandar Abbas Iran.
  10. 10Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center Fasa University of Medical Sciences Fasa Iran.
  11. 11Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center Guilan University of Medical Sciences Rasht Iran.
  12. 12Gastroentrology and Hepatology Center, School of Medicine Ahvaz Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences Ahvaz Iran.
  13. 13Gastroenterohepatology Research Center Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz Iran.
  14. 14Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Institute Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Sari Iran.
  15. 15Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences Sari Iran.
  16. 16Modeling in Health Research Center Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences Shahrekord Iran.
  17. 17Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran.
  18. 18Social Determinants of Health Research Center Urmia University of Medical Sciences Urmia Iran.
  19. 19Department of Nutrition, School of Health and Nutrition Yasuj University of Medical Sciences Yasuj Iran.
  20. 20Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd Iran.
  21. 21Health Promotion Research Center Zahedan University of Medical Sciences Zahedan Iran.
  22. 22Breast Diseases Research Center Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz Iran.
  23. 23School of Public Health Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences Kermanshah Iran.

Abstract

In recent decades, notable changes have occurred in dietary patterns across different societies. Using PERSIAN cohort data, we investigated dietary changes among Iranian people in two stages: baseline phase (2015-2017) and reassessment phase (2021-2023). Additionally, the factors influencing these changes will also be examined. The PERSIAN cohort is a multicenter and prospective study comprising 32,000 individuals aged 35-70 years from 18 geographical regions of Iran. The study’s data were collected using a 113-item Food Frequency Questionnaire assessing dietary intake over the past year. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) method was employed to analyze changes in macronutrients and total energy across two time periods. The effects of age, time, gender, place of residence, marital status, education, socioeconomic status (SES), smoking, physical activity, body mass index, DMF (decayed, missing, and filled teeth), sleep duration, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and center were also assessed in the study. Total energy intake in the reassessment phase (2021-2023) was reduced by 250 kcal/day compared with the baseline phase (2015-2017), accompanied by reductions in daily carbohydrate (40.3 g/day), protein (10.3 g/day), and fat (5.7 g/day) intake. In adjusted analyses, women consumed less carbohydrate, protein, fat, and total energy than men: 82.91 g/day, 17.36 g/day, 9.15 g/day, and 485.34 kcal/day, respectively. In addition, there was a lower decline in the intake of all macronutrients in women compared to men. Rural dwellers had significantly higher daily intakes of carbohydrates (11.17 g/day), protein (1.37 g/day), fat (1.57 g/day), and total energy (96.21 kcal/day). Individuals with obesity had a significantly higher average intake of protein (4.82 g/day), fat (3.64 g/day), and total energy (195.62 kcal/day). In the multivariable analysis, individuals in the highest SES group consumed significantly more protein (2.28 g/day), total fat (3.39 g/day), and total energy (47.15 kcal/day) compared to those in the lowest SES group. In addition, all SES received lower intake of macronutrients over time homogenously. Patients with hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease consumed significantly lower average total energy (31.62, 67.61, and 79.35 kcal/day, respectively) compared to healthy individuals; conversely, those with metabolic syndrome consumed 17.12 kcal/day more energy than their healthy counterparts. Economic challenges and social inequalities have significantly impacted the intake of macronutrients in the Iranian diet, highlighting the need for targeted nutritional interventions to improve dietary balance, particularly among vulnerable populations. Food subsidies for lower-income deciles could be a beneficial intervention.

Keywords: PERSIAN cohort; dietary change; generalized estimating equations; macronutrient; socioeconomic status.

How to Cite

Najafi F, Izadi N, Rezaeian S, Pasdar Y, Shadmani FK, Bagheri A, Poustchi H, Eghtesad S, Pourfarzi F, Nejatizadeh A, Farjam M, Joukar F, Bavarsad AH, Fattahi MR, Kheradmand M, Ahmadi A, Somi MH, Mohebbi I, Panahande SB, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Ansari-Moghadam A, Johari MG, Shahryari HA. Nutritional Changes and Contributing Factors in Iran: A Comprehensive Study From PERSIAN Cohort Study (2015-2017 and 2021-2023). Food Sci Nutr. 2026 Jun 25;14(6):e72060. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.72060. PMID: 42369648; PMCID: PMC13305144.