Mediation effect of body mass index on the association between spicy food intake and hyperuricemia in rural Chinese adults: the Henan Rural Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: The relationship of spicy food intake with hyperuricemia remains unknow. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between spicy food intake and hyperuricemia, and whether this association was mediated by body mass index (BMI) in Chinese rural population.Methods: A total of 38, 027 adults, aged 18–79 years, were from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. Information on spicy food intake was obtained using a validated questionnaire survey. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between spicy food intake and hyperuricemia, multiple linear regression model was performed to estimate the relationships between spicy food intake, BMI and serum urate level. BMI was used as a mediator to estimate the mediation effect. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with no spicy food flavor, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of mild, middle, and heavy flavor for hyperuricemia was 1.09 (1.00-1.19), 1.10 (0.97-1.24), and 1.21 (1.10-1.46), respectively (Ptrend=0.017). Similarly, compared with no spicy food intake, the adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1 or 2days/week, 3-5 days/week, and 6 or 7 days/week were 1.15 (1.01-1.31), 1.14 (1.01-1.30) and 1.15 (1.05-1.26), respectively (Ptrend=0.007). Associations were substantially attenuated after additional control for BMI. Furthermore, mediation analysis showed that BMI play a full mediating role in the relationship between spicy food intake and hyperuricemia.Conclusion: Spicy food flavor and intake frequency is positively related with hyperuricemia in Chinese rural population. BMI may play a full mediating role in the relationship.