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Dietary Patterns (Poster Session)

(P22-003-24) Dietary Patterns and Circulating Sex Steroid Hormones Among Older Americans

Monday, July 1, 2024
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 280

    Presenting Author(s)

  • ZA

    Zahra Aslani, Master

    Ph.D student in Nutrition Science
    The Ohio State University
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • SN

    Sushma Nepal, PhD Student (she/her/hers)

    Student
    The Ohio State University
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

  • EO

    Eric Orwoll

    Portland VA Medical Center; Oregon Health Sciences University, United States

  • Steven K. Clinton, MD, PhD

    Robert A. and Martha O. Schoenlaub Cancer Research Chair
    Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James; College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

  • Edward L. Giovannucci, PhD

    Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology
    Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

  • FT

    Fred K. Tabung, PhD, MSPH

    Assistant Professor
    Ohio State University
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

Disclosure(s):
Zahra Aslani, Master: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Sushma Nepal, PhD Student: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Obesity is known to impact circulating sex steroid hormones. However, the role of diet, a major contributor to obesity, is inconsistent. The empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) and empirical dietary index for hyperinsulinemia (EDIH), that are strongly associated with obesity and other metabolic diseases, have not yet been examined in relation to sex steroids. We tested the hypothesis that a low insulinemic (inverse or iEDIH), and low inflammatory (iEDIP) dietary pattern or higher overall dietary quality (via healthy eating index [HEI]-2015), are associated with greater concentrations of serum testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), T/E ratio and with lower estradiol (E).

Methods: We calculated the dietary scores from baseline food frequency questionnaire among 4,771 men ≥65 years old, participating in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. Linear regression was used to estimate β coefficients relating 1-sd increments in dietary index to sex steroid concentrations.

Results: About 90% of participants were non-Hispanic Whites. Higher iEDIH, iEDIP and HEI-2015 scores were inversely correlated with BMI. In multivariable-adjusted analyses in the overall sample, higher iEDIP was associated with greater SHBG, total T and free T, e.g., 1-sd increment in iEDIP was associated with 2.92% higher total T (95%CI, 0.96%, 4.87%; p=0.0035). iEDIP was associated with elevated free T/E but not with estradiol. iEDIH was not associated with hormones overall, but associated with higher SHBG, total T, free T, and free T/E in men with overweight. In contrast, higher HEI-2015 was associated with greater E, and free E overall and among men with obesity. Joint associations of dietary indices and BMI showed strong inverse (SHBG, T) and direct (estradiol) associations with BMI irrespective of dietary index tertile category.

Conclusions: A low inflammatory dietary pattern was associated with a favorable profile of sex steroid hormones in older Americans.

Funding Sources: