(P03-059-24) Lower Dietary Intake of Folate and Choline Is Associated With a Higher Ratio of Triglycerides to HDL-Cholesterol

Objectives: The ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol (TG/HDL) serves as a predictive surrogate index of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and hepatic steatosis. This study aims to explore the correlation between dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients and TG/HDL.

Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 2824 adult subjects (1,446 men and 1,374 women) in the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) from 2017 to 2020. Subjects enrolled in the NAHSIT underwent face-to-face household interviews for demographic data and 24 hours dietary recall data to assess food and daily nutrient intake. Energy-adjusted methyl donor nutrient (MDN) intake, including choline, betaine, and folate, was assessed to evaluate the risk factors associated with higher TG/HDL.

Results: Men exhibited significantly lower HDL levels, higher body mass index (BMI), and a higher TG/HDL than women. A higher quartile of TG/HDL was associated with elevated levels of BMI, AST, ALT, plasma glucose, and HbA1C compared to the lower quartile of TG/HDL. Additionally, a higher quartile of TG/HDL was associated with lower plasma folate levels and lower dietary choline intake in men (p-trend: < 0.001 and 0.027, respectively) and in women (p-trend: 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). In women, dietary folate intake was inversely associated with the quartiles of TG/HDL (p-trend = 0.003). After adjusting for age, BMI, AST, ALT, glucose, HbA1C and folate intake, the odds ratios (ORs) of THR >2 for the highest versus lowest quartile of dietary choline intake was 0.678 (95% CI=0.467-0.982) in men and 0.555 (95% CI=0.375-0.822) in women. Similarly, the odds ratios (ORs) of THR >3 for the highest versus lowest quartile of choline intake was 0.708 (95% CI=0.493-1.016) in men and 0.552 (95% CI=0.355-0.860) in women.

Conclusions: Lower daily dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients, including folate and choline, is associated with higher TG/HDL. Higher daily dietary choline intake could reduce the risks of elevated TG/HDL.

Funding Sources: This work was funded by the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan. The content of this research may not represent the opinion of the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare.