Association between the oxidative balance score and risk of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes: A prospective UK biobank cohort study
Main finding · Composite DMCsResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 0.72 95% CI 0.60–0.87Authors' conclusion
A higher lifestyle-associated OBS is associated with a reduced risk of DMCs in patients with T2D, underscoring the potential benefits of maintaining oxidative balance in diabetes management.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with T2D free of diabetic microvascular complications at baseline, UK Biobank
- Participants
- 5,635 individuals
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower oxidative balance score (OBS) quartiles
- Outcome
- Diabetic microvascular complications (composite DMCs:
- DKD
- Neuropathy
- Retinopathy)
- Follow-up
- Median 11.5 years
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, Cox proportional hazards and mediation analyses
- UK Biobank
- Cox proportional hazards and mediation analyses
Main finding
Composite DMCs
Hazard ratio
0.72
95% CI 0.60–0.87
Higher OBS quartilesvs Lower OBS quartiles
HR 0.72 (95% CI 0.60–0.87)
As reported in the abstract
- DMC patients identified
- 1508
- Reduction in hazard of composite diabetic microvascular complications (DMCs) per one-unit OBS increase
- 1.9%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| DKD · median follow-up 11.5 years | 0.50 (0.39–0.64) | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
- Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) — Patients with DKD
- 873
- DKD — Reduction in hazard of DKD per one-unit OBS increase
- 4.3%
Neuropathy and retinopathy incidence · median follow-up 11.5 years
- Patients with neuropathy
- 317
- Patients with retinopathy
- 646
Mediation
- Biomarkers, including HbA1c and cystatin C, mediating the associations
- 7
Original publication
Association between the oxidative balance score and risk of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes: A prospective UK biobank cohort study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 18 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →