Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome represents a major health threat globally. The newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM), which quantifies dietary quality associated with gut microbiota diversity, may influence the risk of CKM syndrome. Therefore, this study examined the correlation between DI-GM and the prevalence of CKM syndrome, aiming to provide insights for preventive innovation and tailored treatment methods. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 8,400 adults aged 20 years and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. The potential association between the DI-GM score and CKM syndrome was evaluated using univariable and multivariable weighted logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and subgroup analyses. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 45.5 years, with 52.0% of the participants being male. A higher DI-GM score was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of CKM syndrome (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.92, p < 0.001). The RCS analysis further confirmed a linear relationship between DI-GM score and CKM syndrome (p for nonlinear = 0.194). Furthermore, subgroup analysis indicated that sex potentially influenced the association between DI-GM and CKM syndrome (p for interaction = 0.004), with the protective effect being more pronounced among U. S. females. CONCLUSION: DI-GM score exhibits an inverse correlation with the risk of CKM syndrome. Optimizing dietary patterns to improve DI-GM is associated with reduced risk of CKM syndrome.