The L-shaped association between superoxide dismutase levels and blood pressure in older Chinese adults: community-based, cross-sectional study

 BACKGROUND  As an antioxidant, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been found to be associated with hypertension.

 METHODS  The data were derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), a prospective cohort study in China. We explored the association between serum SOD and blood pressure (BP) using multivariable correction analysis in an older Chinese population.

 RESULTS  We observed a significantly gradual downward trend in the association between serum SOD levels and diastolic BP (DBP) in participants with lower serum SOD levels (< 58 IU/mL), while no associations were observed between serum SOD levels and DBP in participants with higher serum SOD levels (> 58 IU/mL). Similar results showed a significant gradual downward trend in associations between serum SOD levels and the risk of diastolic hypertension only at SOD < 58 IU/mL. Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that serum SOD was negatively correlated with DBP (Sβ = —0.088, P < 0.001) but not with SBP (Sβ = 0.013, P = 0.607). Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that serum SOD was independently associated with the risk of diastolic hypertension (OR = 0.984, 95% CI: 0.973−0.996, P = 0.010) but not with the risk of systolic hypertension (OR = 1.001, 95% CI: 0.990−1.012, P = 0.836)) after adjusting for relevant confounding factors. Serum SOD levels (< 58 IU/mL, > 58 IU/mL) were an effect modifier of the association between serum SOD and DBP (interaction P = 0.0038) or the risk of diastolic hypertension (interaction P = 0.0050).

 CONCLUSIONS  Our study indicated for the first time that there was an L-shaped association between serum SOD levels and the risk of diastolic hypertension in the older Chinese population.