Energy-adjusted antioxidant micronutrient intake is correlated with HOMA-IR and anthropometric variables

Evidence suggests that the consumption of foods rich in antioxidant nutrients is capable of modulating oxidative stress and assisting in the prevention of chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to estimate the dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients among Brazilian adolescents and investigate correlations with anthropometric variables and the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). It is hypothesized that the dietary intake of antioxidant micronutrients among Brazilian adolescents is inversely associated with insulin resistance. A cross-sectional study was conducted with data from 37,023 adolescents who participated in the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (ERICA/Brazil). Spearman's correlation test was used to analyse the relation between HOMA-IR and energy-adjusted vitamins A, C, and E, zinc and selenium. Crude and adjusted analyzes were performed using linear regression. An inverse correlation was found between antioxidant vitamin and mineral intake and HOMA-IR among boys and girls with overweight and obesity in the different age groups (p < 0.05). In addition, low intake of the antioxidant micronutrients selenium and vitamin C were significantly associated with insulin resistance.