Impact of live microbe intake on cardiovascular disease and mortality in adults with diabetes: A nationwide cohort study.

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the association between dietary intake of live microbes (LM) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular mortality in adults with diabetes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2001 to 2010, with follow-up mortality data through December 31, 2019. A total of 3,955 adults with diabetes were included. Dietary LM intake was categorized as low (LLM), medium (MLM), or high (HLM). Multivariate weighted logistic regression assessed the relationship between LM intake and CVD, and weighted Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate cardiovascular mortality.

Results: Among the 3,955 participants, 1,064 had CVD. MLM consumers had a significantly lower risk of CVD (OR: 0.55; 95 % CI: 0.33, 0.92) compared to non-consumers, with no significant associations for LLM and HLM. During a median follow-up of 10.5 years, 432 cardiovascular deaths occurred. MLM intake was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.65; 95 % CI: 0.49, 0.86).

Conclusion: Moderate consumption of dietary live microbes is associated with reduced CVD risk and cardiovascular mortality in adults with diabetes. These findings suggest potential cardiovascular benefits from including LM in the diet of diabetic patients.