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. 2025 Mar 24;20(3):e0320356.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320356. eCollection 2025.

Association of dietary vitamin E intake with peripheral arterial disease: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Qiang Liu  1   2 , Xing Wu  3   4 , Yun Wang  1   2 , Xiang Wang  1   2 , Fei Zhao  1   2 , Jianjun Shi  1   2
Affiliations

Association of dietary vitamin E intake with peripheral arterial disease: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Qiang Liu et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The relationship between the amount of dietary vitamin E consumed and the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains a topic of debate. This relationship is of the utmost importance in the realms of healthcare and public health and is currently a highly researched and prominent topic. This study aimed to present the relationship between dietary vitamin E intake and PAD.

Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional analysis, data from 6,588 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the United States were examined during the period 1999-2004. We collected data on age, sex, race, marital status, education, physical activity, income, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, body mass index, total cholesterol and HbA1c. Logistic regression and smooth curve fitting were used to support the research objectives.

Results: After accounting for all relevant factors, a negative correlation between dietary vitamin E intake and the likelihood of PAD was observed (OR: 0.981, 95% CI: 0.957-1.004). The overall prevalence of PAD was 5.9%, with 49.6% in males and 50.4% in females. Individuals in the third quartile of dietary vitamin E intake had a lower occurrence rate of peripheral artery disease than those in the first quartile (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.91). Similar patterns of association were observed in the subgroup analysis (all P values for interaction were > 0.05).

Conclusions: Our study suggests a negative association between dietary vitamin E intake and incidence of PAD. Therefore individuals with insufficient dietary vitamin E intake, especially those with a very low intake, should consider increasing their vitamin E intake to lower the risk of developing PAD. These findings should be considered when offering dietary guidance and nutrition education to prevent PAD.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Research flowchart.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Association between dietary vitamin E intake and PAD odds ratio.
Solid and dashed lines represent the predicted value and 95% confidence intervals. They were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, marital status, family income, smoking status, physical activity, BMI, total cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin A1c, and comorbidities. Only 99% of the date is shown.
Fig 3
Fig 3. The relationship between dietary vitamin E intake and PAD according to basic features.
Except for the stratification component itself, each stratification factor was adjusted for all other variables.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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