Introduction: Statistical methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis (FA) are increasingly popular in Nutritional Epidemiology studies. However, misunderstandings regarding the choice and application of these methods have been observed. Objectives: This study aims to compare and present the main differences and similarities between FA and PCA, focusing on their applicability to nutritional studies. Methods: PCA and FA were applied on a matrix of 34 variables expressing the mean food intake of 1,102 individuals from a population-based study. Results: Two factors were extracted and, together, they explained 57.66% of the common variance of food group variables, while five components were extracted, explaining 26.25% of the total variance of food group variables. Among the main differences of these two methods are: normality assumption, matrices of variance-covariance/correlation and its explained variance, factorial scores, and associated error. The similarities are: both analyses are used for data reduction, the sample size usually needs to be big, correlated data, and they are based on matrices of variance-covariance. Conclusion: PCA and FA should not be treated as equal statistical methods, given that the theoretical rationale and assumptions for using these methods as well as the interpretation of results are different.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake in the Brazilian elderly. METHODS:This study was based on data from the National Dietary Survey, part of the Household Budget Survey 2008-2009. All individuals aged 60 and over, totaling 4,322 individuals, were included. Individual food intake was obtained from food records from two non-consecutive days. The habitual intake for each nutrient was estimated by the National Cancer Institute method, in which sex and region were included as covariates. The prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake was estimated stratifi ed by sex and region using the EAR method to defi ne cut-off points. RESULTS:A high prevalence of inadequate intake (> 50%) of vitamins E, D and A, calcium, magnesium and pyridoxine was observed for both sexes. In all regions, 100% inadequate vitamin E intake was observed. Vitamin D showed almost 100% inadequate intake except in the North region. The prevalence of inadequate vitamin A intake was higher than 70% in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions. Among the minerals evaluated, calcium and magnesium showed the highest prevalence of inadequate intake (> 80%) in all regions. CONCLUSIONS:The present study found a high prevalence of inadequate intake of nutrients recognized as being protective against chronic diseases among the Brazilian elderly.

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The association between dietary patterns and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors has long been addressed but there is a lack of evidence towards the effects of the overall diet on the complex net of biological inter-relationships between risk factors. This study aimed to derive dietary patterns and examine their associations with metabolic cardiovascular risk factors following a theoretic model for the relationship between them. Participants included 417 adults of both sexes, enrolled to the cross-sectional population-based study performed in Brazil. Body weight, waist circumference, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, blood pressure, total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio, TAG:HDL-cholesterol ratio, fasting plasma glucose and serum leptin were evaluated. Food consumption was assessed by two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls adjusted for the within-person variation of intake. A total of three dietary patterns were derived by exploratory structural equation modelling: 'Traditional', 'Prudent' and 'Modern'. The 'Traditional' pattern had a negative and direct effect on obesity indicators (serum LEP, body weight and waist circumference) and negative indirect effects on total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio, TAG:HDLcholesterol ratio and fasting plasma glucose. The 'Prudent' pattern had a negative and direct effect on systolic blood pressure. No association was observed for the 'Modern' pattern and metabolic risk factors. In conclusion, the 'Traditional' and 'Prudent' dietary patterns were negatively associated with metabolic cardiovascular risk factors among Brazilian adults. Their apparent protective effects against obesity and high blood pressure may be important non-pharmacological strategies for the prevention and control of obesity-related metabolic disorders and CVD.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake in the Brazilian elderly. METHODS:This study was based on data from the National Dietary Survey, part of the Household Budget Survey 2008-2009. All individuals aged 60 and over, totaling 4,322 individuals, were included. Individual food intake was obtained from food records from two non-consecutive days. The habitual intake for each nutrient was estimated by the National Cancer Institute method, in which sex and region were included as covariates. The prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake was estimated stratifi ed by sex and region using the EAR method to defi ne cut-off points. RESULTS:A high prevalence of inadequate intake (> 50%) of vitamins E, D and A, calcium, magnesium and pyridoxine was observed for both sexes. In all regions, 100% inadequate vitamin E intake was observed. Vitamin D showed almost 100% inadequate intake except in the North region. The prevalence of inadequate vitamin A intake was higher than 70% in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions. Among the minerals evaluated, calcium and magnesium showed the highest prevalence of inadequate intake (> 80%) in all regions. CONCLUSIONS:The present study found a high prevalence of inadequate intake of nutrients recognized as being protective against chronic diseases among the Brazilian elderly.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of factor rotation methods on interpretability and construct validity of dietary patterns derived in a representative sample of 1,102 Brazilian adults. Dietary patterns were derived from exploratory factor analysis. Orthogonal (varimax) and oblique rotations (promax, direct oblimin) were applied. Confirmatory factor analysis assessed construct validity of the dietary patterns derived according to two factor loading cut-offs (≥ |0.20| and ≥ |0.25|). Goodness-of-fit indexes assessed the model fit. Differences in composition and in interpretability of the first pattern were observed between varimax and promax/oblimin at cut-off ≥ |0.20|. At cut-off ≥ |0.25|, these differences were no longer observed. None of the patterns derived at cut-off ≥ |0.20| showed acceptable model fit. At cut-off ≥ |0.25|, the promax rotation produced the best model fit. The effects of factor rotation on dietary patterns differed according to the factor loading cut-off used in exploratory factor analysis.