Nutrient patterns in relation to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction in Iranian women

Prior studies have mainly focused on the association of one specific nutrient with insulin resistance (IR) and endothelial dysfunction and limited studies have assessed the association with different nutrient patterns (NPs). We examined the association between various NPs and IR and endothelial dysfunction among Iranian women. This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 368 female nurses. A 106-items food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was applied for dietary assessments. Using factor analysis, the relationships between NPs and markers of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, and QUICKY), and endothelial dysfunction (E-selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1) were assessed. Mean age and body mass index of participants were respectively 35.21 years and 24.04 kg/m². Three major NPs were identified. NP1, named as "dairy, fruits, and vegetables" had high values of potassium, folate, vitamins A and C, magnesium, and beta carotene. No significant association was observed between this NP and insulin resistance or endothelial dysfunction indices. The second NP was full of chromium, selenium, copper, vitamin B6, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), thiamin, vitamin D, and iron. Adherence to NP2 (named "legumes, nuts, and protein foods") was associated with lower values of insulin (6.8 ± 1.1 versus 8.4 ± 1.1, P = 0.01), homeostasis model assessment-Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (1.3 ± 0.2 versus 1.7 ± 0.2, P = 0.02), and vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) (444.2 ± 27.9 versus 475.8 ± 28.4, P = 0.03). However, adherence to the third NP, rich in saturated fatty acid (SFA), cholesterol, sodium, zinc, vitamin E, and B12, described as "animal fat and meat + vitamin E", was associated with higher amounts of homeostasis model assessment-β (HOMA-β) (531.3 ± 176.2 versus 48.7 ± 179.8, P = 0.03). In conclusion, following the NP2, correlated with higher intakes of chromium, selenium, copper, vitamin B6, MUFA and thiamin was associated with lower values of insulin, HOMA-IR, and sVCAM-1. Adherence to NP3, rich in SFA, cholesterol, vitamin E, vitamin B12, and zinc was associated with higher levels of HOMA-β.