A new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that 9-17-year-old girls who consume up to one cup of potatoes daily have no increased risk of becoming overweight or developing high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or impaired fasting glucose in late adolescence.
“Our results show that nutrient-rich potatoes can be part of a healthy diet in young girls during this important period of growth and development. There is growing evidence that overall diet quality is what matters in the preservation of heart health. Potatoes are an affordable food, with several valuable nutrients, and our research suggests that moderate intakes of potatoes, along with many other types of vegetables, can be a regular part of a healthy diet pattern,” Lynn L. Moore, DSc, MPH, Boston University, the study’s senior author.
During the research, the scientists examined the association between potato consumption in two different age periods during adolescence and the risk of obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction in White and Black girls.
They used data from the biracial prospective National Growth and Health Study. Average potato consumption was derived from multiple three-day food records in two age periods, 9-11 and 9-17 years, and included white and sweet potatoes from all sources.
Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios for becoming overweight, developing prehypertension, elevated triglyceride (TG) levels, or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) at 18-20 years of age according to a category of daily potato intake.
The researchers also stratified by cooking method (fried/non-fried) and race. Analysis of covariance was also used to estimate adjusted mean levels of BMI, SBP, DBP, log-transformed TGs, the TG to high-density lipoprotein (TG: HDL) ratio, and fasting glucose levels associated with the potato intake category.
“Higher potato consumption was associated with higher fruit and non-starchy vegetable intakes and higher HEI scores in Black girls. There were no statistically significant associations overall between moderate or higher (vs. lower) intakes of potatoes and risks of overweight, prehypertension, elevated fasting triglycerides, high TG: HDL ratio, or IFG. Also, no adverse associations were found between fried or non-fried potato intake and cardiometabolic outcomes. Potato consumption has been the subject of much controversy in recent years. This study adds to evidence that potato consumption among healthy girls during the critical period of adolescence was not associated with cardiometabolic risk,” experts mentioned.
Higher intakes of all forms of potatoes (including fried) during the ‘tween’ years of nine to 11 were associated with higher intakes of potassium and dietary fiber, two nutrients of public health concern, as well as vitamin C, vitamin B6, and magnesium.
Adolescence is a crucial phase for the evolution of cardiometabolic risk factors that are largely influenced by diet and lifestyle. Understanding these risk factors is essential to developing effective dietary guidance for disease prevention targeting this critical age period.
