Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index Inversely Linked to Cervical Cancer Prevalence

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) is significantly inversely associated with cervical cancer (CC) prevalence, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics.

Maozhu Lang, from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, and colleagues conducted a population-based cross-sectional study involving participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003 to 2018) to examine the association between CDAI and CC. Dietary antioxidants were used to assess CDAI from a 24-hour recall.

The study included 1,044 participants: 174 with a history of CC and 870 matched controls. The researchers found that compared with those without CC, participants with CC were more likely to smoke, have obesity, and live alone. Each 1-unit increase in CDAI was associated with an 11.4 percent lower prevalence of CC in the fully adjusted weighted logistic regression model (odds ratio, 0.886). Participants in the highest versus the lowest CDAI tertile had a significantly lower prevalence of CC (odds ratio, 0.442). A linear inverse association was indicated between CDAI and prevalence of CC in a restricted cubic spline analysis. Among subgroups, the association between CDAI and CC was generally consistent, with no significant interactions observed.

“A linear inverse association was observed between CDAI and the prevalence of CC, and this association remained statistically significant after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and clinical covariates,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)