Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide, and its risk factors are increasingly being detected in young adults, including students. In view of this, the current study investigated the dietary patterns and atherogenic profiles of apparently healthy students of the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Birnin Kebbi in Nigeria. This study employed a cross-sectional design, recruiting 123 apparently healthy students. Dietary patterns were assessed using a three-day food recall, while atherogenic profiles was evaluated using lipid profiles, blood pressure, waist to hip ratio and body mass index (BMI). Results are presented as mean ± Standard deviation. The mean ages of the participants (male and female) are 20.95±1.95 and 22.0± 2.48; the mean WHR, BMI, Blood pressure (Systolic and Diastolic), Lipid profiles and atherogenic indices fell within the normal limits. The results of this study show that there is a low consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, but their dietary intake points toward carbohydrate and protein. The study provides insights into the dietary patterns and atherogenic profiles of apparently healthy students, identifying areas for intervention and promoting early prevention of CVD. These findings of this study will contribute to the growing body of research on the importance of dietary patterns in CVD prevention among young adults, informing the development of targeted interventions aimed at promoting healthy eating and reducing CVD risk.

Key words: Atherogenic profile, cardiovascular disease, Body mass index, Blood pressure, dietary pattern.