Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota is negatively associated with Hypertension

Background The relationship between the gut microbiota and hypertension has gained increasing attention. However, the associations between Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM), an indicator of microbiota diversity, and hypertension remain insufficiently explored. We hypothesized that a higher DI-GM score would be associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension. Methods We analyzed data from 20,283 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2016 cycle via weighted generalized linear models and smooth curve fitting to examine the association between DI-GM and hypertension. Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the role of the eGFR and waist circumference. Results After adjusting for confounding factors, a higher DI-GM score was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.92–0.97). Compared with individuals with a DI-GM score of 0–3, those with a score of ≥ 6 had a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.69–0.86). The mediation analysis indicated that eGFR and waist circumference accounted for 5.91% and 3.91%, respectively, of the association between DI-GM and hypertension. Conclusion A higher DI-GM score is associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension, which is partially mediated by the eGFR and waist circumference.