Association between antioxidant vitamin intake and obesity among Korean women: using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007 ~ 2016 / 한국영양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study examined the association between the antioxidant vitamin intake and obesity in Korean women. METHODS: Adult women aged ≥19 years who completed a health examination and nutrition survey from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 ~ 2016 were selected for the study (n = 30,425). A BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and waist circumference ≥85 cm were defined as obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively. The individual antioxidant vitamin intake was estimated by linking the antioxidant vitamin composition database of commonly consumed foods and the subjects' 24-hour recall food consumption data. Carotenoids, retinol, vitamin A (retinol activity equivalent), vitamin C, tocopherols, and vitamin E (α-tocopherol equivalent) were included in the analysis. Each vitamin intake was converted to the nutrient density per 1,000 kcal. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for obesity according to each tertile of the nutrient density was obtained from multiple logistic regression adjusted for age, household income, education level, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. RESULTS: The mean intake of α-carotene, retinol, vitamin E, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol per 1,000 kcal was significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. A higher intake of lycopene was inversely associated with obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.83–0.96) and abdominal obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.95). Higher intakes of α-carotene, total carotenoids, vitamin A, and γ-tocopherol also had a negative relationship with abdominal obesity. The antioxidant vitamin intakes from eggs, milk and dairy products, seasoning, and grains were significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins was inversely associated with obesity and abdominal obesity among Korean women. Further study will be needed to examine the causal relationship between the antioxidant vitamin and obesity.