The effect of dietary micronutrient intake on abdominal aortic calcification: a study protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 15; no. 5; p. e096551
• Main Authors: Tsegay, Etsay Weldekidan, Hailu, Nigus Alemu, Mengesha, Meresa Berwo, Gufue, Zenawi Hagos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 23.05.2025; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aorta, Abdominal - pathology; Aortic Diseases; Calcification; Cardiovascular Disease; Cohort analysis; Coronary vessels; Cross-sectional studies; Diet; Drug Therapy; GERIATRIC MEDICINE; Humans; Information sources; Medical imaging; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Meta-analysis; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Micronutrients - administration & dosage; NUTRITION & DIETETICS; Nutrition research; Nutritional support; Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Potassium; Protocol; Research Design; Search strategies; Selenium; Systematic review; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Vascular Calcification - prevention & control; Vitamin C; Cardiovascular Disease; NUTRITION & DIETETICS; Drug Therapy; GERIATRIC MEDICINE; Nutritional support
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096551

IntroductionHealthy dietary choices have an important role in preventing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increasing evidence suggests micronutrient intake (essential minerals and vitamins) is associated with abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), which is an advanced marker of CVD. However, the existing reports seem inconsistent. Some studies reported micronutrients are associated with a lower risk of AAC, while others have reported an increased risk. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis sought to summarise the available evidence on the association of dietary micronutrient intake on AAC.Methods and analysisA comprehensive systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases from their inception up to September 1, 2024, will be conducted. All clinical studies that report eligible exposure/s (dietary micronutrient intake) and outcome/s (presence/severity of AAC) will be included, and this systematic review and meta-analysis protocol will be reported following the revised Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. The risk of bias for observational studies will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and publication bias will be evaluated through visual inspection of funnel plots and the Egger’s and Begg’s regression tests. The Der Simonian and Laird random-effects model meta-analysis will be calculated to provide pooled results, and the weighted risk ratio with their 95% confidence intervals will be presented.Ethics and disseminationThe results will be disseminated through publishing in a peer-reviewed journal and public presentations at relevant local, national and international conferences, workshops and symposiums. Ethical approval is not required as this is a systematic review of publicly available data.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42024575902