Oxidative balance score and serum γ-glutamyltransferase level among Korean adults: a nationwide population-based study

Purpose: The oxidative balance score (OBS) comprises dietary and non-dietary lifestyle pro-oxidants and antioxidants. Elevated serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) level has currently emerged as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In this study, we examined whether OBS was inversely associated with serum GGT level and whether OBS could be a useful marker to predict GGT among Korean adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on data obtained from the 2010 and 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 2087 men and 2071 women were included in final analysis. The OBS was divided into five equal interval categories, and GGT was dichotomized into low and high using its sex-specific median value. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between OBS categories and high GGT. Results: Compared with the lowest OBS category as reference, the multivariable adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for the highest OBS category of men and women were 0.05 (0.01–0.19) and 0.27 (0.09–0.78), respectively (p for trend <0.01). Conclusion: A higher OBS that indicates a predominance of antioxidant over pro-oxidant exposure was strongly inversely associated with GGT level among Korean adults.