171179 20260515163945.0 doi 10.1038/s41390-026-04889-6 sideral 149156 ART-2026-149156 eng Gheorghita, Irina Association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic health in children: findings from the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study (CORALS) cohort 2026 Background: Dietary habits influence health from childhood, with effects that may persist throughout life. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk markers in early childhood. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed within the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study (CORALS) cohort. Diet was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were extracted using exploratory factor analysis. Cardiometabolic risk was analysed through internal z-scores, body mass index (BMIz), systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol (HDLz), triglycerides and HOMA-IR, and multi-adjusted linear regression models were performed. Results: The analysis included 1426 participants (median age 4.95 years). Two dietary patterns (DPs) were identified: “Core-foods DP” (high in vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, fish and white meat) and “Poor-quality DP” (rich in flavoured dairy products, processed meat, pastries, sweets, snacks, precooked foods, other oils and soft drinks). Core-foods DP was inversely associated with BMIz (B = -0.07, p = 0.034), meanwhile the Poor-quality DP was directly associated with triglycerides (B = 0.09, p = 0.015) and higher overweight odds (OR:1.33; 95% CI:1.13–1.56), and inversely with HDLz (B = −0.08, p = 0.036). Conclusion: Poor-quality DP was directly associated with cardiometabolic risk markers in preschool-aged children, emphasizing the importance of diet in preventing the early onset of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. Impact: This study highlights the impact of dietary patterns on cardiometabolic health in preschool children. A poor-quality dietary pattern is directly associated with BMI and triglycerides and inversely associated with HDL cholesterol, which may contribute to a worse cardiometabolic profile. In contrast, adherence to a core-foods pattern is inversely associated with BMI. These findings reinforce the importance of early nutrition education in preventing obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. This article provides evidence of diet-related metabolic risks in early life to limited existing literature and the need for interventions that promote healthier eating habits from an early age to improve long-term health outcomes. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/FI22-00166 info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess All rights reserved http://www.europeana.eu/rights/rr-f/ info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion Gispert-Llauradó, Mariona Escribano, Joaquin Jurado-Castro, Jose Manuel Babio, Nancy Leis, Rosaura Moreno, Luis A. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-0454-653X Navas-Carretero, Santiago Corella, Dolores Moreira, Ana Castro-Collado, Cristina Vázquez-Cobela, Rocío Alcázar, Mireia Miguel-Berges, María L. Universidad de Zaragoza Martinez, J. Alfredo Pastor-Villaescusa, Belén Picáns-Leis, Rosaura Mimbrero, Gisela De Miguel-Etayo, Pilar (orcid)0000-0001-6173-5850 Flores-Rojas, Katherine Gil-Campos, Mercedes Salas-Salvadó, Jordi Luque, Veronica Schröder, Helmut Fitó, Montse Pérez-Vega, Karla A. Solis Baltodano, Mayela Muñoz-Aguayo, Daniel Blanchart, Gemma Gaixas, Sònia Zomeño, María Dolores Lorenzo, Isaury Gil-Campos, Mercedes Jurado-Castro, José Manuel Pastor-Villaescusa, Belén Llorente-Cantarero, Francisco Jesús De La Torre-Aguilar, María José Velasco Aguayo, Inmaculada Navas-Carretero, Santiago Martínez, J. Alfredo Moreno-Aliaga, Maria Jesús de Cuevillas García, Begoña Vázquez-Bolea, Natalia Goñi, María Hernández, María Pérez Diez, Salomé Cristobo, Carmen Babio, Nancy Salas-Salvadó, Jordi Escribano, Joaquín Luque, Veronica Ferré, Natalia Gheorghita, Irina Feliu, Albert Closa, Ricardo Alcázar, Mireia Martín, Francisco Rey, Cristina Mimbrero, Gisela Pedraza, Ana Salvadó, Olga Ruiz Velasco, Marta Bilbao Sustacha, José Ángel Herranz Pinilla, Yolanda Rios, Lidia Pascual Compte, María Garcidueñas-Fimbres, Tany E. Gómez-Martínez, Carlos de las Heras-Delgado, Sara Simón, Olga de la Torre, Sònia Tudela, Càrol Valero Sales, Júlia Moroño García, Sara Leis, Rosaura Romero Agrelo, Anabel Picáns-Leis, Rosaura García-García, Eva Mosteiro-Losada, Sofia Portoles, Olga Codoñer Franch, Pilar Corella, Dolores Martín Carbonell, Vanessa Sorlí, José V. Moreno, Luis A. De Miguel-Etayo, Pilar Miguel-Berges, María Luisa Santaliestra-Pasias, Alba Mª Argente-Arizon, Pilar Gimenez-Legarre, Natalia Flores-Barrantes, Paloma Pérez-Gimeno, Gloria Seral-Cortés, Miguel Jimeno-Martínez, Andrea Maneschy, Ivie Benedicto, Isabel 1006 255 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería Área Enfermería 1011 615 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Microb.Ped.Radio.Sal.Pú. Área Medic.Prevent.Salud Públ. (2026), [34 pp.] Pediatr. res. Pediatric research 0031-3998 Supplementary information https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41390-026-04889-6/MediaObjects/41390_2026_4889_MOESM1_ESM.pdf 817084 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/171179/files/texto_completo.pdf Postprint info:eu-repo/date/embargoEnd/2026-10-14 1387762 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/171179/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Postprint info:eu-repo/date/embargoEnd/2026-10-14 oai:zaguan.unizar.es:171179 articulos driver 2026-05-15-14:54:31 ARTICLE