Table_1_The association between vegetarian diet and varicose veins might be more prominent in men than in women.docx

BackgroundVaricose veins (VVs), a common vascular disease is associated with a huge medical burden. The prevalence in women surpasses that in men. The role of vegetarian diets in the pathogenesis of the disease remains inconclusive. In this study, we examined the risk of VVs in vegetarian and non-vegetarian men and women.
MethodsThe study involved 9905 adults whose data were obtained from Taiwan Biobank between 2008 and 2020. Information on VVs, sex, and vegetarian diets was obtained from participants’ self-responses to the Taiwan Biobank questionnaires.
ResultsThe study subjects consisted of 4,142 men and 5,763 women. About 12% of men and 35% of women had VVs. Study participants were predominantly non-vegetarians (91.84% were men and 88.24% were women). Women had a higher risk of VVs than men. The odds ratio (OR); 95% confidence interval (CI) was 3.414; 2.995–3.891. There was a significant interaction between sex and vegetarian diets (p = 0.0034). Women were at higher risk of VVs than men both in the vegetarian (OR = 1.877, 95% CI = 1.270–2.774) and non-vegetarian (OR = 3.674, 95% CI = 3.197–4.223) groups. Based on vegetarian diets, only vegetarian men had a higher risk of VVs (OR = 1.453, 95% CI = 1.069 to 1.976). Based on the sex-stratified model, the risk of VVs was significantly higher in vegetarian men (OR = 1.457, 95% CI = 1.072–1.979), and in vegetarian and non-vegetarian women with corresponding ORs (95% CI) of 3.101 (2.528–3.803) and 3.599 (3.140–4.124), respectively.
ConclusionWomen were more susceptible to varicose veins compared to men, regardless of diet. However, in terms of diet, only men who followed a vegetarian diet were at greater risk for developing VVs.

背景：静脉曲张（Varicose Veins, VVs）是一种常见血管疾病，伴随沉重的医疗负担。女性患病率高于男性，而素食饮食在该病发病机制中的作用尚未明确。本研究旨在探讨素食与非素食男女群体的静脉曲张患病风险。

方法：本研究纳入2008年至2020年间从台湾生物银行（Taiwan Biobank）获取数据的9905名成年人。静脉曲张、性别及素食饮食相关信息均来自参与者对台湾生物银行问卷的自行作答。

结果：本研究共纳入4142名男性与5763名女性受试者。其中约12%的男性与35%的女性患有静脉曲张。受试者以非素食者为主，其中男性非素食者占全部男性的91.84%，女性非素食者占全部女性的88.24%。女性静脉曲张患病风险显著高于男性，其比值比（odds ratio, OR）与95%置信区间（confidence interval, CI）为3.414；2.995–3.891。性别与素食饮食间存在显著交互作用（p=0.0034）。无论是素食组（OR=1.877, 95%CI=1.270–2.774）还是非素食组（OR=3.674, 95%CI=3.197–4.223），女性的静脉曲张患病风险均高于男性。按素食饮食分层分析，仅素食男性的静脉曲张患病风险更高（OR=1.453, 95%CI=1.069–1.976）。经性别分层模型分析，素食男性的静脉曲张患病风险显著升高（OR=1.457, 95%CI=1.072–1.979）；素食女性与非素食女性的患病风险分别为OR=3.101（2.528–3.803）与3.599（3.140–4.124）。

结论：无论饮食类型如何，女性均比男性更易罹患静脉曲张。但从饮食维度来看，仅坚持素食饮食的男性静脉曲张患病风险更高。