Association between dietary intake, anthropometric indices, and diabetes-related foot ulcers in Type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Aims: This study explored the association of lifestyle factors and dietary status with foot ulcers and new anthropometric indices in individuals living with diabetes-related foot ulcers.

Methods: In this study, 339 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from the Diabetes Research Center of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences using a convenience sampling method. Dietary variables were assessed using questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recalls (one holiday and two working days). Body shape index (ABSI), Body Roundness Index (BRI), and Abdominal Volume Index (AVI) were calculated based on their formulas.

Results: People in the highest tertile of foot ulcer area had a higher calorie intake than those in the lowest tertile. In addition, protein and zinc intakes were significantly lower in the third tertile of the foot ulcer area than in the lowest tertile. In the ABSI index, in crude model, there is a borderline association of increasing this index in the third tertile compared to first tertile of lifestyle score, (OR:1.82, 95% CI; 0.99–3.33). There was no significant difference in the BRI and AVI indices between the third tertile compared to first tertile of lifestyle score (OR: 0.70, 95% CI; 0.24–2.08) and (OR: 0.91, 95% CI; 0.40–2.06).

Conclusion: The study found that the foot ulcer area was marginally related to energy intake. Protein and zinc intake had a significant inverse relationship with the foot ulcer area. However, no significant associations were found between lifestyle scores and new anthropometric indices.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40795-025-01145-8.