Factors associated with the Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity of the Brazilian population

Abstract The aim is to assess whether socioeconomic and demographic conditions are associated with the Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity (DTAC) of the Brazilian population. Study conducted with 46,164 Brazilians, aged 10 or over, evaluated by the Household Budget Survey (Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares - POF 2017-2018). Food consumption was assessed through a 24-hour recall, with DTAC determined by calculating the sum of the antioxidant content of the intake of each food, taken from a database containing information on the DTAC value in mmol/100g of 3,100 foods. Multinomial logistic regression models were proposed to test the relationship between socioeconomic factors and DTAC. The median DTAC was 3.48 (0.62-24.55) mmol/1000 Kcal. Women, older individuals (adults and the elderly), and residents of rural areas and the Northeast, South, and Southeast regions of the country showed a higher intake of antioxidants. By contrast, individuals with higher educational and income levels presented lower DTAC values. The socioeconomic and demographic scenario was associated with the consumption of antioxidants, reinforcing the importance of identifying risk groups for inadequate nutrition in order to better guide the implementation of public policies and nutritional interventions.