Associations of starchy and non-starchy vegetables with risk of metabolic syndrome: evidence from the NHANES 1999-2018

Yingrui Li; Bingquan Xiong; Min Zhu; Yuqian Ren; Yi Lan; Tianyang Hu; Yufan Wang; Huiping Yang; Zhiyin Liao; Kaihu Xiao; Qiang She

doi:10.1186/s12986-023-00760-1

Associations of starchy and non-starchy vegetables with risk of metabolic syndrome: evidence from the NHANES 1999-2018

Nutr Metab (Lond). 2023 Aug 31;20(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s12986-023-00760-1.

Authors

Yingrui Li^#¹, Bingquan Xiong^#¹, Min Zhu^#², Yuqian Ren^#³, Yi Lan⁴, Tianyang Hu⁵, Yufan Wang¹, Huiping Yang¹, Zhiyin Liao¹, Kaihu Xiao¹, Qiang She⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74, Linjiang Road, Chonqing, 400010, China.
² Department of Geriatrics, The First People's Hospital of Neijiang, No. 31 Tuozhong lane, Jiaotong road, Neijiang, Sichuan, 641000, China.
³ Department of Health Management Center, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, No. 165 Xincheng Road, Wanzhou District, Chongqing, 404000, China.
⁴ Department of Pneumology, Songshan Hospital, No. 69 Star Road, Liangjiang New District, Chongqing, 401122, China.
⁵ Department of Precision Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74, Linjiang Road, Chonqing, 400010, China.
⁶ Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74, Linjiang Road, Chonqing, 400010, China. qshe98@cqmu.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Higher dietary quality, including increased vegetable consumption, was associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, specific vegetable consumption in the development of MetS remains obscure. Our study aimed to investigate the correlation between starchy and non-starchy vegetables and MetS.

Methods: Secondary data analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2018). MetS was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII) and dietary consumption was assessed by trained staff using two 24-h diet recall methods. Weighted logistic regression analysis was carried out to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression were performed to further investigate specific vegetable subtypes and MetS.

Results: This research enrolled 24,646 individuals (11,725 females and 12,921 males), with an average age of 45.84 ± 0.23 years. Approximately 15,828(64.22%) participants were defined to be with non-MetS and 8818(35.78%) were with MetS. Both total starchy vegetables and potatoes were associated with increased MetS risk, with the corresponding OR per standard deviation (SD) (95%CI, p-trend) being 1.06(1.02-1.11, p-trend = 0.028) and 1.08(1.04-1.13, p-trend = 0.011), respectively. However, an inverse correlation was found between dark-green vegetables and MetS, and the OR per SD (95%CI, p-trend) was 0.93(0.90-0.97, p-trend = 0.010). Subgroup analyses showed that the positive associations of starchy vegetables and potatoes on MetS risk were stronger in non-Hispanic White participants (p for interaction < 0.050).

Conclusion: Total starchy vegetables and white potatoes were both associated with an increased risk of MetS, while consumption of dark-green vegetables was negatively associated with MetS risk. These findings might provide a promising and healthy dietary strategy for preventing MetS.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Nutrition; Potatoes; Risk; Vegetables.