Dietary pattern, nutritional density, and dietary quality were low in patients with cerebral infarction in Korea.

The aim of this study was to examine if the dietary quality of patients with cerebral infarction (CI) was comparatively worse than those of non-CI subjects in Korea. This case-control study included 146 subjects recruited between May and July 2007 from Kyung Hee University Medical Center (Seoul, Korea). The eating habits, nutritional adequacies, dietary patterns, and overall dietary quality of the subjects were investigated. Patients with CI more frequently skipped meals, had more irregular meal times, and preferred saltier and spicier foods than non-CI subjects. Nutritional densities (vitamin C, vitamin B(1), vitamin B(2), folate, and calcium) and overall dietary quality measures of CI subjects were lower than for non-CI subjects. Frequencies in omission of food groups, particularly the fruit and dairy groups, and the number of food items consumed daily by CI subjects were significantly lower than non-CI subjects (P < .01). After controlling for age, sex, disease, and other health-related factors, high dietary quality scores, especially the variety and adequacy components (desirable diet patterns and quality) had a lower CI incidence (P < .05). In conclusion, we found that Korean patients with CI had a comparatively worse diet quality. Therefore, we suggest active medical nutrition therapy for patients with CI in clinical settings to manage diet quality.