Commentary: Joint and independent associations of dietary vitamin intake and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease subjects: a cross-sectional analysis

We, read with great interest the article titled “Joint and independent associations of dietary vitamin intake and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease subjects: a cross-sectional analysis” by Wang et al. (1). By leveraging NHANES data, the study provides valuable insights into the protective roles of vitamins B6, E, and multivitamin co-exposure against cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations. The authors should be commended for addressing a critical intersection of nutrition, renal disease, and cardiovascular health. While the authors have thoughtfully acknowledged limitations, we offer additional perspectives to contextualize the findings and guide future research.

First, although NHANES provides nationally representative U.S. data, extrapolation to non-U.S. populations may be limited by differences in dietary patterns, genetic predispositions, and healthcare practices. For instance, vitamin D synthesis varies by latitude and skin pigmentation (2), which could influence CKD outcomes. Furthermore, while the study adjusted for key covariates, unmeasured factors such as systemic inflammation (3), or gut microbiota composition (4) might confound the observed associations. Emerging evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis in CKD patients impairs vitamin K metabolism and exacerbates vascular calcification (5)—a pathway not explored here. Future studies should include biomarkers such as homocysteine or markers of oxidative stress, or dietary pattern analysis using the Mediterranean diet score to elucidate these interactions.

Second, the reliance on 24-h dietary recall introduces potential recall bias and may not reflect long-term intake. While the use of Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to model multivitamin interactions is innovative, The use of supplements such as over-the-counter multivitamins or CKD-specific formulations is excluded, which limits exposure assessment. Additionally, genetic polymorphisms affecting vitamin metabolism (6) might modulate the observed associations. Integrating genomic data or polygenic risk scores could identify subgroups benefiting most from vitamin interventions.

Third, CKD patients often use medications that alter vitamin absorption or metabolism. For example, statins may synergize with vitamin E to reduce oxidative stress (7), while phosphate binders could impair fat-soluble vitamin uptake (8). The study did not address these interactions, nor did it explore comorbidities like diabetes-related oxidative stress, which may exacerbate CVD risk independently of vitamin intake (9, 10). Future analyses incorporating medication histories and comorbidity stratification could refine clinical recommendations.

Fourth, the cross-sectional design precludes causal conclusions, as reverse causality remains plausible. Longitudinal studies tracking vitamin intake and CVD incidence in CKD cohorts would strengthen temporal inferences. Mendelian randomization could also mitigate confounding by leveraging genetic variants as instrumental variables for vitamin exposure. Additionally, sensitivity analyses using propensity score matching or machine learning approaches might enhance robustness.

Finally, this study underscores the need for personalized dietary strategies in CKD management. For instance, vitamin B6 and E intake thresholds may require adjustment based on CKD stage or dialysis status. Public health initiatives should prioritize targeted nutritional education for CKD patients, particularly those with limited healthcare access. Further research should evaluate whether current guidelines sufficiently address skeletal and cardiovascular risks in this population.

In conclusion, Wang et al. have made a significant contribution to understanding dietary vitamin roles in CKD-related CVD. Our suggestions aim to support future investigations into mechanistic pathways, genetic interactions, and real-world clinical applicability. Such efforts will ultimately inform integrated care strategies to improve outcomes in this high-risk population.

Statements

Summary

Keywords

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), cross-sectional analysis, commentary

Citation

Zezhi W, Huishu W, Xiangming L and Shaoting X (2025) Commentary: Joint and independent associations of dietary vitamin intake and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease subjects: a cross-sectional analysis. Front. Nutr. 12:1631331. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1631331

Received

20 May 2025

Accepted

30 June 2025

Published

14 July 2025

Volume

12 - 2025

Edited by

Wenjian Li, Xuzhou Medical University, China

Reviewed by

Israel Parra-Ortega, Federico Gómez Children's Hospital, Mexico

Updates

Check for updates

Copyright

© 2025 Zezhi, Huishu, Xiangming and Shaoting.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Xie Shaoting xiest1981@163.com

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.