Abstract
Background: Transgender and gender-diverse individuals experience health inequities that may increase cardiometabolic risk. Gender-affirming hormone therapy has been associated with changes in body composition, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular risk markers. However, limited evidence is available regarding dietary habits and cardiovascular risk profiles in transgender populations in Latin America. Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors and cardioprotective food consumption among transgender adults receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy. Methods: A quantitative, observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted in transgender adults undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy in Mendoza, Argentina. Eighty-seven participants completed surveys regarding sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, nutritional counseling, and consumption of cardioprotective foods. We assessed anthropometric indicators and biochemical parameters related to cardiovascular risk. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation, the chi-square test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: A high prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors was identified, including overweight, sedentary behavior, smoking, and low intake of cardioprotective foods. More than half of the participants had never received nutritional counseling. No statistically significant differences were observed between transgender women and transgender men in the evaluated anthropometric and biochemical variables. Nevertheless, significant correlations were identified between body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and atherogenic lipid markers. Dietary quality showed limited associations with cardiovascular risk indicators, although higher dietary quality was positively associated with HDL cholesterol levels in transgender men. Conclusion: The study highlights the presence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors in transgender individuals receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy and emphasizes the importance of integrating nutritional assessment and cardiometabolic monitoring into comprehensive transgender healthcare. These findings support the need for inclusive nutritional interventions and longitudinal studies addressing cardiovascular health in transgender populations.