Proinflammatory Diet Increases Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers and Falls Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Men

Are Dietary Patterns Relevant for Reducing the Risk of Fractures and Sarcopenia?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to summarise recent evidence on the effects of dietary patterns on the risk of bone fractures and sarcopenia.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several dietary patterns have been investigated in relation to musculoskeletal health, including Mediterranean Dietary Patterns (MDP), Dietary Inflammatory Indices, vegetarian and vegan diets. Adherence to 'healthier' dietary patterns appears to be protective against fractures and sarcopenia, with the strongest protective associations found between the MDP and fractures. Individuals following vegan or vegetarian eating patterns need to be aware of calcium and vitamin D requirements to maintain musculoskeletal health. Although more healthy dietary patterns may be protective for musculoskeletal health the current evidence base is limited by variation in the construction of dietary pattern scores and reported outcome measures. Future research should fully report scoring methods, intakes of dietary components across scoring groups or categories, and consider outcome measures that allow for better comparison between studies.

Meta-analysis of the association between the dietary inflammatory index and risk of chronic kidney disease

To explore the relationship between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk, we obtained 6 studies (3 prospective studies and 3 cross-sectional studies) from PubMed, CBM, Cochrane Library, and Embase, as of March 6, 2023. Our results revealed a positive link between the CKD risk and rising DII that signified a pro-inflammatory diet. With medium heterogeneity (Overall RR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.22, 1.71; I2 = 64.7%, P = 0.015), individuals in the highest DII exposure category had a 44% greater overall risk of developing CKD than those in the lowest DII exposure category. According to risk estimations from cross-sectional studies, individuals in the highest DII exposure category had a 64% higher risk of developing CKD than those in the lowest DII exposure category, with significant heterogeneity (RR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.18, 2.29; I2 = 70.9%, P = 0.032). The risk estimates in cohort studies revealed individuals in the highest DII exposure category had a 28% higher risk of CKD than those in the lowest DII exposure category, with a low heterogeneity (RR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.14, 1.44; I2 = 17.2%, P = 0.015). Cross-sectional studies showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship between DII and CKD risk, while cohort studies indicated a linear dose-response relationship. Meta-regression results showed publication year, study design, and country had no significant correlation with the meta-analysis. The subgroup analysis results remained consistent. Results support the significance and importance of adopting a better anti-inflammatory diet in preventing CKD. These findings further confirm DII as a tool of the inflammatory potential of the diet to prevent and delay the onset and progression of CKD.

The Association between Dietary Inflammatory Patterns and the Incidence of Frailty and Its Reversal in Older Adults: A Community-Based Longitudinal Follow-Up Study in Taiwan

Dietary patterns related to inflammation have garnered great interest in disease prevention. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether a proinflammatory diet affects the incidence of frailty and its reversal in a prospective follow-up study. Data were taken from 5663 community-dwelling individuals ≥ 55 years old in Taiwan. The energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Patterns-Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (EDIP-HALT) at baseline were calculated using a food frequency questionnaire. Frailty was assessed with Fried's criteria in 2008-2013 and 2013-2020. Associations with changes in frailty status were assessed with multinominal logistic regressions and adjusted for major confounders. Higher EDIP-HALST scores (proinflammatory) were associated with higher odds of frailty among baseline robust participants in men (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.42-4.21, p-trend < 0.01) and broadline associated in women (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 0.96-3.98, p-trend = 0.05), but associated with lower odds of reversing back to robust among baseline prefrail participants. However, the later association was only observed in women, and the relationships were stronger in the middle tertile (second vs. first tertile, OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.25-0.65). A pro-inflammatory diet pattern was associated with higher odds of frailty onset in baseline robust participants and lower odds of reversal in baseline prefrail female participants.

Associations of dietary inflammatory index scores and serum inflammatory factors with the risk of osteoporosis: a cross-sectional study from Xinjiang, China

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that the inflammatory potential of the diet is associated with a variety of chronic noncommunicable diseases characterized by a chronic low-grade inflammatory response. However, the relationships between dietary inflammatory potential and organismal inflammatory status and osteoporosis have been less studied. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among inflammatory diet, inflammatory state and osteoporosis in the Xinjiang multiethnic population.

METHODS

The participants consisted of 4452 adults aged 35 to 74 years from Xinjiang, China. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) was calculated using dietary data collected with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and information about osteoporosis was derived from quantitative ultrasound measurements. The relationships of the DII score and inflammatory factors with the risk of osteoporosis were analysed using multivariate logistic regression, and the nonlinear associations between DII and osteoporosis were further analysed using restricted cubic splines.

RESULTS

The results showed that proinflammatory diets were associated with a greater risk of osteoporosis (T3 vs. T1: OR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.44, 2.45) and that there was no nonlinear relationship between the DII and the risk of osteoporosis. Increased concentrations of the inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17, and IL-23 were associated with a greater risk of osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of osteoporosis can be reduced by increasing the consumption of an appropriate anti-inflammatory diet.

The association of dietary antioxidants and the inflammatory potential of the diet with poor physical function and disability in older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project

Our objective was to evaluate the association of antioxidant intake and the inflammatory potential of the diet with functional decline in older men. A diet history questionnaire was used to collect dietary intake data from men aged ≥ 75 years (n 794) participating in the Concord Health and Aging in Men Project cohort study. Intake of vitamins A, C, E and Zn were compared with the Australian Nutrient Reference Values to determine adequacy. The Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DIITM) was used to assess the inflammatory potential of the diet. Physical performance data were collected via handgrip strength and walking speed tests, and activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) questionnaires, at baseline and 3-year follow-up (n 616). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between diet and incident poor physical function and disability. Both poor antioxidant intake and high E-DII scores at baseline were significantly associated with poor grip strength and ADL disability at 3-year follow-up. No significant associations with walking speed or IADL disability were observed. Individual micronutrient analysis revealed a significant association between the lowest two quartiles of vitamin C intake and poor grip strength. The lowest quartiles of intake for vitamins A, C, E and Zn were significantly associated with incident ADL disability. The study observed that poor antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food intake were associated with odds of developing disability and declining muscle strength in older men. Further interventional research is necessary to clarify the causality of these associations.

Empirically derived dietary patterns are associated with major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and congestive cardiac failure in older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project

BACKGROUND

Diet is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the associations between empirically derived dietary patterns and MACE.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, Sydney, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

539 community-dwelling older Australian men aged 75 years and older.

METHODS

Men underwent dietary assessment using a validated dietitian-administered diet history questionnaire. Cox regression analyses were conducted between MACE and the three dietary patterns identified from factor analysis. Five-point MACE comprised of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), congestive cardiac failure (CCF), coronary revascularisation, and/or ischaemic stroke. Four-point MACE included the four endpoints of MI, CCF, coronary revascularisation, and/or ischaemic stroke, and excluded all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

At a median of 5.3 (IQR 4.6-6.3) years of follow-up, the incidences were: five-point MACE 31.2% (n = 168); four-point MACE excluding all-cause mortality 17.8% (n = 96); all-cause mortality 20.1% (n = 111); CCF 11.3% (n = 61); MI 3.7% (n = 20); stroke 3.2% (n = 17); and coronary revascularisation 3.1% (n = 15). In fully adjusted analyses, compared to the bottom tertile, the middle tertile of 'vegetables-legumes-seafood' dietary pattern was associated with reduced five-point MACE (HR 0.67 [95% CI: 0.45, 0.99, P = .047]), and CCF (HR 0.31 [95% CI: 0.15, 0.65, P = .002]), whilst the middle tertile of 'wholegrains-milk-other fruits' dietary pattern was associated with increased five-point MACE (HR 1.78 [95% CI: 1.17, 2.70, P = .007]), four-point MACE (HR 1.92 [95% CI: 1.12, 3.30, P = .018]), and CCF (HR 2.33 [95% CI: 1.17, 4.65, P = .016]). For the 'discretionary-starchy vegetables-processed meats' dietary pattern, a higher score was associated with increased five-point MACE (HR 1.33 [95% CI: 1.09, 1.62, P = .004]), and all-cause mortality (HR 1.63 [95% CI: 1.26, 2.12, P < .001]), and compared to the bottom tertile, the top tertile was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 2.26 [95% CI: 1.27, 4.00, P = .005]).

CONCLUSION

Older men may benefit from consuming a 'vegetables-legumes-seafood' dietary pattern rather than 'discretionary-starchy vegetables-processed meats' and 'wholegrains-milk-other fruits' dietary patterns for the prevention of MACE.

The association between dietary inflammation index and bone mineral density: results from the United States National Health and nutrition examination surveys

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations of dietary inflammation index (DII) with bone density and osteoporosis in different femoral areas.

METHODS

The study population was selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with the exclusion criteria of age 18, pregnancy, or missing information on DII, femoral bone marrow density (BMD), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), or had diseases which may influence systemic inflammation. DII was calculated based on the questionnaire interview of dietary recall within 24 h. Subjects' baseline characteristics were collected. The associations between DII and different femoral areas were analyzed.

RESULTS

After applying exclusion criteria, 10,312 participants were included in the study. Significant differences among DII tertiles were found in BMD or T scores (p < .001) of the femoral neck, the trochanter, the intertrochanter, and the total femur. High DII was associated with low BMDs and T scores in all the femoral areas (all p < .01). Compared to low DII (tertile1, DII < 0.380 as reference), in the femoral neck, the intertrochanter, and the total femur, increased DII is independently associated with increased the possibility of the presence of osteoporosis (OR, 95% CI: 1.88, 1.11-3.20; 2.10, 1.05-4.20; 1.94, 1.02-3.69, respectively). However, this positive association was only observed in the trochanteric area of the non-Hispanic White population after full adjustment (OR, 95% CI: 3.22 (1.18, 8.79)). No significant difference in the association of DII and the presence of osteoporosis were found in subjects with or without impaired kidney function (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²).

CONCLUSION

High DII is independently related to declined femoral BMD of femoral areas.

The association of dietary inflammatory potential with skeletal muscle strength, mass, and sarcopenia: a meta-analysis

Aims

Evidence suggested that dietary inflammatory potential may be associated with age-related skeletal muscle decline, but the results remained controversial. To summarize the evidence for the relationships between dietary inflammatory potential and skeletal muscle strength, mass, and sarcopenia in adults we conducted this meta-analysis.

Methods

Embase, Pubmed, and Web of Science were searched from inception up to 12 March 2023 for studies that evaluated the associations of dietary inflammatory potential [estimated by the Dietary inflammatory index (DII)] with skeletal muscle strength, mass, and sarcopenia. A meta-analysis was then performed to calculate the pooled regression coefficient (β) and odds ratio (OR). The non-linear dose-response relation between DII and sarcopenia was assessed using random-effects dose-response meta-analysis.

Results

This meta-analysis included 24 studies involving 56,536 participants. It was found that high DII was associated with low skeletal muscle strength [OR 1.435, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.247-1.651, P < 0.001, I² = 4.97%]. There was a negative association of DII with skeletal muscle strength (β-0.031, 95% CI -0.056 to -0.006, P = 0.017, I² = 72.69%). High DII was also associated with low skeletal muscle mass (OR 1.106, 95% CI 1.058-1.157, P < 0.001, I² = 0%). DII had a negative relationship with skeletal muscle mass with high heterogeneity (β-0.099, 95% CI -0.145 to -0.053, P < 0.001, I² = 88.67%); we downgraded the inconsistency in the subgroup analysis of overweight/obese participants (β-0.042, 95% CI -0.065 to -0.019, I² = 12.54%). Finally, the pooled results suggested that high DII was significantly associated with sarcopenia with significant heterogeneity (OR 1.530, 95% CI 1.245-1.880, P < 0.001, I² = 69.46%); age and BMI may contribute partially to the heterogeneity since heterogeneity was decreased in the subgroup of older age (OR 1.939, 95% CI 1.232-3.051, I² = 0%) and the group of overweight/obesity (OR 1.853, 95% CI 1.398-2.456, I² = 0%). There was a non-linear dose-response association between DII and sarcopenia (P = 0.012 for non-linearity).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggested that higher dietary inflammatory potential was significantly associated with lower skeletal muscle strength, mass, and risk of sarcopenia. Future studies with consistent assessment and standardized methodology are needed for further analysis.

The Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Aging Biomarkers/Conditions: A Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

We performed a current study to examine the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) score and older age-related muscle conditions, including sarcopenia, low muscle mass, low muscle strength, frailty, and/or disability.

DESIGN

Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

SETTING

A systematic literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and ISI Web of Science without limitation until October 04, 2022. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled by applying a random-effects model, while validated methods examined assess quality and publication bias via Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, Egger's regression asymmetry, and Begg's rank correlation tests respectively. A dose-response meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the RRs per 1-unit increment in DII scores.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults (≥18 years).

MEASURES

The risk of older age-related muscle conditions (sarcopenia, low muscle mass, low muscle strength, frailty, and/or disability).

RESULTS

Data were available from 19 studies with 68079 participants. Results revealed that a higher DII score was significantly related to an increased risk of sarcopenia (RR=1.50; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.79; I2=53.3%; p<0.001; n=10; sample size =43097), low muscle strength (RR=1.47; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.74; I2=6.6%; p<0.001; n=4; sample size =9339), frailty (RR=1.61; 95% CI: 1.41, 1.84; I2=0.0%; p<0.001; study=5; participant=3882) and disability (RR=1.41; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.72; I2=58.4%; p=0.001; n=5; sample size =13760), but not low muscle mass (RR=1.24; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.56; I2=49.3%; p=0.069; n=4; sample size =11222). Additionally, results of the linear dose-response indicated that an increase of one point in the DII score was related to a 14% higher risk of sarcopenia, 6% higher risk of low muscle mass, 7% higher risk of low muscle strength, and a 7% higher risk of disability in adults. Non-linear dose-response relationships also revealed a positive linear association between the DII score and the risk of sarcopenia (Pnonlinearity = 0.097, Pdose-response<0.001), frailty (Pnonlinearity = 0.844, Pdose-response=0.010) and disability (Pnonlinearity = 0.596, Pdose-response=0.007).

CONCLUSION

Adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet was significantly associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia and other age-associated adverse effects such as low muscle strength, disability, and frailty. These results indicate a necessity to prioritize the reduction of pro-inflammatory diets to help promote overall older age-related muscle conditions.

Association between dietary inflammatory index score and muscle mass and strength in older adults: a study from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002

PURPOSE

Chronic low-grade systemic inflammation affects muscle protein metabolism. The dietary inflammatory index (DII®) is a tool designed to assess the inflammatory potential of the diet. The available data on the association between DII and sarcopenia are limited. We aimed to investigate the association of the DII with components of sarcopenia in individuals over 50 years of age.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 dataset. Body composition was measured, and isokinetic strength of the knee extensors (peak force) was evaluated. Low muscle mass and strength were defined using sex-specific thresholds. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII™) scores were calculated using 24-h dietary recall data. Regression models were fit to evaluate the association between E-DII scores and low muscle mass and low muscle strength, alone and combined.

RESULTS

Mean age of study participants was 62.1 ± 9.5 years, and 138 participants (7.4%) belonged to the combination group of low muscle mass and low muscle strength. In multivariable-adjusted regression models, higher E-DII score was associated with lower appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) (β =  - 0.03, P  < 0.001, P trend <0.001), and lower peak force (β =  -2.15, P  = 0.04, P trend = 0.01) and higher likelihood for these components combined (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.25, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Higher E-DII score is associated with lower muscle mass and muscle strength, and increased likelihood for the combination of low muscle mass and low muscle strength in older adults. This has important implications for healthy aging.

Dietary inflammatory index and osteoporosis: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2017-2018

PURPOSE

The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a scoring system to quantify the inflammatory effects of nutrients and foods. Inflammation may affect bone health. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of DII with bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis.

METHODS

This study involved 1023 women and 1080 men (age ≥ 50) in the US National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES), 2017-2018. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between DII and BMD. Association between DII and osteoporosis was tested with multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

In women, DII was negatively associated with total hip and femoral neck BMD after adjusting for covariates (P &lt; 0.05). In men, DII was negatively associated with lumbar spine BMD (P &lt; 0.05). DII was positively associated with osteoporosis in women (P &lt; 0.05). The odds ratios (ORs) (95% CI) for osteoporosis associated with DII quartiles 2, 3 and 4 vs. quartile 1 were 2.95 (1.08, 8.09), 5.63 (2.87, 11.04), and 6.14(2.55, 14.78), respectively. No significant association was observed in men.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher DII scores were associated with increase osteoporosis risk in women, while no association was found in men. Greater pro-inflammatory diets might be associated with lower BMD in both women and men.

Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index Is Associated With 5-Year All Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background

Diet management is a pivotal intervention for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Dietary inflammation index (DII) is developed to evaluate the integral inflammatory potential of a diet pattern. However, research about the association between DII and mortality in CKD is limited.

Objective

We conducted a cohort study to investigate the relationship between energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) and the 5-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in CKD population.

Materials and Methods

CKD participants with complete E-DII data and death status from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2014) were involved in this study. E-DII was calculated based on dietary recall interviews. Smooth curve fitting, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between E-DII and the 5-year all cause and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analysis was also performed.

Results

A total of 7,207 participants were included (55.46% elderly and 46.54% male) in this study. The 5-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 16.86 and 4.32%, respectively. Smooth curve fitting showed a “J” shape and near linear relationship between the E-DII score and the 5-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals [CI]) for the highest tertile of the E-DII were 1.33 (1.15, 1.54) for all-cause mortality, and 1.54 (1.15, 2.07) for cardiovascular mortality when compared with the lowest tertile of the E-DII. The subgroup analyses revealed relatively stronger associations between the E-DII and the mortality among CKD patients with other death risk factors.

Conclusions

Energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index is independently related with the 5-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among CKD patients. Therefore, anti-inflammatory diet patterns should be recommended for CKD patients.

Inflammatory potential of diet and bone mineral density in a senior Mediterranean population: a cross-sectional analysis of PREDIMED-Plus study

PURPOSE

Inflammation could play a key role in tissue damage and bone metabolism. The modified dietary inflammatory score (M-DIS) is a validated tool to estimate the inflammatory potential of the diet. In the present study, we evaluate the associations between the M-DIS and bone mineral density (BMD) in a senior Mediterranean population with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

Baseline cross-sectional association between the M-DIS and bone mineral density was assessed in 1134 participants of the multicenter PREDIMED-Plus trial (aged 55-75 with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome). BMD was measured using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry scans and participants answered a food frequency questionnaire to determine the M-DIS. BMD was categorized as low BMD when T score was equal or lower than -1 and normal BMD in another case. Associations between BMD and M-DIS were evaluated by using linear and logistic regressions adjusted by other co-variates.

RESULTS

Participants in the top tertile of the M-DIS had a lower BMD at total femur [β (95% CI) - 0.02 (- 0.04, - 0.01)], trochanter areas [β (95% CI) - 0.03 (- 0.05, - 0.01)] and lumbar spine area [β (95% CI) - 0.03 (- 0.07, 0.01)] (but in the last case, measures were less precise and hence not statistically significant) compared to those in the lower M-DIS tertile. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the odds of the total femur and femoral trochanter osteopenia/osteoporosis were higher in participants in the top tertile compared to those in the lowest tertile of M-DIS [OR (95% CI) 1.71 (1.12, 2.64), P for trend 0.015; 2.02 (1.29, 3.21), P for trend 0.002, respectively].

CONCLUSION

A high pro-inflammatory diet, measured by the M-DIS, is associated with lower BMD in a senior Mediterranean population with metabolic syndrome.

Dietary Inflammatory Index in relation to bone mineral density, osteoporosis risk and fracture risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Our systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that pro-inflammatory diets, as measured by higher Dietary Inflammatory Index scores, are significantly associated with lower BMD of lumbar spine and total hip as well as elevated risk of osteoporosis and fractures. These findings may contribute to the development of public health strategies.

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory Index (DII) is a method to assess the inflammatory potential of diets; it has been reported to be associated with several diseases. However, the relation between DII and bone health remains controversial for the inconsistent findings from previous studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to ascertain the underlying relationships between DII and bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis risk, and fracture risk.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science for all relevant epidemiological studies published up to May 1, 2020. Fixed-effects model or random-effects model was employed to pool the study-specific effect sizes (ESs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Eleven studies with a total of 127,769 participants were included. We found that continuous DII was negatively associated with BMD of lumbar spine (odds ratios [OR]: 0.990; 95% CI: 0.984, 0.995) and total hip (OR: 0.995; 95% CI: 0.990, 0.999), but not femoral neck (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.994, 1.002). Moreover, the highest category of DII displayed significantly associations to increased risk of osteoporosis (ES: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.48) and fractures (ES: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.59) compared with the lowest category of DII, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicated that diets with high pro-inflammatory components might increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures and lower BMD of lumbar spine and total hip. More prospective studies involving populations of diverse ages and genders are expected to further verify the universality of the results.