Vitamin E and cardiometabolic risk factors in Hispanic/Latin populations: A study from ISA-Nutrition and NHANES

• Grant number: 24/16180-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Regina Mara Fisberg
• Grantee: Marcela Larissa Costa
• Supervisor: Josiemer Mattei
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/14601-5 - Vitamin E and cardiometabolic risk in São Paulo city residents: dietary intake and plasma concentrations considering polymorphisms in SCARB1, CYP4F2, NKAIN3 and BUD13/ZNF259/APOA5 genes., BP.DR

Abstract

Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, studies on vitamin E (¿-tocopherol) have become essential to elucidate its possible role in reducing the risk and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases. Especially in more vulnerable populations such as Hispanics/Latinos who have a higher prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors. This topic becomes even more relevant given the high prevalence of dietary inadequacy of vitamin E in these populations. This study aims to analyze the association between vitamin E intake and nutritional status with cardiometabolic risk factors among Brazilians and Hispanic/Latino living in the United States. This cross-sectional study uses data from two population-based studies: The 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo with a Focus on Nutrition and the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In both studies, dietary intake was measured with two 24-hour recalls. Blood samples were collected to obtain vitamin E status. Cardiometabolic risk factors of interest include total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, non-HDL-c, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance, blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference. Differences between studies will be tested by an independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test and associations will be investigated by generalized linear models. Statistical analyses will be performed using RStudio (version 2024.04.2.764), with a significance level of < 5%.