Skip to main content
Frontiers in Nutrition logoLink to Frontiers in Nutrition
. 2022 Nov 3;9:1006247. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1006247

Association of dietary intake of saturated fatty acids with hypertension: 1999–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Ruoyu Gou 1,, Yufan Gou 2,, Jian Qin 3,, Tingyu Luo 1, Qiannan Gou 4, Kailian He 1, Song Xiao 1, Ruiying Li 1, Tingjun Li 1, Jie Xiao 1, Ziqi Chen 1, Yulu Chen 1, You Li 1,*, Zhiyong Zhang 1,*
PMCID: PMC9669614  PMID: 36407507

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the dietary intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and its subtypes (C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) and hypertension.

Design, participants, and methods

Adults aged 20 years and older based used the U.S. Health and Nutrition Survey (1999–2018) were used as participants. Two averages of 24 h dietary recall data were obtained for weight-adjusted continuous cross-sectional analysis. Two 24-h recall interview data means were obtained for weight-adjusted continuous cross-sectional analysis. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the weighted odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for hypertension.

Results

The study included 7,222 respondents over 20 years of age with a hypertension prevalence of 23.2% and a significant difference in the dietary intake of carbohydrates among patients with hypertension. Dietary intake of nutrients was more in men than in women with hypertension. After adjusting for confounders, adjusting for nutrients, and reducing covariance among nutrients, the OR (95% CI) for women’s dietary intake of SFAs, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0 fourth quartile, and C14:0 third quartile were 0.57 (0.34, 0.95), 0.57 (0.34, 0.95), 0.57 (0.34, 0.95), 0.57 (0.34, 0.95), and 0.57 (0.34, 0.95), respectively, which may be a risk factor for hypertension. In older (≥65, years) respondents, the OR (95% CI) for dietary intake of SFAs, C4:0, C14:0, C16:0 fourth quartile, and C12:0 third quartile were 0.42 (0.21, 0.86), 0.46 (0.22, 0.95), 0.39 (0.18, 0.85), 0.38 (0.17, 0.84), and 0.45 (0.20, 0.99), respectively, which may be a protective factor for hypertension.

Conclusion

The study was based on the American Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and a strong correlation was found between dietary intake of SFAs, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0 and hypertension in women (dietary intake of SFAs, C4:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0) and middle-aged and older adults (dietary intake of SFAs, C4:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0). In addition, dietary nutrient intake should be carefully selected for the rational prevention of hypertension.

Keywords: dietary saturated fatty acids, subtype, cardiovascular disease, dose-response, NHANES

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization, 17 million people die each year from cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension accounts for 45% of all heart disease-related mortality. Approximately 40% of adults aged 25 years and older are diagnosed with hypertension worldwide, and the prevalence of hypertension has reached 35% among adults in the United States (1, 2). Hypertension has become a global public health problem that cannot be ignored.

Common factors influencing hypertension include dietary, psychosocial, socioeconomic status, and genetic (3). Diet plays an important role in cardiovascular disease risk, and adherence to a scientific diet is an essential strategy to reduce the incidence of hypertension. The protective effect of nutrients on hypertension is not negligible (4, 5). Among them, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids, and monounsaturated fatty acids are closely related to hypertension (6, 7). Common sources of SFA are coconut oil, rice bran oil, red meat, high-fat dairy products, and human breast milk. In general, SFAs are considered to be a risk factor for hypertension (8). The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend reducing SFA to less than 7% of energy to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (9). However, one study has found that SFA may improve cardiovascular health (7).

Studies have reported that the smaller the chain length, the stronger the effect of raising HDL (10). Gender (11) and age have a significant effect on patients with hypertension. High levels of SFA in serum correlate with hypertension in men (12). Dietary intake of SFAs, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0 in the elderly is beneficial to health (7). A study found that the effect of SFA intake on hypertension was not significant in young and middle-aged adults compared with older adults. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between SFAs and their subtypes and hypertension, which may provide some reference for the dietary intake of SFAs and subtypes to reduce the occurrence of hypertension.

Materials and methods

Study design and population

Based on the publicly available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (13, 14), trained professional investigators conducted face-to-face, telephone interviews, and laboratory tests to collect data. The National Center for Health Statistics Institutional Review Board/Ethics Review Board approved this survey (NHANES, 1999–2016)1 to obtain informed consent from participants and continue the study through home interviews and examinations. This study used a case-control study to obtain 10 cross-sectional survey cycles of NHANES database respondents (n = 7,222) between 1999 and 2018. The study population was estimated to be representative of the United States (n = 38,123,806), the hypertension group (n = 5,550), and the control group (n = 1,672). Complete questionnaire data, laboratory test data, reliable data of two 24 h recalled dietary intakes, and accurate calculation of nutrient intake were obtained. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) respondents aged < 20 years; (2) excluding energy intake (male: <500 or >8,000 kcal/day, female: <500 or >5,000 kcal/day); (3) respondents with diabetes, hyperlipidemia; (4) repeat respondents; (5) respondents with missing data (Figure 1).

FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1

Flow chart of the participants’ selection.

Assessment of nutrients

Dietary sources of energy, protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total fat, dietary monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, SFAs, and their subtypes (C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) were obtained by two 24-h recall interviews. Nutrient types were selected and calculated with reference to NHANES support material2. The instrument for measuring the dietary intake of respondents was described in detail in the measurement guide (15). Dietary nutrient intakes were calculated using the Food and Nutrition Database for Dietary Studies 5.0 (FNDDS 5.0) standard of the Ministry of Agriculture (16, 17).

Definition of hypertension

Participants’ blood pressure measurements were taken according to the NHANES description (18), with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) taken as the average of three or more measurements. Hypertension is defined as (1) taking hypertensive medication; (2) being informed by a licensed physician of hypertension or stating in the questionnaire to take prescribed medication for hypertension; and (3) measuring the participant’s SBP mean ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg (mean of three times) (19). Any one of the above three conditions can be diagnosed as hypertension (20).

Measurements of covariates

Demographic information was collected by questionnaire, including age (20–44, 45–64, 65, and older), gender, race (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and others), smoking status (never smoked [less than 100 cigarettes in a lifetime], formerly smoked [smoked more than 100 cigarettes in lifetime, now not smoking at all], and currently smoking [smoked more than 100 cigarettes in lifetime, some days, or every day]), education (less than high school, high school graduate/general education, some college, or above), and family income to poverty ratio (less than 1.30, 1.30 to <3.00, 3.00 to <5.00, 5.00 and above) represents the ratio of family income to the federal poverty threshold, adjusting for household size. A higher ratio indicates higher levels of income, marital status (marriage, divorce, unmarried), and drinking status (current heavy drinker [women drink ≥ 3 drinks per day/men drink ≥ 4 drinks per day/binge drinking 5 days or more]; current moderate drinkers [women drink ≥ 2 drinks per day/men drink ≥ 3 drinks per day/binge drinking ≥ 2 days per month]; current light alcohol users [not the above two categories] (6); and no alcohol consumption). Physical activity (using total Mets for the week: <600, Mets, min/week, when exercise ≥ 600, Mets, min/week. Exercise also has significant physical benefits (21). The diagnosis of diabetes consists of the following components, any of which can be met to be diagnosed with diabetes: (1) the individual has been diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor; (2) glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (%) > 6.5; (3) fasting blood glucose (DM, mmol/l) ≥ 7.0; (4) random blood glucose (mmol/L) ≥ 11.1; (5) 2 h OGTT blood glucose (mmol/l) ≥ 11.1; and (6) use of diabetes medication or insulin. Body mass index (BMI) was as follows: <25 kg/m2, 25–30 kg/m2, and ≥30 kg/m2. Hyperlipidemia was diagnosed by meeting any of the following criteria: hypertriglyceridemia (TG ≥ 150 mg/dL) and/or hypercholesterolemia {TG 200 mg/dL [5.18 mmol/L], LDL 130 mg/dL [3.37 mmol/L], HDL < 40 mg/dL [1.04 mmol/L] (male), 50 mg/L [1.30mmol/L] (female)}.

Statistical analysis

Continuous variables were described by mean ± SD, and continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test. Categorical variables were described by n (%), and they were compared between groups using a chi-squared test. Nutrient intake was corrected using the residual method. Nutrient intakes were grouped into quartiles and analyzed for the inter-quartile group trend. The lowest quartile (first quartile) was defined as the reference group in each model. The results were expressed as weighted (OR [95% CI]). Nutrients entered into the model using a variance inflation factor (<10) (22) (energy, kcal: 42.763; protein, g: 3.127; carbohydrate, g: 13.381; dietary fiber, g: 1.977, total fat, g: 44.032; total mfat, g: 17.812; total pfat, g: 6.083). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between SFAs and their subtypes (C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) and hypertension. Stratified analyses and interactions were performed in accordance with sex, age, and BMI to explore the effects of SFAs and their subtypes on hypertension in different exposure settings. All analyses were performed in R (4.1.3) language, using NHANESR (version 0.9.2.8) package, survey (version 4.1-1) package compareGroups (version 4.5.2) package, forest plot (version 2.0.1) package, etc. for statistical analysis. A two-tailed P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Table 1 shows the number of respondents and the weighted percentages. In the total population with 10 survey periods, a significant difference in age and BMI (P-value < 0.001) was observed between the hypertension group and control group, with the highest prevalence of hypertension (45–64, years). The prevalence was higher in men than in women in the total population. Gender and age are recognized risk factors for hypertension, which will be explored in a stratified analysis with interaction.

TABLE 1.

Socio-demographic characteristics of US adults with hypertension by NHANES survey cycle, 1999–2018 (N = 7,222).

Parameter No. of participants (weighted %)a
All participants
1999–2000
2001–2002
2003–2004
Non-HTN
(n = 5,550)
HTN
(n = 1,672)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 360)
HTN
(n = 131)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 526)
HTN
(n = 188)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 503)
HTN
(n = 181)
P-value
Age group
20–44, years 4273 (77.53) 567 (38.25) <0.001 268 (81.24) 44 (52.05) <0.001 386 (76.81) 57 (40.50) <0.001 393 (80.66) 48 (33.34) <0.001
45–64, years 1035 (19.52) 662 (42.59) 68 (16.20) 36 (24.15) 119 (21.19) 78 (43.10) 84 (17.33) 70 (43.32)
≥65, years 242 (2.95) 443 (19.16) 24 (2.56) 51 (23.80) 21 (2.00) 53 (16.40) 26 (2.01) 63 (23.34)
Gender
Male 2824 (49.37) 954 (57.05) <0.001 202 (50.47) 78 (58.03) 0.200 268 (50.38) 95 (49.45) 0.900 270 (48.32) 91 (50.73) 0.680
Female 2726 (50.63) 718 (42.95) 158 (49.53) 53 (41.97) 258 (49.62) 93 (50.55) 233 (51.68) 90 (49.27)
Race/ethnicity
White 2653 (70.67) 744 (69.38) <0.001 187 (76.52) 69 (72.73) 0.200 317 (78.38) 98 (75.00) 0.010 281 (74.22) 104 (74.95) 0.280
Black 1194 (10.82) 561 (17.60) 66 (8.73) 29 (14.57) 95 (8.80) 61 (17.30) 114 (11.28) 46 (14.87)
Mexican 722 (6.76) 170 (5.01) 73 (5.05) 24 (4.73) 78 (5.60) 19 (3.32) 68 (6.05) 19 (2.88)
Other 981 (11.75) 197 (8.01) 34 (9.70) 9 (7.97) 36 (7.22) 10 (4.38) 40 (8.45) 12 (7.30)
Marital
Married 3021 (56.43) 979 (63.21) <0.001 210 (60.24) 81 (60.62) 0.100 321 (62.18) 103 (59.52) 0.003 268 (55.68) 117 (68.14) 0.003
Separated 628 (10.21) 404 (20.66) 40 (11.71) 36 (21.73) 61 (9.58) 51 (24.06) 58 (10.88) 44 (20.99)
Never married 1901 (33.36) 289 (16.13) 110 (28.05) 14 (17.65) 144 (28.24) 34 (16.42) 177 (33.44) 20 (10.87)
Ratio of family income
to poverty levelb
<1.3 1464 (19.40) 475 (21.44) 0.350 91 (18.73) 40 (27.27) 0.270 93 (13.45) 48 (23.92) 0.010 115 (16.87) 40 (16.42) 0.670
1.3–3 1673 (26.53) 524 (27.33) 98 (22.42) 37 (23.60) 150 (24.43) 57 (22.31) 173 (32.58) 63 (27.35)
3–5 1246 (26.92) 345 (24.13) 87 (27.55) 27 (23.87) 149 (32.49) 35 (18.04) 108 (23.77) 37 (26.08)
≥5 1167 (27.15) 328 (27.10) 84 (31.30) 27 (25.26) 134 (29.63) 48 (35.73) 107 (26.78) 41 (30.15)
Education levels
Less than 11th grade 820 (9.59) 364 (14.62) <0.001 90 (14.63) 47 (28.81) 0.030 79 (9.98) 51 (18.07) 0.030 84 (9.92) 38 (10.20) 0.740
High school graduate 1136 (20.18) 386 (22.24) 75 (20.99) 29 (23.96) 130 (22.71) 42 (20.30) 103 (21.56) 50 (24.86)
College graduate or above 3594 (70.23) 922 (63.14) 195 (64.38) 55 (47.23) 317 (67.31) 95 (61.63) 316 (68.52) 93 (64.94)
BMI
<25, kg/m2 2964 (56.09) 510 (29.83) <0.001 225 (63.93) 41 (28.58) <0.001 304 (62.12) 80 (41.34) 0.001 285 (59.34) 59 (29.52) <0.001
25–30, kg/m2 1568 (27.20) 567 (35.26) 90 (25.07) 42 (33.17) 148 (24.16) 57 (27.67) 132 (25.46) 61 (34.63)
≥30, kg/m2 1018 (16.81) 595 (34.91) 45 (11.00) 48 (38.25) 74 (13.72) 51 (30.99) 86 (15.20) 61 (35.85)
Smoking consumption status
Never 3435 (61.26) 811 (46.75) <0.001 211 (58.69) 66 (50.26) 0.060 287 (54.35) 88 (43.43) 0.120 289 (57.31) 91 (53.44) 0.010
Former 908 (18.28) 465 (30.15) 58 (15.23) 43 (27.43) 110 (22.72) 41 (23.50) 74 (16.10) 52 (29.04)
Now 1207 (20.46) 396 (23.10) 91 (26.08) 22 (22.31) 129 (22.93) 59 (33.07) 140 (26.59) 38 (17.52)
PA
<600, Mets, min/week 1675 (30.38) 579 (34.75) 0.020 224 (61.92) 79 (62.77) 0.870 317 (57.97) 120 (65.44) 0.160 325 (63.80) 100 (54.19) 0.110
≥600, Mets, min/week 3875 (69.62) 1093 (65.25) 136 (38.08) 52 (37.23) 209 (42.03) 68 (34.56) 178 (36.20) 81 (45.81)
Alcohol consumption status
Never 603 (9.41) 193 (8.67) <0.001 35 (7.04) 18 (8.75) 0.010 57 (11.95) 21 (11.94) 0.300 47 (7.87) 24 (9.70)
Former 476 (7.44) 274 (13.56) 35 (8.79) 29 (19.63) 54 (9.26) 32 (15.61) 45 (7.03) 42 (19.72) <0.001
Mild 1890 (34.56) 621 (38.53) 124 (33.52) 48 (41.10) 201 (39.91) 66 (34.90) 173 (33.45) 70 (40.68)
Moderate 1120 (21.32) 258 (17.30) 68 (23.60) 14 (9.95) 93 (16.17) 33 (19.85) 101 (21.82) 20 (15.41)
Heavy 1461 (27.27) 326 (21.94) 98 (27.05) 22 (20.57) 121 (22.71) 36 (17.70) 137 (29.83) 25 (14.49)

Parameter No. of Participants (Weighted%)a
2005–2006
2007–2008
2009–2010
2011–2012
Non-HTN
(n = 573)
HTN
(n = 169)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 524)
HTN
(n = 156)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 625)
HTN
(n = 158)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 640)
HTN
(n = 192)
P-value

Age group
20–44, years 438 (77.13) 70 (39.36) <0.001 401 (79.17) 50 (37.82) <0.001 492 (76.98) 43 (32.74) <0.001 515 (76.06) 67 (37.27) <0.001
45–64, years 104 (19.46) 57 (44.22) 92 (17.23) 70 (45.77) 111 (20.69) 66 (41.79) 106 (21.90) 77 (42.17)
≥65, years 31 (3.41) 42 (16.42) 31 (3.60) 36 (16.41) 22 (2.33) 49 (25.47) 19 (2.04) 48 (20.56)
Gender
Male 292 (48.86) 92 (47.67) 0.830 276 (45.85) 95 (56.71) 0.090 295 (47.62) 86 (59.03) 0.070 347 (50.85) 117 (59.71) 0.130
Female 281 (51.14) 77 (52.33) 248 (54.15) 61 (43.29) 330 (52.38) 72 (40.97) 293 (49.15) 75 (40.29)
Race/ethnicity
White 312 (74.81) 79 (74.97) 0.020 263 (71.61) 78 (73.85) 0.230 332 (72.44) 76 (70.65) 0.060 244 (66.98) 74 (68.54) 0.180
Black 133 (10.06) 65 (17.90) 117 (11.67) 48 (15.12) 98 (9.51) 52 (17.93) 150 (11.01) 75 (17.26)
Mexican 81 (5.63) 20 (5.31) 75 (7.71) 14 (4.25) 86 (5.60) 16 (5.72) 58 (8.15) 10 (4.76)
Other 47 (9.50) 5 (1.82) 69 (9.01) 16 (6.78) 109 (12.45) 14 (5.70) 188 (13.86) 33 (9.44)
Marital
Married 335 (61.29) 106 (66.36) 0.002 285 (53.28) 98 (72.35) <0.001 329 (52.88) 89 (67.60) <0.001 296 (49.83) 111 (61.16) 0.010
Separated 71 (11.63) 37 (20.60) 63 (9.97) 35 (16.36) 75 (10.22) 42 (16.89) 68 (10.84) 40 (17.92)
Never married 167 (27.08) 26 (13.04) 176 (36.75) 23 (11.29) 221 (36.90) 27 (15.51) 276 (39.33) 41 (20.92)
Ratio of family income
to poverty levelsb
<1.3 122 (14.08) 34 (13.46) 0.950 145 (20.59) 40 (17.98) 0.890 191 (19.17) 45 (21.51) 0.710 210 (27.74) 60 (22.94) 0.530
1.3–3 173 (25.48) 53 (24.25) 167 (27.01) 49 (27.03) 188 (26.13) 46 (25.00) 178 (25.45) 63 (33.49)
3–5 151 (34.04) 47 (33.75) 108 (24.87) 34 (24.26) 129 (26.13) 41 (29.53) 124 (24.35) 32 (21.91)
≥5 127 (26.40 35 (28.4 104 (27.53) 33 (30.73) 117 (28.57) 26 (23.96) 128 (22.46) 37 (21.66)
Education levels
Less than 11th grade 84 (8.52) 40 (15.78) 0.120 106 (14.87) 37 (16.30) 0.620 95 (9.83) 17 (6.56) 0.360 81 (10.00) 46 (17.51) 0.070
High school graduate 118 (19.58) 33 (21.38) 110 (21.30) 32 (17.61) 127 (17.99) 43 (24.32) 103 (15.90) 43 (20.96)
College graduate or above 371 (71.90 96 (62.84) 308 (63.83) 87 (66.10) 403 (72.18) 98 (69.11) 456 (74.10) 103 (61.53)
BMI
<25, kg/m2 302 (59.08) 47 (36.26) 0.003 277 (53.50) 42 (27.29) <0.001 338 (57.94) 48 (24.53) <0.001 332 (52.97) 54 (30.26) <0.001
25–30, kg/m2 163 (25.86) 66 (37.80) 159 (28.61) 64 (40.35) 181 (27.70) 47 (32.24) 189 (29.31) 74 (43.76)
≥30, kg/m2 108 (15.06) 56 (25.94) 88 (17.89) 50 (32.37) 106 (14.36) 63 (43.23) 119 (17.72) 64 (25.98)
Smoking consumption status
Never 337 (60.09) 86 (43.20) 0.050 318 (59.63) 70 (48.02) 379 (59.41) 77 (52.61) 0.190 426 (61.13) 96 (43.25) 0.001
Former 102 (17.60) 46 (29.57) 84 (17.84) 48 (30.82) 0.080 107 (21.39) 46 (29.08) 92 (17.53) 58 (40.10)
Now 134 (22.31 37 (27.23) 122 (22.53) 38 (21.16) 139 (19.19) 35 (18.32) 122 (21.34) 38 (16.65)
PA
<600, Mets, min/week 346 (60.18) 104 (61.49) 0.850 76 (14.76) 29 (17.46) 0.570 94 (15.05) 30 (14.59) 0.900 85 (11.47) 25 (11.07) 0.890
≥600, Mets, min/week 227 (39.82) 65 (38.51) 448 (85.24) 127 (82.54) 531 (84.95) 128 (85.41) 555 (88.53) 167 (88.93)
Alcohol consumption status
Never 60 (9.25) 19 (7.21) 0.170 52 (9.35) 20 (9.04) 0.110 64 (9.30) 17 (9.48) 0.010 77 (8.42 24 (10.42) 0.550
Former 64 (9.99) 39 (19.36) 64 (9.15) 33 (13.39) 56 (8.32) 31 (22.29) 54 (8.08) 26 (10.58)
Mild 179 (33.86) 53 (32.85) 152 (30.85) 59 (44.15) 196 (33.50) 59 (36.33 208 (31.69) 66 (35.66)
Moderate 106 (19.93) 29 (17.17) 104 (20.22) 16 (11.72) 118 (19.75) 19 (12.46) 129 (20.05) 39 (22.14)
Heavy 164 (26.97) 29 (23.41) 152 (30.43) 28 (21.71) 191 (29.13) 32 (19.44) 172 (31.76) 37 (21.20)

Parameter No. of participants (weighted%)a
2013–2014
2015–2016
2017–2018
Non-HTN
(n = 679)
HTN
(n = 192)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 607)
HTN
(n = 157)
P-value Non-HTN
(n = 513)
HTN
(n = 148)
P-value

Age group
20–44, years 510 (71.55) 76 (39.98) <0.001 470 (77.67) 55 (35.12) <0.001 400 (79.98) 57 (36.34) <0.001
45–64, years 144 (24.68) 72 (41.12) 109 (17.60) 69 (49.89) 98 (17.29) 67 (48.40)
≥65, years 25 (3.76) 44 (18.90) 28 (4.73) 33 (14.99) 15 (2.73) 24 (15.26)
Gender
Male 356 (51.74) 122 (63.81) 0.070 289 (48.76) 89 (58.39) 0.230 229 (50.14) 89 (68.20) 0.040
Female 323 (48.26) 70 (36.19) 318 (51.24) 68 (41.61) 284 (49.86) 59 (31.80)
Race/ethnicity
White 301 (64.77) 74 (61.35) 0.010 246 (67.69) 40 (54.33) 0.020 170 (62.92) 52 (65.85) 0.110
Black 138 (11.43) 64 (20.17) 146 (12.46) 59 (22.06) 137 (12.43) 62 (18.94)
Mexican 75 (9.01) 20 (7.78 71 (7.13) 19 (8.03) 57 (6.97) 9 (4.10)
Other 165 (14.79) 34 (10.70) 144 (12.72) 39 (15.58) 149 (17.68) 25 (11.11)
Marital
Married 366 (55.84) 110 (58.54) 0.002 340 (62.49) 80 (58.05) <0.001 271 (51.11) 84 (61.12) 0.030
Separated 82 (10.94) 42 (20.66) 54 (6.71) 44 (24.93) 56 (10.29) 33 (22.03)
Never married 231 (33.22) 40 (20.80) 213 (30.80) 33 (17.02) 186 (38.60) 31 (16.85)
Ratio of family income
to poverty levelsb
<1.3 205 (22.92) 64 (25.67) 0.230 162 (21.82) 58 (27.13) 0.550 130 (17.60) 46 (20.13) 0.850
1.3–3 165 (22.22) 63 (29.30) 211 (32.49) 51 (32.63) 170 (26.32) 42 (27.20)
3–5 157 (25.57) 34 (18.11) 118 (20.53) 25 (13.29) 115 (30.15) 33 (31.96)
≥5 152 (29.29) 31 (26.92) 116 (25.16) 23 (26.95) 98 (25.93) 27 (20.71)
Education levels
Less than 11th grade 82 (10.08) 39 (16.89) 0.040 67 (6.58) 31 (11.32) 0.130 52 (4.35) 18 (6.04) 0.730
High school graduate 133 (18.28) 47 (23.64) 126 (18.95) 34 (15.85) 111 (25.17) 33 (27.27)
College graduate or above 464 (71.65) 106 (59.47) 414 (74.47) 92 (72.83) 350 (70.48) 97 (66.69)
BMI
<25, kg/m2 354 (51.76) 68 (34.34) 0.004 290 (49.39) 43 (20.18) <0.001 257 (53.38) 28 (20.69) 0.010
25–30, kg/m2 203 (30.63) 62 (34.69) 165 (28.05) 53 (37.44) 138 (26.21) 41 (30.74)
≥30, kg/m2 122 (17.61) 62 (30.96) 152 (22.56) 61 (42.38) 118 (20.41) 79 (48.57)
Smoking consumption status
Never 430 (62.19) 85 (45.12) 0.070 411 (68.78) 75 (44.56) 0.003 347 (68.44) 77 (45.01) 0.010
Former 111 (20.20) 57 (29.33) 89 (15.30) 40 (34.84) 81 (18.14) 34 (27.31)
Now 138 (17.60) 50 (25.55) 107 (15.91) 42 (20.60) 85 (13.42) 37 (27.68)
PA
<600, Mets, min/week 87 (14.39) 39 (23.44) 0.030 74 (11.57) 27 (11.54) 0.990 47 (6.12) 26 (17.55) 0.030
≥600, Mets, min/week 592 (85.61) 153 (76.56) 533 (88.43) 130 (88.46) 466 (93.88) 122 (82.45)
Alcohol consumption status
Never 75 (10.68) 18 (7.05) 0.600 82 (11.81) 16 (7.16) 0.370 54 (7.53) 16 (5.52 0.500
Former 57 (7.36) 22 (6.86) 47 (7.58) 20 (10.80) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Mild 238 (32.12) 76 (38.77) 212 (33.86) 48 (35.61) 207 (41.82) 76 (46.10)
Moderate 139 (22.45) 36 (23.42) 131 (23.59) 25 (20.70) 131 (25.38) 27 (15.60)
Heavy 170 (27.38) 40 (23.90) 135 (23.16) 48 (25.73) 121 (25.27) 29 (32.78)

HTN, hypertension; non-HTN, non-hypertension; BMI, body mass index; PA, physical activity; NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

aPercentages were adjusted for NHANES survey weights.

bRepresents the ratio of family income to the federal poverty threshold, adjusting for household size. The higher the ratio, the higher the income level.

Tables 2, 3 shows the description of demographic characteristics and nutrient intake. The ratio of family income to poverty levels did not differ significantly between genders. In the hypertension group, no significant differences in race and level of education were observed between genders. In the control group, age and PA level did not differ significantly between genders. All other demographic indicators showed statistically significant differences. Carbohydrate versus C10:0 in the total population was significantly different in the hypertensive group versus the control group. Nutrient intake was lower in women than in men.

TABLE 2.

Participant characteristics by hypertension status with sex differences: a cross-sectional study using NHANES data from 1999 to 2018.

Parameter All participants
(n = 7,222)
HTN group
(n = 1,672)
Non-HTN group
(n = 5,550)
Male
(n = 3,778)
Female
(n = 3,444)
P-value Male
(n = 954)
Female
(n = 718)
P-value Male
(n = 2,824)
Female
(n = 2,726)
P-value
Age group
20–44, years 4273 (77.52 567 (38.25) <0.001 345 (42.72) 222 (32.32) 0.010 2150 (77.82 2123 (77.24) 0.770
45–64, years 1035 (19.53) 662 (42.59) 344 (38.61) 318 (47.86) 524 (19.09) 511 (19.96)
≥65, years 242 (2.95) 443 (19.16) 265 (18.67) 178 (19.82) 150 (3.09) 92 (2.80)
Race/ethnicity
White 2653 (70.67) 744 (69.38) <0.001 431 (69.17) 313 (69.66) 0.320 1286 (67.83) 1367 (73.44) <0.001
Black 1194 (10.81 561 (17.60) 308 (16.59) 253 (18.94) 678 (11.96) 516 (9.71)
Mexican 722 (6.77) 170 (5.01) 98 (5.56) 72 (4.28) 390 (7.85) 332 (5.71)
Other 981 (11.75) 197 (8.01) 117 (8.68) 80 (7.12) 470 (12.37) 511 (11.14)
Marital
Married 3021 (56.43) 979 (63.21) <0.001 586 (64.82) 393 (61.06) <0.001 1495 (52.78) 1526 (59.98) <0.001
Separated 628 (10.21) 404 (20.66) 185 (14.88) 219 (28.35) 253 (7.88) 375 (12.49)
Never married 1901 (33.36) 289 (16.13) 183 (20.30) 106 (10.59) 1076 (39.34) 825 (27.53)
Ratio of family income
to poverty levelsb
<1.3 1464 (19.40) 475 (21.44) 0.350 266 (21.60) 209 (21.24) 0.760 773 (19.87) 691 (18.94) 0.250
1.3–3 1673 (26.53) 524 (27.33) 305 (27.59) 219 (26.99) 883 (27.62) 790 (25.47)
3–5 1246 (26.92) 345 (24.12) 202 (22.80) 143 (25.88) 594 (25.53) 652 (28.27)
≥5 1167 (27.15) 328 (27.11) 181 (28.01) 147 (25.89) 574 (26.98) 593 (27.32)
Education levels
Less than 11th grade 820 (9.59) 364 (14.62 < 0.001 226 (14.71) 138 (14.51) 0.740 514 (12.15) 306 (7.09) <0.001
High school graduate 1136 (20.18) 386 (22.24) 226 (23.05) 160 (21.16) 683 (24.23) 453 (16.24)
College graduate or above 3594 (70.23) 922 (63.14) 502 (62.24) 420 (64.33) 1627 (63.62) 1967 (76.67)
BMI
<25, kg/m2 2964 (56.00) 510 (29.83) <0.001 278 (25.82) 232 (35.16) 0.004 1438 (50.71) 1526 (61.16) <0.001
25–30, kg/m2 1568 (27.19) 567 (35.26) 352 (39.15) 215 (30.07) 916 (32.06) 652 (22.45)
≥30, kg/m2 1018 (16.81) 595 (34.91) 324 (35.03) 271 (34.77) 470 (17.23) 548 (16.39)
Smoking consumption status
Never 908 (18.28) 465 (30.15) <0.001 304 (33.59) 161 (25.57) 0.010 507 (20.40) 401 (16.22) < 0.001
Former 3435 (61.26) 811 (46.75) 392 (42.01) 419 (53.04) 1538 (54.75) 1897 (67.61)
Now 1207 (20.46) 396 (23.10) 258 (24.40) 138 (21.39) 779 (24.85) 428 (16.17)
PA
<600, Mets, min/week 1675 (30.38) 579 (34.75) 0.020 279 (28.06) 300 (43.64) < 0.001 816 (29.37) 859 (31.37) 0.220
≥600, Mets, min/week 3875 (69.62) 1093 (65.25) 675 (71.94) 418 (56.36) 2008 (70.63) 1867 (68.63)
Alcohol consumption status
Never 476 (7.44) 274 (13.56) < 0.001 159 (12.81) 115 (14.57) < 0.001 271 (8.49) 205 (6.42) < 0.001
Former 1461 (27.27) 326 (21.94) 209 (23.93) 117 (19.30) 820 (29.99) 641 (24.62)
Mild 1890 (34.56) 621 (38.53) 392 (43.24) 229 (32.27) 1103 (39.27) 787 (29.97)
Moderate 1120 (21.31) 258 (17.30) 119 (13.97) 139 (21.71) 407 (14.77) 713 (27.68)
Heavy 603 (9.42) 193 (8.67) 75 (6.05) 118 (12.15) 223 (7.48) 380 (11.31)

bRepresents the ratio of family income to the federal poverty threshold, adjusting for household size. The higher the ratio, the higher the income level.

TABLE 3.

Characteristics of the weighted dietary intake of nutrients in the hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups among the participantsa.

Parameter All participants
(n = 7,222)
Non-HTN group
(n = 5,550)
HTN group
(n = 1,672)
P-value Non-HTN group
P-value HTN group
P-value
Male
(n = 2,824)
Female
(n = 2,726)
Male
(n = 954)
Female
(n = 718)
Energy, kcal 2238.78 ± 14.80 2247.76 ± 15.82 2200.36 ± 28.60 0.120 2619.39 ± 26.49 1885.38 ± 17.00 <0.001 2463.28 ± 36.10 1851.11 ± 32.64 <0.001
Protein, g 86.84 ± 0.61 87.12 ± 0.65 85.63 ± 1.26 0.260 102.30 ± 0.99 72.32 ± 0.73 <0.001 95.88 ± 1.69 72.02 ± 1.41 <0.001
Carbohydrate, g 269.23 ± 2.01 271.70 ± 2.19 258.68 ± 3.68 0.001 313.70 ± 3.76 230.75 ± 2.39 <0.001 286.45 ± 5.20 221.79 ± 3.86 <0.001
Dietary fiber, g 17.63 ± 0.18 17.72 ± 0.20 17.25 ± 0.32 0.160 19.43 ± 0.31 16.05 ± 0.25 <0.001 18.66 ± 0.44 15.38 ± 0.37 <0.001
Total fat, g 85.00 ± 0.70 84.84 ± 0.75 85.68 ± 1.40 0.570 98.08 ± 1.25 71.94 ± 0.80 <0.001 94.64 ± 1.86 73.78 ± 2.03 <0.001
Total mfat, g 30.75 ± 0.28 30.61 ± 0.30 31.34 ± 0.58 0.250 35.56 ± 0.51 25.79 ± 0.29 <0.001 34.96 ± 0.83 26.52 ± 0.74 <0.001
Total pfat, g 19.01 ± 0.18 18.98 ± 0.19 19.14 ± 0.36 0.660 21.39 ± 0.33 16.62 ± 0.23 <0.001 20.80 ± 0.37 16.95 ± 0.67 <0.001
SFAsb, g 27.62 ± 0.26 27.63 ± 0.28 27.58 ± 0.51 0.920 32.24 ± 0.45 23.13 ± 0.30 <0.001 30.41 ± 0.71 23.81 ± 0.65 <0.001
C4:0, g 0.57 ± 0.01 0.58 ± 0.01 0.55 ± 0.02 0.090 0.66 ± 0.02 0.50 ± 0.01 <0.001 0.58 ± 0.02 0.50 ± 0.02 0.010
C6:0, g 0.32 ± 0.00 0.32 ± 0.01 0.31 ± 0.01 0.100 0.37 ± 0.01 0.28 ± 0.01 <0.001 0.33 ± 0.01 0.28 ± 0.01 0.001
C8:0, g 0.26 ± 0.00 0.26 ± 0.00 0.25 ± 0.01 0.100 0.29 ± 0.01 0.23 ± 0.01 <0.001 0.27 ± 0.01 0.23 ± 0.01 0.001
C10:0, g 0.50 ± 0.01 0.50 ± 0.01 0.47 ± 0.01 0.040 0.56 ± 0.01 0.44 ± 0.01 <0.001 0.51 ± 0.02 0.42 ± 0.02 <0.001
C12:0, g 0.81 ± 0.02 0.82 ± 0.02 0.81 ± 0.03 0.840 0.88 ± 0.02 0.75 ± 0.02 <0.001 0.84 ± 0.04 0.76 ± 0.05 0.001
C14:0, g 2.35 ± 0.03 2.36 ± 0.03 2.29 ± 0.06 0.210 2.74 ± 0.05 2.00 ± 0.04 <0.001 2.48 ± 0.08 2.03 ± 0.07 <0.001
C16:0, g 14.99 ± 0.13 14.99 ± 0.15 15.01 ± 0.26 0.940 17.58 ± 0.23 12.46 ± 0.16 <0.001 16.64 ± 0.38 12.84 ± 0.33 <0.001
C18:0, g 6.86 ± 0.07 6.84 ± 0.08 6.93 ± 0.13 0.530 8.04 ± 0.12 5.67 ± 0.07 <0.001 7.66 ± 0.19 5.95 ± 0.16 <0.001

aMean ± SD was detected by Student’s t-test.

bSFAs is the sum of C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0.

Total mfat, total monounsaturated fatty acids; total pfat, total polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Table 4 demonstrates the relationship between SFAs and their subtypes and hypertension. No significant correlation was found between SFAs and their subtypes and hypertension.

TABLE 4.

Univariate logistic regression results of the relationship between saturated fatty acids and their subtypes and hypertension.

Subgroups T-value P-value OR (95% CI)
SFAs
[–42.786, –4.638] (n = 1,806) Ref
[–4.638, –0.128] (n = 1,805) 0.91 0.37 1.12 (0.87, 1.44)
[–0.128, 4.571] (n = 1,805) 1.43 0.15 1.19 (0.94,1.50)
[4.571, 116.405] (n = 1,806) 0.87 0.38 1.11 (0.88, 1.41)
C4:0
[–1.565, –0.259] (n = 1,798) Ref
[–0.259, –0.077] (n = 1, 814) –1.43 0.16 0.86 (0.70, 1.06)
[–0.077, 0.15] (n = 1,806) –1.37 0.17 0.85 (0.68, 1.07)
[0.15, 7.977] (n = 1,804) –1.80 0.07 0.82 (0.66, 1.02)
C6:0
[–0.873, –0.145] (n = 1,803) Ref
[–0.145, –0.041] (n = 1,804) –1.38 0.17 0.87 (0.70, 1.06)
[–0.041, 0.086] (n = 1,805) –0.16 0.88 0.98 (0.76, 1.27)
[0.086, 4.301] (n = 1,810) –1.94 0.05 0.81 (0.65, 1.00)
C8:0
[–0.681, –0.106] (n = 1,796) Ref
[–0.106, –0.026] (n = 1,804) 0.61 0.55 1.07 (0.86, 1.34)
[–0.026, 0.074] (n = 1,821) 0.24 0.81 1.03 (0.81, 1.30)
[0.074, 3.4787] (n = 1,801) –0.38 0.71 0.96 (0.76, 1.20)
C10:0
[–1.291, –0.183] (n = 1,811) Ref
[–0.183, –0.035] (n = 1,800) 0.45 0.65 1.06 (0.83, 1.33)
[–0.035, 0.15] (n = 1,802) –0.28 0.78 0.96 (0.75, 1.24)
[0.15, 5.596] (n = 1,809) –1.19 0.24 0.87 (0.69, 1.10)
C12:0
[–1.916, –0.315] (n = 1,809) Ref
[–0.315, –0.103] (n = 1,797) 0.51 0.61 1.06 (0.84, 1.35)
[–0.103, 0.209] (n = 1,808) –0.34 0.74 0.96 (0.77, 1.20)
[0.209, 22.855] (n = 1,808) –0.44 0.66 0.96 (0.78, 1.17)
C14:0
[–5.382, –0.819] (n = 1,806) Ref
[–0.819, –0.2] (n = 1,805) –0.26 0.79 0.97 (0.78, 1.21)
[–0.2, 0.518] (n = 1,806) –0.18 0.86 0.98 (0.77, 1.25)
[0.518, 23.636] (n = 1,805) –1.20 0.23 0.87 (0.70, 1.09)
C16:0
[–22.230, –2.123] (n = 1,806) Ref
[–2.123, 0.161] (n = 1,806) 0.29 0.77 1.03 (0.82, 1.31)
[0.161, 2.444] (n = 1,804) 2.09 0.04 1.27 (1.01, 1.59)
[2.444, 46.1789] (n = 1,806) 1.25 0.21 1.17 (0.91, 1.49)
C18:0
[–10.703, –1.313] (n = 1,805)
[–1.313, –0.125] (n = 1,806) 2.54 0.01 1.34 (1.07, 1.67)
[–0.125, 1.073] (n = 1,804) 1.72 0.09 1.25 (0.97, 1.63)
[1.073, 17.2571] (n = 1,807) 2.43 0.02 1.35 (1.06, 1.71)

Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (gender, age, race, marital, ratio of family income to poverty levels, education level, BMI, smoking consumption status, alcohol consumption status, PA, protein, dietary fiber, total polyunsaturated fatty acids [total pfat]).

In Table 5, no association was found between the dietary intake of SFAs and their subtypes and hypertension by gender. In Table 5, dietary intake of SFAs and their subtypes were not found to be associated with hypertension in different age groups. Inter-quartile trend analysis indicated a linear relationship between the C18:0 and C4:0 quartile subgroups of dietary intake.

TABLE 5.

Weighted odds ratio sum (95% CI) of quartiles of hypertension and adjusted dietary saturated fatty acid intake: a cross-sectional study using NHANES 1999–2018 data (N = 7,222).

Subgroups Model Ia
Model IIb
Model IIIc
P-value OR (95% CI) P-value OR (95% CI) P-value OR (95% CI) P-trend d
SFAs
[–42.786, –4.638] (n = 1,806) Ref 0.172
[–4.638, –0.128] (n = 1,805) 0.91 0.91 (0.59, 1.41) 0.90 0.90 (0.58, 1.39) 0.88 0.88 (0.57, 1.36)
[–0.128, 4.571] (n = 1,805) 0.85 0.85 (0.47, 1.54) 0.85 0.85 (0.47, 1.55) 0.85 0.85 (0.47, 1.56)
[4.571, 116.405] (n = 1,806) 0.97 0.97 (0.46, 2.05) 0.97 0.97 (0.47, 2.01) 0.98 0.98 (0.47, 2.05)
C4:0
[–1.565, –0.259] (n = 1,798) Ref 0.046
[–0.259, –0.077] (n = 1,814) 0.73 0.73 (0.52, 1.02) 0.77 0.77 (0.55, 1.07) 0.77 0.77 (0.55, 1.07)
[–0.077, 0.15] (n = 1,806) 0.73 0.73 (0.50, 1.07) 0.76 0.76 (0.51, 1.12) 0.76 0.76 (0.51, 1.12)
[0.15, 7.977]
(n = 1,804)
0.84 0.84 (0.50, 1.42) 0.92 0.92 (0.53, 1.60) 0.91 0.91 (0.53, 1.58)
C6:0
[–0.873, –0.145] (n = 1,803) Ref 0.487
[–0.145, –0.041] (n = 1,804) 0.83 0.83 (0.53, 1.28) 0.83 0.83 (0.53, 1.31) 0.83 0.83 (0.53, 1.29)
[–0.041,0.086] (n = 1,805) 0.93 0.93 (0.54, 1.60) 0.94 0.94 (0.54, 1.64) 0.92 0.92 (0.53, 1.59)
[0.086, 4.301] (n = 1,810) 0.64 0.64 (0.33, 1.21) 0.62 0.62 (0.32, 1.21) 0.61 0.61 (0.32, 1.18)
C8:0
[–0.681, –0.106] (n = 1,796) Ref 0.169
[–0.106, –0.026] (n = 1,804) 1.25 1.25 (0.78, 2.01) 1.28 1.28 (0.78, 2.10) 1.28 1.28 (0.78, 2.08)
[–0.026, 0.074] (n = 1,821) 1.62 1.62 (0.86, 3.03) 1.76 1.76 (0.91, 3.44) 1.78 1.78 (0.92, 3.46)
[0.074, 3.4787] (n = 1,801) 1.91 1.91 (0.92, 3.96) 1.9 1.90 (0.90, 4.02) 1.93 1.93 (0.92, 4.08)

C10:0
[–1.291, –0.183] (n = 1,811) Ref 0.07
[–0.183, –0.035] (n = 1,800) 1.06 1.06 (0.63, 1.79) 1.03 1.03 (0.59, 1.79) 1.06 1.06 (0.61, 1.86)
[–0.035, 0.15] (n = 1,802) 0.85 0.85 (0.44, 1.65) 0.86 0.86 (0.43, 1.70) 0.90 0.90 (0.45, 1.80)
[0.15, 5.596] (n = 1,809) 0.75 0.75 (0.34, 1.65) 0.79 0.79 (0.34, 1.83) 0.84 0.84 (0.36, 1.96)
C12:0
[–1.916, –0.315] (n = 1,809) Ref 0.199
[–0.315, –0.103] (n = 1,797) 0.98 0.98 (0.69, 1.38) 0.94 0.94 (0.67, 1.33) 0.94 0.94 (0.67, 1.33)
[–0.103, 0.209] (n = 1,808) 0.79 0.79 (0.55, 1.15) 0.76 0.76 (0.53, 1.09) 0.76 0.76 (0.53, 1.10)
[0.209, 22.855] (n = 1,808) 0.79 0.79 (0.51, 1.23) 0.77 0.77 (0.49, 1.19) 0.76 0.76 (0.49, 1.19)
C14:0
[–5.382, –0.819] [n = 1,806) Ref 0.088
[–0.819, –0.2] (n = 1,805) 1.02 1.02 (0.69, 1.51) 0.96 0.96 (0.64, 1.43) 0.92 0.92 (0.61, 1.38)
[–0.2, 0.518] (n = 1,806) 1.17 1.17 (0.71, 1.92) 1.08 1.08 (0.64, 1.84) 0.99 0.99 (0.57, 1.71)
[0.518, 23.636] (n = 1,805) 1.09 1.09 (0.59, 2.03) 1.08 1.08 (0.55, 2.11) 0.96 0.96 (0.48, 1.93)
C16:0
[–22.230, –2.123] (n = 1,806) Ref 0.16
[–2.123, 0.161] (n = 1,806) 1.01 1.01 (0.73, 1.41) 0.92 0.92 (0.65, 1.29) 0.94 0.94 (0.66, 1.35)
[0.161, 2.444] (n = 1,804) 1.35 1.35 (0.83, 2.21) 1.25 1.25 (0.76, 2.06) 1.26 1.26 (0.75, 2.12)
[2.444, 46.1789] (n = 1,806) 1.36 1.36 (0.76, 2.42) 1.19 1.19 (0.66, 2.13) 1.20 1.20 (0.65, 2.22)
C18:0
[–10.703, –1.313] (n = 1,805) Ref 0.005
[–1.313, –0.125] (n = 1,806) 1.56 1.56 (1.15, 2.11) 1.52 1.52 (1.12, 2.07) 1.48 1.48 (1.08, 2.04)
[–0.125, 1.073] (n = 1,804) 1.33 1.33 (0.89, 1.97) 1.21 1.21 (0.81, 1.81) 1.17 1.17 (0.77, 1.78)
[1.073, 17.2571] (n = 1,807) 1.32 1.32 (0.85, 2.05) 1.14 1.14 (0.73, 1.79) 1.09 1.09 (0.68, 1.73)

aMultivariate logistic regression model adjusted for covariates (gender, age, race). bMultivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (gender, age, race, marital, ratio of family income to poverty levels, BMI, education levels, smoking consumption status, alcohol consumption status, PA). cMultivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (gender, age, race, marital, ratio of family income to poverty levels, education levels, BMI, smoking consumption status, alcohol consumption status, PA, protein, dietary fiber, total polyunsaturated fatty acids [total pfat]). dTest for trend based on the variable containing a median value for each quartile.

In Tables 6, 7, female dietary intake of SFAs, C14: 0, C16: 0, C18: 0 fourth quartile, C14: 0 third quartile (OR [95% CI]) was as follows: (0.57 [0.34, 0.95]), (0.57 [0.34, 0.95]), (0.57 [0.34, 0.95]), (0.57 [0.34, 0.95]), (0.57 [0.34,0.95]), and (0.57 [0.34, 0.95]).

TABLE 6.

Weighted OR (95% CI) for hypertension in quartiles of adjusted dietary saturated fatty acid intake stratified by gender in NHANES, 1999–2018.

Subgroup Male
(n = 3,778)
P-value OR (95% CI) Female
(n = 3,444)
P-value OR (95% CI)
SFAs
[–42.787, –5.854] (n = 945) Ref [–27.146, –3.582] (n = 861) Ref
[–5.854, –0.566] (n = 944) 0.91 0.91 (0.50, 1.66) [–3.582, 0.348] (n = 861) 1.10 1.10 (0.64, 1.92)
[–0.566, 4.796] (n = 944) 0.83 0.83 (0.37, 1.87) [0.348, 4.47] (n = 861) 1.04 1.04 (0.47, 2.30)
[4.796, 116.405] (n = 945) 0.77 0.77 (0.29, 2.04) [4.47, 49.052] (n = 861) 1.74 1.74 (0.61, 4.91)
C4:0
[–1.566, –0.328] (n = 948) Ref [–1.171, –0.195] (n = 865) Ref
[–0.328, –0.123] (n = 939) 0.85 0.85 (0.48, 1.49) [–0.195, –0.041] (n = 854) 0.69 0.69 (0.41, 1.16)
[–0.123, 0.142] (n = 946) 1.07 1.07 (0.57, 2.01) [–0.041, 0.157] (n = 864) 0.62 0.62 (0.32, 1.23)
[0.142, 7.978] (n = 945) 1.80 1.80 (0.77, 4.22) [0.157, 2.574] (n = 861) 0.69 0.69 (0.32, 1.48)
C6:0
[–0.874, –0.182] (n = 946) Ref [–0.647, –0.109] (n = 862) Ref
[–0.182, –0.065] (n = 951) 0.79 0.79 (0.45, 1.40) [–0.109, –0.021] (n = 863) 1.13 1.13 (0.66, 1.93)
[–0.065, 0.082] (n = 936) 0.74 0.74 (0.36, 1.52) [–0.021, 0.093] (n = 858) 1.55 1.55 (0.76, 3.16)
[0.082, 4.301] (n = 945) 0.52 0.52 (0.23, 1.19) [0.093, 1.424] (n = 861) 1.18 1.18 (0.50, 2.80)
C8:0
[–0.681, –0.134] (n = 941) Ref [–0.472, –0.077] (n = 859) Ref
[–0.134, –0.046] (n = 947) 1.14 1.14 (0.62, 2.10) [–0.077, –0.011] (n = 862) 1.33 1.33 (0.78, 2.28)
[–0.046, 0.065] (n = 947) 1.51 1.51 (0.67, 3.41) [–0.011, 0.081] (n = 859) 1.57 1.57 (0.67, 3.66)
[0.065, 3.478] (n = 943) 1.38 1.38 (0.61, 3.14) [0.081, 3.227] (n = 864) 1.04 1.04 (0.37, 2.91)
C10:0
[–1.291, –0.238] (n = 952) Ref [–0.896, –0.133] (n = 863) Ref
[–0.238, –0.07] (n = 938) 0.79 0.79 (0.41, 1.54) [–0.133, –0.007] (n = 857) 1.13 1.13 (0.62, 2.06)
[–0.07, 0.143] (n = 942) 0.59 0.59 (0.26, 1.35) [–0.007, 0.16] (n = 862) 0.89 0.89 (0.37, 2.12)
[0.143, 5.596] (n = 946) 0.62 0.62 (0.20, 1.91) [0.16, 3.288] (n = 862) 0.80 0.80 (0.30, 2.16)
C12:0
[–1.916, –0.394] (n = 945) Ref [–1.3798, –0.236] (n = 864) Ref
[–0.394, –0.163] (n = 945) 1.28 1.28 (0.76, 2.16) [–0.236, –0.055] (n = 861) 0.77 0.77 (0.47, 1.27)
[–0.163, 0.166] (n = 943) 0.81 0.81 (0.46, 1.42) [–0.055, 0.242] (n = 857) 0.62 0.62 (0.34, 1.13)
[0.166, 22.855] (n = 945) 1.30 1.30 (0.77, 2.20) [0.242, 20.7318] (n = 862) 0.69 0.69 (0.35, 1.35)
C14:0
[–5.382, –1.018] (n = 945) Ref [–4.3608, –0.638] (n = 861) Ref
[–1.018, –0.314] (n = 944) 1.10 1.10 (0.58, 2.08) [–0.638, –0.111] (n = 861) 0.90 0.90 (0.51, 1.61)
[–0.314, 0.497] (n = 944) 1.15 1.15 (0.51, 2.60) [–0.111, 0.529] (n = 862) 1.16 1.16 (0.54, 2.48)
[0.497, 23.636] (n = 945) 0.96 0.96 (0.37, 2.52) [0.529, 8.976] (n = 860) 1.06 1.06 (0.39, 2.88)
C16:0
[–22.230, –2.623] (n = 943) Ref [–14.070, –1.608] (n = 861) Ref
[–2.623, –0.01] (n = 946) 0.75 0.75 (0.48, 1.17) [–1.608, 0.306] (n = 861) 1.55 1.55 (0.96, 2.50)
[–0.01, 2.654] (n = 945) 1.07 1.07 (0.58, 1.96) [0.306, 2.267] (n = 861) 1.68 1.68 (0.88, 3.21)
[2.654, 46.178] (n = 944) 0.94 0.94 (0.43, 2.03) [2.267, 18.082] (n = 861) 1.40 1.40 (0.59, 3.32)
C18:0
[–10.703, –1.635] (n = 945) Ref [–7.027, –1.031] (n = 861) Ref
[–1.635, –0.217] (n = 944) 1.75 1.75 (1.11, 2.76) [–1.031, –0.057] (n = 861) 0.89 0.89 (0.59, 1.35)
[–0.217, 1.256] (n = 944) 1.19 1.19 (0.67, 2.12) [–0.057, 0.951] (n = 861) 0.97 0.97 (0.58, 1.64)
[1.256, 17.257] (n = 945) 1.10 1.10 (0.58, 2.10) [0.951, 12.788] (n = 861) 1.08 1.08 (0.57, 2.06)

Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (age, race, marital, ratio of family income to poverty levels, BMI, education levels, smoking consumption status, alcohol consumption status, PA, protein, dietary fiber, total polyunsaturated fatty acids [total pfat]).

TABLE 7.

Weighted OR (95% CI) for hypertension in quartiles of adjusted dietary saturated fatty acid intake stratified by age in NHANES, 1999–2018.

Subgroup Age in 20–44 years
(N = 4,840)
P-value OR (95% CI) Age in 45–64 years
(N = 1,697)
P-value OR (95% CI) Age in ≥ 65 years
(N = 685)
P-value OR (95% CI)
SFAs
[–42.787, –4.705] (n = 1210) Ref [–31.396, –4.784] (n = 424) Ref [–26.892, –4.136] (n = 172) Ref
[–4.705, –0.098] (n = 1209) 0.59 0.59 (0.32, 1.10) [–4.784, –0.246] (n = 425) 1.00 1.00 (0.52, 1.91) [–4.136, 0.008] (n = 171) 0.42 0.42 (0.11, 1.56)
[–0.098, 4.741] (n = 1211) 0.46 0.46 (0.20, 1.03) [–0.246, 4.207] (n = 424) 0.94 0.94 (0.37, 2.36) [0.008, 4.438] (n = 171) 0.64 0.64 (0.13, 3.10)
[4.741, 116.405] (n = 1210) 0.65 0.65 (0.26, 1.63) [4.207, 40.582] (n = 424) 1.32 1.32 (0.41, 4.18) [4.438, 34.101] (n = 171) 0.74 0.74 (0.10, 5.63)
C4:0
[–1.566, –0.259] (n = 1208) Ref [–1.242, –0.272] (n = 425) Ref [–1.070, –0.22] (n = 171) Ref
[–0.259, –0.071] (n = 1207) 0.71 0.71 (0.47, 1.07) [–0.272, –0.097] (n = 423) 0.76 0.76 (0.42, 1.38) [–0.22, –0.061] (n = 172) 0.57 0.57 (0.20, 1.61)
[–0.071, 0.157] (n = 1215) 0.66 0.66 (0.39, 1.12) [–0.097, 0.107] (n = 424) 0.98 0.98 (0.47, 2.03) [–0.061, 0.179] (n = 171) 0.39 0.39 (0.08, 1.80)
[0.157, 7.978] (n = 1210) 1.20 1.20 (0.60, 2.41) [0.107, 2.832] (n = 425) 0.81 0.81 (0.33, 2.01) [0.179, 1.730] (n = 171) 0.26 0.26 (0.04, 1.47)
C6:0
[–0.874, –0.146] (n = 1211) Ref [–0.669, –0.151] (n = 422) Ref [–0.622, –0.114] (n = 171) Ref
[–0.146, –0.04] (n = 1212) 0.60 0.60 (0.30, 1.17) [–0.151, –0.05] (n = 424) 0.91 0.91 (0.48, 1.71) (–0.114, –0.029] (n = 171) 3.49 3.49 (0.64, 19.01)
[–0.04, 0.088] (n = 1205) 0.77 0.77 (0.35, 1.68) [–0.05, 0.07] (n = 427) 0.77 0.77 (0.35, 1.70) [–0.029, 0.115] (n = 172) 3.13 3.13 (0.48, 20.30)
[0.088, 4.301] (n = 1212) 0.41 0.41 (0.17, 0.97) [0.07, 1.830] (n = 424) 0.81 0.81 (0.31, 2.09) [0.115, 1.042] (n = 171) 7.45 7.45 (0.78, 71.34)
C8:0
[–0.681, –0.108] (n = 1215) Ref [–0.545, –0.105] (n = 425) Ref [–0.472, –0.088] (n = 173) Ref
[–0.108, –0.024] (n = 1207) 1.58 1.58 (0.81, 3.12) [–0.105, –0.033] (n = 423) 0.76 0.76 (0.40, 1.47) [–0.088, –0.023] (n = 167) 1.14 1.14 (0.35, 3.74)
[–0.024, 0.077] (n = 1209) 2.33 2.33 (0.96, 5.66) [–0.033, 0.066] (n = 426) 1.09 1.09 (0.48, 2.46) [–0.023, 0.085] (n = 175) 2.61 2.61 (0.66, 10.40)
[0.077, 3.325] (n = 1209) 2.18 2.18 (0.86,5.53) [0.066, 3.478] (n = 423) 0.97 0.97 (0.32, 2.90) [0.085, 1.82] (n = 170) 1.78 1.78 (0.37, 8.55)
C10:0
[–1.291, –0.186] (n = 1214) Ref [–0.948, –0.188] (n = 425) Ref [–0.8966, –0.153] (n = 171) Ref
[–0.186, –0.031] (n = 1210) 1.02 1.02 (0.52, 2.00) [–0.188, –0.047] (n = 423) 1.70 1.70 (0.86, 3.39) [–0.153, –0.034] (n = 173) 0.68 0.68 (0.13, 3.61)
[–0.031, 0.158] (n = 1205) 0.91 0.91 (0.38, 2.21) [–0.047, 0.129] (n = 424) 1.59 1.59 (0.61, 4.13) [–0.034, 0.159] (n = 169) 0.29 0.29 (0.05, 1.66)
[0.158, 5.596] (n = 1211) 0.98 0.98 (0.34, 2.89) [0.129, 2.529] (n = 425) 1.26 1.26 (0.35, 4.56) [0.159, 1.979] (n = 172) 0.15 0.15 (0.02, 1.17)
C12:0
[–1.916, –0.325] (n = 1208) Ref [–1.564, –0.314] (n = 425) Ref [–1.379, –0.257] (n = 172) Ref
[–0.325, –0.105] (n = 1209) 1.28 1.28 (0.83, 1.96) [–0.314, –0.106] (n = 424) 0.70 0.70 (0.41, 1.22) [–0.257, –0.088] (n = 169) 0.81 0.81 (0.36, 1.84)
[–0.105, 0.209] (n = 1211) 0.89 0.89 (0.56, 1.40) [–0.106, 0.224] (n = 422) 0.71 0.71 (0.39, 1.28) [–0.088, 0.183] (n = 173) 0.57 0.57 (0.25, 1.34)
[0.209, 20.731] (n = 1212) 1.00 1.00 (0.61, 1.65) [0.224, 22.855] (n = 426) 0.56 0.56 (0.28, 1.13) [0.183, 9.856] (n = 171) 2.01 2.01 (0.74, 5.45)
C14:0
[–5.382, –0.811] (n = 1211) Ref [–4.442, –0.853] (n = 425) Ref [–4.360, –0.739] (n = 172) Ref
[–0.811, –0.175] (n = 1210) 0.88 0.88 (0.52, 1.51) [–0.853, –0.262] (n = 424) 1.24 1.24 (0.64, 2.39) [–0.739, –0.235] (n = 170) 1.03 1.03 (0.37, 2.85)
[–0.175, 0.549] (n = 1209) 0.99 0.99 (0.46, 2.10) [–0.262, 0.415] (n = 424) 1.24 1.24 (0.49, 3.13) [–0.235, 0.517] (n = 171) 2.35 2.35 (0.58, 9.57)
[0.549, 23.636] (n = 1210) 0.85 0.85 (0.31, 2.31) [0.415, 7.308] (n = 424) 1.21 1.21 (0.35, 4.15) [0.517, 5.731] (n = 172) 1.51 1.51 (0.29, 7.82)
C16:0
[–22.230, –2.132] (n = 1210) Ref [–16.503, –2.206] (n = 425) Ref [–13.304, –1.8] (n = 171) Ref
[–2.132, 0.177] (n = 1210) 1.26 1.26 (0.75, 2.10) [–2.206, 0.108] (n = 423) 0.67 0.67 (0.38, 1.18) [–1.8, 0.13] (n = 171) 1.81 1.81 (0.68, 4.85)
[0.177, 2.542] (n = 1210) 2.51 2.51 (1.31, 4.80) [0.108, 2.27] (n = 425) 0.94 0.94 (0.41, 2.14) [0.13, 2.235] (n = 171) 0.95 0.95 (0.28, 3.30)
[2.542, 46.178] (n = 1210) 2.18 2.18 (0.94, 5.02) [2.27, 18.574] (n = 424) 0.64 0.64 (0.24, 1.70) [2.235, 17.061] (n = 172) 0.32 0.32 (0.07, 1.50)
C18:0
[–10.703, –1.349] (n = 1210) Ref [–8.652, –1.343] (n = 424) Ref [–6.807, –1.021] (n = 172) Ref
[–1.349, –0.144] (n = 1209) 1.32 1.32 (0.87, 2.01) [–1.343, –0.114] (n = 424) 2.17 2.17 (1.23, 3.83) [–1.021, –0.049] (n = 170) 1.37 1.37 (0.60, 3.13)
[–0.144, 1.063] (n = 1211) 1.01 1.01 (0.58, 1.74) [–0.114, 1.098] (n = 424) 1.61 1.61 (0.79, 3.30) [–0.049, 1.086] (n = 171) 1.16 1.16 (0.42, 3.20)
[1.063, 17.257] (n = 1210) 0.86 0.86 (0.47, 1.59) [1.098, 9.350] (n = 425) 1.59 1.59 (0.74, 3.41) [1.086, 9.016] (n = 172) 1.87 1.87 (0.57, 6.18)

Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (gender, race, marital, ratio of family income to poverty levels, BMI, education levels, smoking consumption status, alcohol consumption status, PA, protein, dietary fiber, total polyunsaturated fatty acids [total pfat]).

In Tables 8, 9, among (45–64, years) respondents, the (OR [95% CI]) of the second quartile of C6:0 and C14:0 were (1.67 [1.00, 2.78]) and (1.77 [1.05, 3.00]), respectively. Among (≥65, years) respondents with dietary intake of SFAs, the (OR [95% CI]) of the C4:0, C14:0, C16:0 fourth quartile, and C12:0 third quartile were (0.42 [0.21, 0.86]), (0.46 [0.22, 0.95]), (0.39 [0.18, 0.85]), (0.38 [0.17, 0.84]), and (0.45 [0.20, 0.99]), respectively.

TABLE 8.

OR (95% CI) for hypertension in quartiles of adjusted intake of dietary saturated fatty acids and their subtypes interacted with sex in NHANES, 1999–2018.

Subgroups Pvalue OR (95% CI)
(SFAs) [–42.786, –4.638]: Women Ref
(SFAs) [–4.638, –0.128]: Women 0.21 1.33 (0.85, 2.06)
(SFAs) [–0.128, 4.571]: Women 0.41 1.25 (0.73, 2.12)
(SFAs) [4.571, 116.405]: Women 0.01 2.07 (1.23, 3.49)
(C4:0) [–1.565, –0.259]: Women Ref
(C4:0) [–0.259, –0.077]: Women 0.16 1.42 (0.87, 2.31)
(C4:0) [–0.077, 0.15]: Women 0.20 1.37 (0.84, 2.24)
(C4:0) [0.15, 7.975]: Women 0.26 1.34 (0.81, 2.21)
(C6:0) [–0.873, –0.145]: Women Ref
(C6:0) [–0.145, –0.041]: Women 0.46 1.18 (0.76, 1.85)
(C6:0) [–0.041, 0.086]: Women 0.10 1.54 (0.92, 2.59)
(C6:0) [0.086, 4.301]: Women 0.25 1.34 (0.82, 2.20)
(C8:0) [–0.681, –0.106]: Women Ref
(C8:0) [–0.106, –0.026]: Women 0.94 1.02 (0.64, 1.63)
(C8:0) [–0.026, 0.074]: Women 0.23 1.37 (0.81, 2.31)
(C8:0) [0.074, 3.478]: Women 0.55 1.16 (0.71, 1.89)
(C10:0) [–1.291, –0.183]: Women Ref
(C10:0) [–0.183, –0.035]: Women 0.28 1.29 (0.81, 2.07)
(C10:0) [–0.035, 0.15]: Women 0.17 1.43 (0.86, 2.40)
(C10:0) [0.15, 5.596]: Women 0.32 1.27 (0.79, 2.02)
(C12:0) [–1.916, –0.315]: Women Ref
(C12:0) [–0.315, –0.103]: Women 0.79 1.07 (0.67, 1.71)
(C12:0) [–0.103, 0.209]: Women 0.46 1.21 (0.72, 2.04)
(C12:0) [0.209, 22.855]: Women 0.41 1.22 (0.76, 1.98)
(C14:0) [–5.382, –0.819]: Women Ref
(C14:0) [–0.819, –0.2]: Women 0.07 1.53 (0.97, 2.41)
(C14:0) [–0.2, 0.518]: Women 0.04 1.72 (1.04, 2.85)
(C14:0) [0.518, 23.636]: Women 0.04 1.73 (1.02, 2.95)
(C16:0) [–22.230, –2.123]: Women Ref
(C16:0) [–2.123, 0.161]: Women 0.32 1.27 (0.79, 2.06)
(C16:0) [0.161, 2.444]: Women 0.32 1.31 (0.76, 2.25)
(C16:0) [2.444, 46.178]: Women 0.01 1.94 (1.16, 3.24)
(C18:0) [–10.703, –1.313]: Women Ref
(C18:0) [–1.313, –0.125]: Women 0.33 0.78 (0.46, 1.30)
(C18:0) [–0.125, 1.073]: Women 0.24 1.38 (0.81, 2.37)
(C18:0) [1.073, 17.257]: Women 0.03 1.79 (1.06, 3.03)

Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (age, race, marital, ratio of family income to poverty levels, BMI, education levels, smoking consumption status, alcohol consumption status, PA, protein, dietary fiber, total polyunsaturated fatty acids [total pfat]).

TABLE 9.

OR (95% CI) for hypertension in quartiles of adjusted intake of dietary saturated fatty acids and their subtypes interacted with age in NHANES, 1999–2018.

Subgroups P-value OR (95% CI) Subgroups P-value OR (95% CI)
(SFAs) [–42.786, –4.638]: (45–64, years) Ref (SFAs) ([–42.786, –4.638]: (≥65, years) Ref
(SFAs) [–4.638, –0.128]: (45–64, years) 0.14 1.56 (0.86, 2.81) (SFAs) [–4.638, –0.128]: (≥65, years) 0.81 0.91 (0.41, 1.99)
(SFAs) [–0.128, 4.571]: (45–64, years) 0.26 1.38 (0.78, 2.42) (SFAs) [–0.128, 4.571]: (≥65, years) 0.74 0.88 (0.42, 1.88)
(SFAs) [4.571, 116.405]: (45–64, years) 0.98 0.99 (0.57, 1.73) (SFAs) [4.571, 116.405]: (≥65, years) 0.02 0.42 (0.21, 0.86)
(C4:0) [–1.565, –0.259]: (45–64, years) Ref (C4:0) [–1.565, –0.259]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C4:0) [–0.259, –0.077]: (45–64, years) 0.18 1.42 (0.85, 2.39) (C4:0) [–0.259, –0.077]: (≥65, years) 0.70 1.18 (0.52, 2.68)
(C4:0) [–0.077, 0.15]: (45–64, years) 0.15 1.51 (0.87, 2.62) (C4:0) [–0.077, 0.15]: (≥65, years) 0.88 0.94 (0.45, 1.99)
(C4:0) [0.15, 7.978]: (45–64, years) 0.70 0.91 (0.54, 1.51) (C4:0) [0.15, 7.978]: (≥65, years) 0.04 0.46 (0.22, 0.95)
(C6:0) [–0.873, –0.145]: (45–64, years) Ref (C6:0) [–0.873, –0.145]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C6:0) [–0.145, –0.041]: (45–64, years) 0.05 1.67 (1.00, 2.78) (C6:0) [–0.145, –0.041]: (≥65, years) 0.41 1.36 (0.65, 2.84)
(C6:0) [–0.041, 0.086]: (45–64, years) 0.45 1.23 (0.71, 2.13) (C6:0) [–0.041, 0.086]: (≥65, years) 0.13 0.53 (0.23, 1.20)
(C6:0) [0.086, 4.301]: (45–64, years) 0.76 1.08 (0.65, 1.79) (C6:0) [0.086, 4.301]: (≥65, years) 0.14 0.54 (0.24, 1.21)
(C8:0) [–0.681, –0.106]: (45–64, years) Ref (C8:0) [–0.681, –0.106]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C8:0) [–0.106, –0.026]: (45–64, years) 0.85 0.95 (0.56, 1.61) (C8:0) [–0.106, –0.026]: (≥65, years) 0.87 0.94 (0.43, 2.03)
(C8:0) [–0.026, 0.074]: (45–64, years) 0.78 0.92 (0.52, 1.63) (C8:0) [–0.026, 0.074]: (≥65, years) 0.40 0.71 (0.32, 1.59)
(C8:0) [0.074, 3.478]: (45–64, years) 0.34 0.79 (0.48, 1.29) (C8:0) [0.074, 3.478]: (≥65, years) 0.20 0.61 (0.29, 1.31)
(C10:0) [–1.291, –0.183]: (45–64, years) Ref (C10:0) [–1.291, –0.183]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C10:0) [–0.183, –0.035]: (45–64, years) 0.34 1.27 (0.78, 2.07) (C10:0) [–0.183, –0.035]: (≥65, years) 0.43 1.33 (0.65, 2.71)
(C10:0) [–0.035, 0.15]: (45–64, years) 0.53 1.20 (0.67, 2.13) (C10:0) [–0.035, 0.15]: (≥65, years) 0.37 0.71 (0.33, 1.53)
(C10:0) [0.15, 5.596]: (45–64, years) 0.69 0.90 (0.55, 1.50) (C10:0) [0.15, 5.596]: (≥65, years) 0.08 0.51 (0.24, 1.08)
(C12:0) [–1.916, –0.315]: (45–64, years) Ref (C12:0) [–1.916, –0.315]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C12:0) [–0.315, –0.103]: (45–64, years) 0.34 0.78 (0.47, 1.30) (C12:0) [–0.315, –0.103]: (≥65, years) 0.43 0.76 (0.38, 1.50)
(C12:0) [–0.103, 0.209]: (45–64, years) 0.85 1.06 (0.59, 1.90) (C12:0) [–0.103, 0.209]: (≥65, years) 0.05 0.45 (0.20, 0.99)
(C12:0) [0.209, 22.855]: (45–64, years) 0.15 0.69 (0.41, 1.15) (C12:0) [0.209, 22.855]: (≥65, years) 0.33 0.69 (0.33, 1.45)
(C14:0) [–5.382, –0.819]: (45–64, years) Ref (C14:0) [–5.382, –0.819]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C14:0) [–0.819, –0.2]: (45–64, years) 0.03 1.77 (1.05, 3.00) (C14:0) [–0.819, –0.2]: (≥65, years) 0.57 0.80 (0.37, 1.73)
(C14:0) [–0.2, 0.518]: (45–64, years) 0.28 1.39 (0.76, 2.52) (C14:0) [–0.2, 0.518]: (≥65, years) 0.44 0.72 (0.32, 1.65)
(C14:0) [0.518, 23.636]: (45–64, years) 0.69 1.11 (0.65, 1.92) (C14:0) [0.518, 23.636]: (≥65, years) 0.02 0.39 (0.18, 0.85)
(C16:0) [–22.230, –2.123]: (45–64, years) Ref (C16:0) [–22.230, –2.123]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C16:0) [–2.123, 0.161]: (45–64, years) 0.49 1.21 (0.71, 2.06) (C16:0) [–2.123, 0.161]: (≥65, years) 0.9 1.05 (0.47, 2.32)
(C16:0) [0.161, 2.444]: (45–64, years) 0.97 0.99 (0.58, 1.70) (C16:0) [0.161, 2.444]: (≥65, years) 0.38 0.69 (0.31, 1.57)
(C16:0) [2.444, 46.178]: (45–64, years) 0.44 0.80 (0.45, 1.42) (C16:0) [2.444, 46.178]: (≥65, years) 0.02 0.38 (0.17, 0.84)
(C18:0) [–10.703, –1.313]: (45–64, years) Ref (C18:0) [–10.703, –1.313]: (≥65, years) Ref
(C18:0) [–1.313, –0.125]: (45–64, years) 0.16 1.51 (0.84, 2.71) (C18:0) [–1.313, –0.125]: (≥65, years) 0.69 0.87 (0.43, 1.74)
(C18:0) [–0.125, 1.073]: (45–64, years) 0.57 1.19 (0.65, 2.17) (C18:0) [–0.125, 1.073]: (≥65, years) 0.30 0.68 (0.32, 1.43)
(C18:0) [1.073, 17.257]: (45–64, years) 0.57 1.19 (0.65, 2.18) (C18:0) [1.073, 17.257]: (≥65, years) 0.11 0.55 (0.26, 1.16)

Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates (gender, race, marital, ratio of family income to poverty levels, BMI, education levels, smoking consumption status, alcohol consumption status, PA, protein, dietary fiber, total polyunsaturated fatty acids [total pfat]).

Discussion

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SFAs and their subtypes and hypertension. The main findings were that there was no significant correlation between dietary intake of SFAs and their subtypes on hypertension in the logistic regression models (I, II, and III). Hypertension may be more likely to occur when the dietary intake of female respondents is in the fourth quartile of SFAs, the third and fourth quartiles of C14:0, the fourth quartile of C16:0, and the fourth quartile of C18:0. Hypertension may be more likely to occur when dietary intake in middle-aged adults (45–64, years) is in the second quartile of C6:0 and C14:0. Hypertension may be more likely to occur when dietary intake in older adults (≥65, years) is in the fourth quartile of SFAs, fourth quartile of C4:0, third and fourth quartiles of C12:0, fourth quartile of C14:0, and fourth quartile of C16:0.

The study found no significant association between dietary intake of fatty acids and their subtypes and hypertension in overall respondents, and the results of a community cohort study (23) and a meta-analysis (24) were similar to our results. Dietary intake of SFAs is considered a risk factor in the cardiovascular field, particularly high intakes of red meat and high-fat dairy products, which are the major sources of SFAs in the diet. The American Heart Association recommends and limits a daily intake of < 7% SFAs (8). However, some studies have found that intake of SFAs can lead to a lower risk of hypertension (25). Short- to medium-chain SFAs (C4:0–C10:0) were not significantly associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (26), and high intakes of long-chain fatty acids C14:0 and C16:0 were negatively associated with the risk of developing hypertension in older adults. Moreover, differences in chain length account for their differential effects on the risk of coronary heart disease (7), prompting further discussion of the effect of SFA subtypes on hypertension effects.

In female respondents, we found an interaction between SFAs, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0 and hypertension. When dietary intake was high, SFAs may be a risk factor for hypertension. The correlation between dietary intake of SFAs and their subtypes and hypertension has been less studied in previous studies. However, gender differences in hypertension are common in the cardiovascular field (11). A review reported that high levels of serum SFA were associated with hypertension in men but not in women; and the high prevalence of hypertension in older women was partly due to decreased ovarian estrogen production caused by elevated blood pressure after menopause (27). However, more evidence is needed to determine whether this result is associated with a dietary intake of SFAs. A previous prospective cohort study in women noted that C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, and C10:0 were not associated with the risk of developing coronary heart disease, but C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0 were associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (26). Moreover, the serum cholesterol elevating effect of dietary SFAs may be related to C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0 (28, 29), which is similar to our findings.

We found that age interacted with SFAs, C4:0, C6:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0. Age is considered an important influencing factor for hypertension. In the middle-aged population, dietary intake of C6:0 and C14:0 may be a risk factor for hypertension. SFAs were strongly associated with hypertension in the elderly, and total SFA, C4:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0 may be protective factors for hypertension. Our findings were consistent with those obtained by a study in Japan (7). That is, C12:0 increases the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, improving antioxidant activity (30). C12:0 improves vascular endothelial function and delays vascular aging, which is associated with impaired pressure-sensing reflex sensitivity and the development of hypertension (31). Reactive oxygen species contribute to the reduction of pressure reflex sensitivity (32, 33). Therefore, the observed association between SFAs and their isoforms and hypertension may be attributed to their antioxidant activity, which ultimately exhibits a protective effect. The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesteryl esters was positively associated with the 6-year incidence of hypertension in the ARIC study, but the mean age of the respondents was <65 years (23), which may indicate that age differences in distribution led to differences in results.

Considering that the underlying mechanisms were not examined in this study, the differences in the results might be due to several possible reasons: first, there may be internal mechanisms for SFAs and their subtypes, and differences in the confounding factors adjusted by regression analysis may lead to differences in the results. Second, SFA intake was measured by using the FFQ, a self-reporting-dependent tool that may lead to errors. Third, the possibility of reverse causation cannot be ruled out because of observational studies. Fourth, Neyman bias may exist during the NHANES survey. Fifth, only two measurements of dietary intake were averaged. Although diabetes and hyperlipidemia were excluded, long-term dietary habits and whether dietary habits changed after disease diagnosis could not be detected.

Conclusion

This study was based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the US population, and no significant effect of total SFAs was found in the total respondents. Female respondents may need to be aware that higher dietary intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0) may be a risk factor for hypertension. Dietary intake of SFAs, C4:0, C6:0, C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0 may be a protective factor for hypertension when higher in older adults. Women and elderly respondents in the United States should be cautious in their intake of SFAs to actively prevent the development of hypertension.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.

Author contributions

RG, YG, and JQ had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. RG and YG drafted the manuscript. QG, TLu, ZC, YL, KH, SX, RL, TLi, JX, and YC critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. RG contributed to the statistical analysis. ZZ obtained the funding. ZZ and YL supervised the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Longevity Group of Guilin Medical University and second, the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposomics and Entire Lifecycle Heath of Guilin Medical University. We also thank Zhang Jing (Shanghai Tongren Hospital) for his work on the NHANES database. His outstanding work, the nhanesR package and webpage, makes it easier for us to explore the NHANES database. We are grateful to the editor and reviewers for their careful work and thoughtful comments, which have significantly improved this article substantially.

Footnotes

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81960583), Guangxi Graduate Education Innovation Project (Grant/Award No. GYYK2021001), and the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Special Project (Grant No. Gui Ke AA22096026).

Conflict of interest

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.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References

  • 1.Pius ALB, Dewi I, Akhir Yani SH. Hypertension: a global health crisis. Ann Clin Hypertens. (2021) 5:8–11. 10.29328/journal.ach.1001027 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.World Health Organization. A Global Brief on Hypertension: silent Killer, Global Public Health Crisis: world Health Day 2013. Geneva: World Health Organization; (2013). [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Cuevas AG, Williams DR, Albert MA. Psychosocial factors and hypertension: a review of the literature. Cardiol Clin. (2017) 35:223–30. 10.1016/j.ccl.2016.12.004 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Cohen J. Health metrics. A controversial close-up of humanity’s health. Science. (2012) 338:1414–6. 10.1126/science.338.6113.1414 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2010. Lancet. (2012) 380: 2224–60. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Ni S, Zhong Z, Wei J, Zhou J, Cai L, Yang M, et al. Association between dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acid and prevalence of hypertension in U.S. Adults: a cross-sectional study using data from NHANES 2009–2016. Hypertens Res. (2022) 516:526. 10.1038/s41440-021-00849-1 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Nakamura H, Tsujiguchi H, Kambayashi Y, Hara A, Nakamura H. Relationship between saturated fatty acid intake and hypertension and oxidative stress. Nutrition. (2018) 61:8–15. 10.1016/j.nut.2018.10.020 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Lichtenstein AH. Diet and lifestyle recommendations revision 2006: a scientific statement from the American heart association nutrition committee. Circulation. (2006) 114:82. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.176158 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.United States Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th ed. Washington, DC: United States Department of Health and Human Services; (2010). [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Micha R, Mozaffarian D. Saturated fat and cardiometabolic risk factors, coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes: a fresh look at the evidence. Lipids. (2010) 45:893–905. 10.1007/s11745-010-3393-4 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Song JJ, Ma Z, Wang J, Chen LX, Zhong JC. Gender differences in hypertension. J Cardiovasc Transl Res. (2019) 13:47–54. 10.1007/s12265-019-09888-z [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Grynberg A. Hypertension prevention: from nutrients to (fortified) foods to dietary patterns. Focus on fatty acids. J Hum Hypertens. (2005) 19 Suppl 3:S25. 10.1038/sj.jhh.1001957 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Fain JA. NHANES. Diabetes Educ. (2017) 43:151. 10.1177/0145721717698651 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.CDC. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Atlanta, GA: CDC; (2022). [Google Scholar]
  • 15.CDC. Measuring Guides for the Dietary Recall Interview. Atlanta, GA: CDC; (2022). [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Montville JB, Ahuja J, Martin CL, Heendeniya KY, Omolewa-Tomobi G, Steinfeldt LC, et al. USDA food and nutrient database for dietary studies (FNDDS), 5.0. Procedia Food Sci. (2013) 2:99–112. 10.1016/j.profoo.2013.04.016 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Raper N, Perloff B, Ingwersen L, Steinfeldt L, Anand J. An overview of USDA’s dietary intake data system. J Food Compos. Anal. (2004) 17:545–55. 10.1016/j.jfca.2004.02.013 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.CDC. Health Tech/Blood Pressure Procedures Manual. Atlanta, GA: CDC; (2022). [Google Scholar]
  • 19.O’Shea PM, Griffin TP, Fitzgibbon M. Hypertension: the role of biochemistry in the diagnosis and management. Clin Chim Acta. (2017) 465:131–43. 10.1016/j.cca.2016.12.014 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, Cushman WC, Dennison-Himmelfarb C, Handler J, et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults. JAMA. (2014) 311:507–20. 10.1001/jama.2013.284427 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Vilar-Gomez E, Nephew LD, Vuppalanchi R, Gawrieh S, Mladenovic A, Pike F, et al. High-quality diet, physical activity, and college education are associated with low risk of NAFLD among the US population. Hepatology. (2022) 75:1491–506. 10.1002/hep.32207 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Kassambara A. Machine Learning Essentials: Practical Guide in R. Marseille: Bioinformatics R&D Scientist HalioDx; (2018). [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Zheng ZJ, Folsom AR, Ma J, Arnett DK, McGovern PG, Eckfeldt JH. Plasma fatty acid composition and 6-year incidence of hypertension in middle-aged adults: the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study. Am J Epidemiol. (1999) 150:492–500. 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a010038 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Geleijnse JM, Brouwer ID, Kromhout D. Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. (2014) 161:458–9. 10.7326/L14-5018-10 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Praagman J, Beulens JW, Alssema M, Zock PL, Wanders AJ, Sluijs I, et al. The association between dietary saturated fatty acids and ischemic heart disease depends on the type and source of fatty acid in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition–Netherlands cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. (2016) 103:356–65. 10.3945/ajcn.115.122671 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Hu FB, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, Alberto A, Colditz GA, Speizer FE, et al. Dietary saturated fats and their food sources in relation to the risk of coronary heart disease in women. Am J Clin Nutr. (1999) 70:1001–8. 10.1093/ajcn/70.6.1001 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.August P, Oparil S. Hypertension in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. (1999) 84:1862–6. 10.1210/jcem.84.6.5724 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Keys A, Anderson JT, Grande F. Serum cholesterol response to changes in the diet. Metabolism. (1965) 14:759–65. 10.1016/0026-0495(65)90002-8 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Hegsted DM, Mcgandy RB, Myers ML, Stare FJ. Quantitative effects of dietary fat on serum cholesterol in man. Am J Clin Nutr. (1965) 17:281–95. 10.1093/ajcn/17.5.281 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Milic VD, Stankov K, Injac R, Djordjevic A, Srdjenovic B, Govedarica B, et al. Activity of antioxidative enzymes in erythrocytes after a single dose administration of doxorubicin in rats pretreated with fullerenol C60(OH)24. Toxicol Mech Method. (2008) 19:24–8. 10.1080/01612840802203098 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Dauphinot V, Kossovsky MP, Gueyffier FO, Pichot V, Gosse P, Roche F, et al. Impaired baroreflex sensitivity and the risks of new-onset ambulatory hypertension, in an elderly population-based study. Int J Cardiol. (2013) 168:4010–4. 10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.06.080 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.De Queiroz TM, Monteiro MMO, Braga VA. Angiotensin-II-derived reactive oxygen species on baroreflex sensitivity during hypertension: new perspectives. Front Physiol. (2013) 4:105. 10.3389/fphys.2013.00105 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Rovere ML, Bersano C, Gnemmi M, Specchia G, Schwartz PJ. Exercise-induced increase in baroreflex sensitivity predicts improved prognosis after myocardial infarction. Circulation. (2002) 106:945–9. 10.1161/01.CIR.0000027565.12764.E1 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.


Articles from Frontiers in Nutrition are provided here courtesy of Frontiers Media SA

RESOURCES