Association between the composite dietary antioxidant index and vascular age among United States adults: A cross‐sectional study

BACKGROUND: The composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) is a useful tool for evaluating antioxidant consumption and has been shown to effectively lower the risk of age-related diseases. However, the exact relationship between the CDAI and vascular age has yet to be established. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study examining the association between dietary antioxidants, as measured by the CDAI, and estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) and heart vascular age in 41,380 adults based in the United States using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018. Multivariable linear regression models, restricted cubic splines, and subgroup analysis were used to examine the associations between the CDAI and ePWV and heart vascular age. RESULTS: This study included 41,380 participants with a mean ± SD age of 50 ± 18 years. After adjusting for confounding factors, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that higher CDAI scores were independently associated with lower ePWV (β = -0.008, P < 0.001) and lower heart vascular age (β = -0.080, P = 0.033). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed that the CDAI was negatively associated with ePWV and heart vascular age. No statistical interaction was observed within any subgroups of the CDAI and ePWV and heart vascular age. CONCLUSION: Higher CDAI scores were associated with lower ePWV and heart vascular age in US adults.