This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary flavonoid intake and the prevalence of obesity using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and percent body fat (%BF) according to sex among Korean adults. Based on the Korean Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2011, 23 118 adults in Korea were included. Dietary intakes were obtained using 24-h dietary recall data. A higher total intake of flavonoid was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity in women, based on %BF (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.82 [0.71-0.94]), and abdominal obesity (0.81 [0.71-0.92]). The intake of flavonols (0.88 [0.78-0.99]), flavanones (0.81 [0.72-0.92]), flavanols (0.85 [0.74-0.97]), isoflavones (0.85 [0.75-0.96]), and proanthocyanidins (0.81 [0.71-0.92]) was inversely associated with abdominal obesity, and a higher intake of flavanones (0.87 [0.76-0.99]) and proanthocyanidins (0.85 [0.75-0.98]) was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity, with respect to %BF in women. In contrast, the intake of flavonols (1.16 [1.02-1.33]), flavanones (1.18 [1.04-1.35]), and anthocyanidins (1.27 [1.11-1.46]) was positively associated with obesity based on BMI in men. In conclusion, high intake of dietary flavonoids may be associated with a decreased prevalence of abdominal obesity and obesity, based on %BF, among women. Novelty Higher flavonoid intake was associated with decreased prevalence of abdominal obesity and obesity based on %BF in Korean women. However, in men, the intake of flavonols, flavanones, and anthocyanidins was positively associated with obesity as given by BMI.
Keywords: abdominal obesity; body mass index (BMI); dietary flavonoids; flavonoïdes alimentaires; indice de masse corporelle (IMC); obesity; obésité; obésité abdominale; percent body fat; pourcentage de gras corporel; tour de taille; waist circumference.