Association of data-driven dietary patterns with arterial stiffness: a cross-sectional study of 1155 Chinese adults

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Abstract

Current dietary patterns based on general consumption trends may not fully capture factors influencing arterial stiffness, a subclinical marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to identify data-driven dietary patterns and evaluate their associations with arterial stiffness in a population without known CVD. In this cross-sectional study of 1155 adults, food choices from a 16-item questionnaire were collected and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured as the arterial stiffness indicator. Multiple correspondence analysis followed by hierarchical clustering on principal components identified dietary patterns, and generalized linear models were used to assessed their associations with baPWV. Three dietary patterns were identified, mainly distinguished by whole grains, tubers, smoked foods, and salty foods. Compared with the Chinese-adapted Western diet (high smoked/salty foods intake), the Chinese-adapted Mediterranean diet (high whole grains/tubers intake, β = −0.30, 95% CI: −0.49 to −0.10) and conventional Chinese urban diet (low consumption of four key distinguishing components, β = −0.23, 95% CI: −0.40 to −0.07) were associated with lower baPWV. Despite complex dietary behaviors, simple food-choice data enabled identification of dietary patterns associated with arterial stiffness. However, given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as exploratory associations rather than causal effects.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the members for their contributions and the participants who contributed their data. This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2020YFC2008002)

Authors and Affiliations

1. College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

   Chen Chen, Yaxin Li & Weijun Chen

2. BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, China

   Chen Chen, Yaxin Li, Jianguo Zhang, Tao Li & Yutao Du

3. BGI Research, Chongqing, China

   Chen Chen

4. BGI Research, Shenzhen, China

   Hefu Zhen, Chao Nie & Tao Li

5. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China

   Xiaojie Hu

6. Clinical Medical College, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, China

   Yixin Chen

7. Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

   Bangwei Chen

8. Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

   Bangwei Chen

9. School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China

   Tao Li

10. School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China

    Yutao Du

Authors

1. Chen ChenView author publications

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2. Hefu ZhenView author publications

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3. Xiaojie HuView author publications

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4. Yaxin LiView author publications

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5. Yixin ChenView author publications

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6. Jianguo ZhangView author publications

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7. Weijun ChenView author publications

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8. Chao NieView author publications

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9. Bangwei ChenView author publications

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10. Tao LiView author publications

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11. Yutao DuView author publications

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Chen, C., Zhen, H., Hu, X. et al. Association of data-driven dietary patterns with arterial stiffness: a cross-sectional study of 1155 Chinese adults.
npj Aging (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41514-026-00486-3

• Received:26 May 2026

• Accepted:10 August 2026

• Published:17 August 2026

• DOI
  :https://doi.org/10.1038/s41514-026-00486-3