# Association between dietary niacin intake and the odds of gallstones in US adults: A cross-sectional study in NHANES 2017–2020

## TL;DR

Higher dietary niacin intake is linked to a lower risk of gallstones in US adults, suggesting it may help prevent the condition.

## Contribution

This study identifies a significant inverse association between dietary niacin intake and gallstone risk in a large US adult population.

## Key findings

- Participants in the highest quartile of niacin intake had a 49% reduced risk of gallstones compared to the lowest quartile.
- A restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed the inverse relationship between niacin intake and gallstone risk.
- The findings suggest that increasing niacin-rich foods may help reduce gallstone formation.

## Abstract

To investigate the association between dietary niacin intake and the risk of gallstones in American adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to 2020.

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 8191 participants aged 18 years and older. Dietary niacin intake was assessed using two 24-h dietary recalls. The presence of gallstones was identified through a questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for gallstones across quartiles of niacin intake, adjusting for demographic and health-related covariates.

Participants with higher niacin intake showed a significantly lower risk of gallstones. After adjusting for a wide range of covariates, individuals in the highest quartile of niacin intake had a 49 % reduced risk of gallstones compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.51, 95 % CI: 0.34, 0.76).

Higher dietary niacin intake is associated with a reduced risk of gallstones in US adults. These findings suggest that increasing niacin intake could be a viable strategy for the prevention of gallstones. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results and explore the underlying mechanisms.

•Higher dietary niacin intake is linked to a lower risk of developing gallstones.•A restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed the inverse trend of niacin and gallstones.•Findings suggest that increasing niacin-rich foods may help reduce gallstone formation.

Higher dietary niacin intake is linked to a lower risk of developing gallstones.

A restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed the inverse trend of niacin and gallstones.

Findings suggest that increasing niacin-rich foods may help reduce gallstone formation.