Higher oxidative balance score lowers urinary incontinence prevalence

A recent study published in the International Urology and Nephrology has shed light on the relationship between oxidative stress and urinary incontinence (UI) in adult females. The study, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, aimed to assess the association between the oxidative balance score (OBS) and UI.

Urinary incontinence, a condition characterized by the involuntary leakage of urine, can significantly impact the quality of life for affected individuals. The study focused on oxidative stress, a state in which there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms. Oxidative stress has been implicated in various disease processes, including UI.

The study included 7,304 participants and utilized weighted multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analyses, and restricted cubic spline regression to analyze the association between OBS and UI. After adjusting for potential confounders, the results revealed a significant association between lower OBS and a higher likelihood of experiencing stress, urge, and mixed incontinence. Participants with lower OBS had decreased odds of experiencing UI.

Furthermore, lifestyle factors were found to strongly influence the prevalence and frequency of UI. The study highlighted the importance of dietary and lifestyle-related antioxidant therapy for females with UI. The findings suggest that interventions targeting oxidative stress through dietary modifications and lifestyle changes may have potential benefits in managing UI in women.

The results remained consistent across subgroup analyses, indicating that the association between OBS and UI was robust and not influenced by specific demographic or health-related factors. Interestingly, the prevalence of UI showed a nonlinear inverted U-shaped trend with increasing OBS and dietary OBS, suggesting that an optimal balance of oxidative stress is necessary for maintaining urinary continence.

Source:

Yuan, Y., Tan, W., Huang, Y., Huang, H., Li, Y., Gou, Y., Zeng, S., & Hu, Z. (2023). Association between oxidative balance score and urinary incontinence in females: results from the national health and nutrition examination survey in 2005–2018. In International Urology and Nephrology. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-023-03665-3