Dietary vitamins A and K are inversely associated with visceral adiposity in US adults: NHANES 2011-2018.

Among 6526 participants, 36.5% were classified as VAT obese (VatOB) with VAT area ≥100 cm².

• Sample included 6526 participants representing a weighted population of 68,060,478 US adults.
• Participants were aged 18-65 years without major pathologies.
• VAT area was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
• VatOB was defined as VAT area ≥100 cm².

Linear regression confirmed positive correlations between VAT area and intakes of carbohydrates, total fat, and sodium.

• Complex-sample linear regression was used to evaluate associations between nutrient intake and VAT area.
• Carbohydrate, total fat, and sodium intake were all positively associated with VAT area.
• These associations were identified using standard complex-sample linear regression methods.
• Nutrient data were derived from 24-hour dietary recall interviews.

A less stringent LASSO model identified inverse correlations between VAT and potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, B1, E, and K.

• LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) regression was used as an additional analytical approach.
• The less stringent LASSO model confirmed positive correlations with carbohydrates, total fat, and sodium.
• Seven micronutrients showed inverse correlations with VAT: potassium, magnesium, vitamins A, C, B1, E, and K.
• This less stringent model did not fully account for energy intake and macronutrient variables.

Only vitamins A and K maintained significant inverse correlations with VAT in the more stringent LASSO model after accounting for energy intake and macronutrient variables.

• The more stringent LASSO model controlled for energy intake and macronutrient variables.
• Of the seven micronutrients identified in the less stringent model, only vitamins A and K survived in the more stringent model.
• Vitamins C, B1, E, potassium, and magnesium did not maintain significant correlations after additional adjustment.
• This finding suggests vitamins A and K have the most robust inverse associations with VAT among the micronutrients examined.

The study design was cross-sectional, precluding causal inference between nutrient intake and VAT accumulation.

• Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2018.
• The authors noted that 'further longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether nutrient intake causally influences VAT accumulation.'
• Results are described as 'nutrient-VAT associations' rather than causal relationships.
• The study covered four NHANES cycles from 2011 to 2018.