| Title: | Healthful Plant-Based Dietary Patterns Associated with Reduced Adverse Effects of Air Pollution on COPD: Findings from a Large Cohort Study |
| Journal: | Nutrients |
| Published: | 17 Mar 2025 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40292512/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061055 |
| URL: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/6/1055/pdf |
Publication 15582
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The potential of a plant-based diet (PD) to mitigate the adverse effects of long-term air pollution exposure on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains uncertain. This study aims to explore both the independent and synergistic impacts of air pollution components and PD on COPD risk.</p>
METHODS: Annual concentrations of air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and PM10), as well as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), were estimated using a land-use regression model. We calculated the plant-based diet index (PDI), healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI) by evaluating scores of 17 food categories. Cox regression was performed to evaluate their individual and combined effects on COPD risk.</p>
RESULTS: This prospective cohort study included 162,741 participants. Every standard deviation increase in PM2.5, NO2, and NOX exposure was associated with an increased risk of COPD, with an adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.049 (1.019, 1.079), 1.065 (1.034, 1.096), and 1.063 (1.035, 1.092), respectively. Compared with low-quality hPDI, moderate- and high-quality hPDI were associated with a lower risk of COPD with an adjusted HR (95% CI) of 0.884 (0.827, 0.946) and 0.758 (0.697, 0.825), respectively. For the combined effects, with the level of hPDI increasing, the joint effects of hPDI with PM2.5, NO2, and NOX showed a gradually increasing negative impact on COPD risk (p-interaction = 0.001, 0.005, and 0.005, respectively).</p>
CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to PM2.5, NO2, and NOx may elevate the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas adherence to a high-quality hPDI could potentially counteract this association. Future research should explore the underlying biological mechanisms, assess the long-term effects of diet, and evaluate the effectiveness of dietary modifications in diverse populations to inform targeted prevention policies.</p>
17 Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Air Pollutants
- Air Pollution
- Cohort Studies
- Diet, Healthy
- Diet, Vegetarian
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Nitrogen Oxides
- Particulate Matter
- Prospective Studies
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
- Risk Factors
7 Authors
- Tianrun Wang
- Chenyu Zhao
- Xiaoqi Fang
- Jia Zhao
- Wangzhe Chao
- Yacong Bo
- Liting Zhou
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 93398 | Investigating the risk factors of non-communicable chronic disease using biomarkers, lifestyle factors, and environmental factors |
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health