Associations of Dietary Intake With Cardiovascular Diseases, Blood Pressure, and Lipid Profile in the Korean Population: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies aimed to update the evidence regarding the association between dietary factors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related outcomes in the Korean population. Methods: In total, 151 studies were included: 62 from a previous study and 89 identified through an updated search in PubMed and Embase. A random-effects model was applied to analyze pooled relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the consumption of 19 food items, 5 macronutrients, 14 micronutrients, 18 dietary indices, and 2 dietary patterns. Results: Overall, higher fruit intake was associated with a lower risk of elevated blood pressure (BP)/hypertension (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65-0.84) and elevated/high triglycerides (TG) (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.95). Higher vegetable intake was associated with a lower risk of elevated/high TG (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97). Inverse associations were observed between higher milk and dairy consumption and elevated BP/hypertension (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.83-0.95), elevated/high TG (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76-0.89), and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75-0.89). Coffee consumption was inversely associated with the risk of CVD (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.95) and elevated/high TG (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.89). Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was positively associated with an increased risk of elevated BP/hypertension (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09-1.33) and elevated/high TG (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03-1.41). Conclusion: This study suggests that higher intake of fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy, and coffee may confer potential benefits for CVD and its associated risk factors, such as BP and lipid profiles. In contrast, sugar-sweetened beverages appear detrimental to cardiovascular health.