Association between dietary flavonoid intakes and C-reactive protein levels: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan

Dietary intake and plasma isoflavones are inversely associated with inflammatory markers in breast cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study

The role of isoflavones in breast cancer, particularly their relationship with inflammatory markers, remains underexplored. We hypothesized that higher intakes of soy and isoflavones are inversely associated with inflammatory markers in breast cancer survivors. This cross-sectional study included 432 breast cancer survivors (mean age: 52 years). We assessed dietary soy and isoflavone intake and measured plasma concentrations of isoflavones, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), adiponectin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were used to obtain adjusted least squares means (LSmeans) and odds ratios (ORs) for individual or combined (if associated with soy intake) inflammatory markers. Participants with higher soy and isoflavone intakes had lower hsCRP and IL-6 concentrations and higher adiponectin concentrations. The LSmeans (95% confidence intervals, CIs) of the lowest and highest quintiles of soy food intake were 0.71 (0.49, 0.96) and 0.52 (0.33, 0.73) for hsCRP (mg/L), and 0.42 (-0.08, 0.91) and -0.02 (-0.50, 0.46) for the combined scores of hsCRP and adiponectin. The OR (95% CI) comparing extreme quintiles of isoflavone intake was 0.43 (0.20, 0.94) for elevated hsCRP. When plasma isoflavone concentrations were examined in relation to the combined scores of hsCRP and IL-6, the OR (95% CI) comparing the extreme quintiles was 0.32 (0.12, 0.91). Our results suggest that dietary soy and isoflavone intake, as well as plasma isoflavone concentrations, are inversely associated with inflammatory markers in breast cancer survivors. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand their clinical implications.

The mediating role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the dietary intake of flavonoids and the risk of albuminuria

Background: Prior experimental investigations have highlighted the beneficial effects of flavonoid consumption on renal function. However, a comprehensive evaluation of their impact on modulating albuminuria risk within population-based epidemiological studies is still limited. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the correlation between flavonoid intake and albuminuria risk, while also shedding light on the potential mediating influence of inflammation in this association. Methods: We utilized data from 29 940 participants spanning three cycles (2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2017-2018) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We employed rigorous analytical methods, encompassing logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and mediation analysis, to assess the link between dietary flavonoid intake and albuminuria risk. Results: Our findings reveal consistent negative associations between total flavonoids and specific subclasses, including flavonols, flavones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanidins, and catechins, and the risk of albuminuria. Specifically, after adjusting for confounding factors, each logarithmic unit increase in these flavonoid categories was associated with a decrease in albuminuria risk ranging from 3% to 12%. The mediating proportion of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the relationships between the intake of total flavonoids, flavonols, flavones, catechins, and flavan-3-ols and albuminuria risk was 7.3%, 5.6%, 2.3%, 7.7%, and 4.6%, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicate that increased consumption of flavonoid-rich foods contributes to a reduced risk of albuminuria.

C-Reactive Protein: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, False Test Results and a Novel Diagnostic Algorithm for Clinicians

The current literature provides a body of evidence on C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and its potential role in inflammation. However, most pieces of evidence are sparse and controversial. This critical state-of-the-art monography provides all the crucial data on the potential biochemical properties of the protein, along with further evidence on its potential pathobiology, both for its pentameric and monomeric forms, including information for its ligands as well as the possible function of autoantibodies against the protein. Furthermore, the current evidence on its potential utility as a biomarker of various diseases is presented, of all cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, renal, gynecological, andrological, dental, oral, otorhinolaryngological, ophthalmological, dermatological, musculoskeletal, neurological, mental, splenic, thyroid conditions, as well as infections, autoimmune-supposed conditions and neoplasms, including other possible factors that have been linked with elevated concentrations of that protein. Moreover, data on molecular diagnostics on CRP are discussed, and possible etiologies of false test results are highlighted. Additionally, this review evaluates all current pieces of evidence on CRP and systemic inflammation, and highlights future goals. Finally, a novel diagnostic algorithm to carefully assess the CRP level for a precise diagnosis of a medical condition is illustrated.

Inflammatory biomarkers in overweight and obese Iranian women are associated with polyphenol intake

BACKGROUND

The evidence shows that obesity is associated with chronic inflammation in obese subjects. Polyphenols are a complex group of plant secondary metabolites that may play a role in reducing the risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases. Given the scarcity of evidence on the association between inflammatory markers and dietary polyphenols intake in overweight/obese Iranian women, the current study aims to investigate this link.

METHOD

The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 391 overweight and obese Iranian women aged 18-48 years (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2). A 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary intake, as well as anthropometric indices including weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) and biochemistry parameters including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (Chole), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), galactin-3 (Gal-3), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), interleukin-1 beta (IL_1β), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PA-I), serum leptin concentrations, and C-reactive protein of high sensitivity (hs-CRP) in all participants. The inflammatory markers were assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULT

The findings revealed a significant negative association between flavonoids intake and MCP-1 (P = 0.024), lignans intake and MCP-1 (P = 0.017), and Gal-3 (P = 0.032). These significant associations were observed between other polyphenols intake and IL_1β (P = 0.014). There was also a significant positive association between other polyphenol intake and TGF-β (P = 0.008) and between phenolic acid intake and TGF-β (P = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that a high polyphenol intake may help individuals to reduce systemic inflammation. Further large studies involving participants of different ages and genders are highly warranted.

The Role of Nutrition on Meta-inflammation: Insights and Potential Targets in Communicable and Chronic Disease Management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic low-grade inflammation may contribute to the onset and progression of communicable and chronic diseases. This review examined the effects and eventual mediation roles of different nutritional factors on inflammation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Potential nutritional compounds influencing inflammation processes include macro and micronutrients, bioactive molecules (polyphenols), specific food components, and culinary ingredients as well as standardized dietary patterns, eating habits, and chrononutrition features. Therefore, research in this field is still required, taking into account critical aspects of heterogeneity including type of population, minimum and maximum intakes and adverse effects, cooking methods, physiopathological status, and times of intervention. Moreover, the integrative analysis of traditional variables (age, sex, metabolic profile, clinical history, body phenotype, habitual dietary intake, physical activity levels, and lifestyle) together with individualized issues (genetic background, epigenetic signatures, microbiota composition, gene expression profiles, and metabolomic fingerprints) may contribute to the knowledge and prescription of more personalized treatments aimed to improving the precision medical management of inflammation as well as the design of anti-inflammatory diets in chronic and communicable diseases.