Association between Dietary Glycemic Index and Knee Osteoarthritis: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012

Abstract

BackgroundObesity and metabolic abnormalities are important risk factors for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Recent epidemiologic studies have found that a high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) diet are associated with a higher risk for metabolic complications and cardiovascular mortality. ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the association between dietary GI, dietary GL, and KOA among Korean adults. DesignThis was a cross-sectional study that analyzed data obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012. Participants/settingA total of 9,203 participants (5,275 women) aged ≥50 years were included. Main outcome measuresKOA was defined as the presence of radiographic features of Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥2. Chronic knee pain was defined as the presence of knee pain for more than 30 days during the past 3 months. Dietary information was collected using a single 24-hour recall method. Statistical analyses performedThe association between the quintiles of dietary GI and dietary GL and knee conditions was analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, physical activity, obesity, hypertension and diabetes, serum low-density lipoprotein, and total energy intake. ResultsAmong the women, the association between dietary GI and symptomatic KOA was: quintile 1: 1.00 (reference); quintile 2: 1.29 (95% CI 0.87 to 1.92); quintile 3: 1.59 (95% CI 1.11 to 2.28); quintile 4: 1.74 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.51); and quintile 5: 1.77 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.60) (P=0.001). Chronic knee pain without KOA was associated with dietary GI; however, this association was not linear across quintiles. There was no significant association between dietary GI and asymptomatic KOA. Among the men, no significant association was found between dietary GI and any knee conditions. There was no significant association between dietary GL and KOA in both men and women. ConclusionsThere was a significant positive association between dietary GI and symptomatic KOA in women.