Relationship between dietary oxidative balance score, anthropometric measurements and socioeconomic factors in women at low risk of cardiovascular disease

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the dietary oxidative balance score (OBS), an indicator of oxidative stress, anthropometric measures and socioeconomic factors in women at low risk of cardiovascular disease.

Methods

The participants’ 3-day dietary intake, demographic information, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure values were recorded, and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and OBS values were determined. Oxidative balance score consists of prooxidant and antioxidant scores. Prooxidant scores were calculated from red meat consumption, total iron and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, alcohol and cigarette consumption parameters, while antioxidant scores were calculated by assessing cruciferous consumption, dietary total vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein + zeaxanthin and selenium intake.

Results

A total of 145 women were included in the study. Education level was associated with anthropometric measurements, income status with antioxidant and prooxidant scores, and exercise status with OBS (p < 0.05). Weight, waist, hip, BMI, waist/hip, and waist/height ratio were significantly lower in subjects with low prooxidant score (p < 0.05); there was no significant relationship between age, systolic, diastolic, FRS (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The study, conducted in healthy women, showed that dietary oxidative balance scoring is promising in preventing the development of CVD and reducing the burden of disease, and that prospective cohort studies should be conducted in this area.