Descriptive analysis of diet in the Australian Breakthrough Cancer (ABC) Study — The Association Specialists
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Descriptive analysis of diet in the Australian Breakthrough Cancer (ABC) Study (24157)

Alice Doan 1 , Simon Cheah 1 2 , Allison M Hodge 1 2 , Brigid M Lynch 1 2 , Harindra Jayasekara 1 2 3 , Melissa C Southey 1 4 5 , Roger L Milne 1 2 4 , Julie K Bassett 1 2
  1. Cancer Council Victoria, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Cente for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  4. Precision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  5. Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Background
Poor diet is a modifiable risk factor for cancer and other chronic conditions. The 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) provide evidence-based recommendations to promote population health. However, national data show only 6% of Australian adults met vegetable recommendations and 44% for fruit, while discretionary foods contributed 35% of total energy intake. We assessed dietary intake and dietary patterns in Australian Breakthrough Cancer (ABC) Study participants and compared findings with national dietary data.

 

Methods
Over 42,000 ABC Study participants with nutrient intakes derived from a 137-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) completed at baseline (2014-2018) were included. Nutrient intakes and food groups were compared with the 2013 ADG, Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs), and the 2022 National Health Survey. Diet quality was assessed using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS; range 0–67) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index–2010 (AHEI-2010;0–100); adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS;0–9). These validated indices were adapted for the ABC FFQ.

 

Results
Median intake of all five core food groups was below ADG recommendations, with particularly low consumption of dairy, grains and vegetables. Females consumed less than half the recommended dairy serves, while males exceeded the recommended maximum for discretionary food. Fewer than 10% consumed energy from carbohydrates and fats within the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range whereas over 90% were below the lower limit for carbohydrate or exceeded the upper limit for fat. Nutrient inadequacies were widespread; only 1% met the RDI for vitamin D and 3% of females for calcium. Excess sodium intake (>2000 mg/day) was common. Mean diet scores were low (ARFS 29; AHEI-2010 56; MDS 4.7).

 

Conclusion
Dietary patterns among ABC Study participants largely reflected national survey findings, demonstrating poor adherence to dietary guidelines, high discretionary food and sodium intake, and widespread nutrient inadequacy.