Current intake levels of potatoes and all-cause mortality in China: A population-based nationwide study

Objective: Current levels of potato consumption in relation to mortality in Chinese people remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the intakes of total potatoes, fried potatoes, non-fried potatoes, and sweet potatoes as dietary carbohydrate sources in relation to all-cause mortality in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Methods: Overall 14117 participants >20 y of age were included, with a median follow-up of 14 y. The cumulative average consumption of potatoes and other foods were calculated and validated using weighing methods in combination with 3-d, 24-h dietary recalls at both household and individual levels. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models after multivariate adjustment. Results: We documented 1007 deaths among the participants. The low and moderate intakes of total potatoes, fried potatoes, and non-fried potatoes were inversely associated with mortality. Compared with non consumers, the intakes of total potatoes (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.38-0.59), fried potatoes (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.34-0.56), and non-fried potatoes (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.37-0.61) at low consumption levels were most significantly related to lower mortality. Sweet potato consumption was inversely associated with mortality after full adjustment (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.96) compared with non-consumers. Substituting grains and mixed beans for potatoes with equal amounts at high consumption levels strengthened the inverse associations. Conclusion: In the CHNS, current low and moderate, but not high levels of total potato and fried/non-fried potato consumption as well as sweet potato consumption were inversely associated with all-cause mortality among Chinese people. (c) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.