Published online Aug 15, 2024. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i8.1742
Revised: May 23, 2024
Accepted: June 26, 2024
Published online: August 15, 2024
Processing time: 129 Days and 5.9 Hours
Recent research has underscored the potentially protective role of dietary antioxidants against chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI), which reflects the overall intake of key dietary antioxidants, has been identified as a crucial metric for exploring this relationship. Although previous research has shown a negative correlation between CDAI levels and stroke risk in prediabetic individuals, there remains a substantial gap in understanding this association among individuals with dia-betes, who are at an inherently greater risk for cerebrovascular events.
To investigate the association between CDAI and stroke risk in individuals with diabetes.
Using a cross-sectional study design, this investigation analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning from 2003 to 2018 that included 6735 participants aged over 20 years with diabetes. The CDAI was calculated from 24-h dietary recalls to assess intake of key antioxidants: Vitamins A, C, and E; carotenoids; selenium; and zinc. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to rigorously examine the relationship between CDAI and stroke risk.
The participant cohort, with an average age of 59.5 years and a slight male majority, reflected the broader demographic characteristics of individuals with diabetes. The analysis revealed a strong inverse relationship between CDAI levels and stroke risk. Remarkably, those in the highest quintile of CDAI demonstrated a 43% lower prevalence of stroke compared to those in the lowest quintile, even after adjustments for various confounders. This finding not only highlights the negative association between CDAI and stroke risk but also underscores the significant potential of antioxidant-rich diets in reducing stroke prevalence among patients with diabetes.
Our findings suggested that CDAI was inversely associated with stroke prevalence among patients with diabetes. These results suggest incorporating antioxidant-rich foods into dietary regimens as a potential strategy for stroke prevention.
Core Tip: Previous research on the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) and its impact on stroke risk among individuals with diabetes is limited. Our study addressed this gap by examining the association between higher CDAI scores and stroke prevalence. Our findings revealed that higher CDAI scores correlated with reduced stroke risk in this population, indicating that a diet rich in diverse antioxidants may play a crucial role in mitigating stroke risk among individuals with diabetes.