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. 2025 May 30:12:1518549.
doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1518549. eCollection 2025.

The relationship between dietary flavonoid intake and hypertension: a cross-sectional study from NHANES

Yueyue Niu  1 , Xingjuan Chen  1 , Lu Xiao  1 , Weina Li  1 , Ling Feng  1 , Aikeremu Aierken  2
Affiliations

The relationship between dietary flavonoid intake and hypertension: a cross-sectional study from NHANES

Yueyue Niu et al. Front Cardiovasc Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between dietary flavonoid intake and hypertension using nationally representative data, considering increasing global hypertension prevalence and inconsistent evidence on flavonoids' protective effects.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 8,054 adults aged ≥20 years from NHANES 2007-2010 and 2017-2018. Flavonoid intake was assessed through two 24-hour dietary recalls and categorized into quartiles. Hypertension was defined by blood pressure ≥130/80 mmHg or self-reported diagnosis/medication use. Logistic regression models with progressive adjustment, restricted cubic spline regression for dose-response relationships, and subgroup analyses were conducted, accounting for complex sampling design.

Results: After full adjustment, participants in the highest quartile of total flavonoid intake showed 25% lower odds of hypertension compared to the lowest quartile (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.60-0.93, p = 0.01). Among flavonoid subclasses, anthocyanidins (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58-0.93) and flavan-3-ols (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62-0.93) demonstrated the strongest protective associations. Significant effect modifications were observed for age (p for interaction = 0.01), hyperlipidemia (p for interaction <0.0001), and cardiovascular disease status (p for interaction =0.01), with stronger protective effects in younger adults and those without metabolic disorders.

Conclusion: Moderate dietary flavonoid intake, particularly anthocyanidins and flavan-3-ols, is inversely associated with hypertension risk. These associations vary significantly by age and metabolic status, suggesting potential for individualized dietary recommendations for hypertension prevention.

Keywords: NHANES; cross-sectional study; dietary intake; flavonoids; hypertension.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of study population selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Nonlinear associations between dietary flavonoid intake and hypertension risk. Models were adjusted for sex, age, race, marital status, PIR, education level, drinking status, smoking status, PA, BMI, DASH score, energy intake, protein intake, carbohydrate intake, sugars intake, fat intake, DM, Hyperlipidemia, CVD.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of stratified analysis of the association between hypertension and total flavonoid.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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