Anti-inflammatory Dietary Inflammatory Index scores are associated with healthier scores on other dietary indices

Abstract

Dietary components are important determinants of systemic inflammation; a risk factor for most chronic diseases. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was developed to assess dietary inflammatory potential. It was hypothesized that anti-inflammatory DII scores would be associated with ‘healthier’ scores on other dietary indices. The Energy Balance Study is an observational study focusing on energy intake and expenditure in young adults; only baseline data were used for this analysis (n=430). The DII, as well as the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Index (DASH) were calculated based on one to three 24-hour dietary recalls. General linear models were used to estimate least square means of the AHEI, HEI-2010, and DASH according to DII quartiles. Those with higher (i.e., more pro-inflammatory) DII scores were more likely to be males, have less than a completed college education, and be younger. Additionally, those with higher scores for cognitive restraint for eating or drive for thinness had lower (i.e., anti-inflammatory) DII scores. Linear regression analyses indicated that as the DII increased, the AHEI, HEI-2010, and DASH dietary indices decreased (i.e., became more unhealthy, all p<0.01). The DII is a novel tool that characterizes the inflammatory potential of diet and is grounded in the peer-reviewed literature on diet and inflammation. Findings from the Energy Balance Study indicate that the DII is associated with other dietary indices, but has the added advantage of specifically measuring dietary inflammatory potential, a risk factor for chronic disease.

Assessing inflammation in obese patients using DII dietary inflammatory index – A pilot cross sectional study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in the year 2017

“…With regards to the relation between DII and gender [45] showed higher score in females than males, this was partially due to the fact that males had higher absolute intake amounts of many anti-inflammatory components of the DII this supported the results in the present study in which females had slightly higher DII score than male, but those results did not achieve statistical significance. In contrast with our finding a study showed controversial results in which the DII score was higher in male [46]. The differences among gender were due to underreporting, in which men gave more details about there diet and more accurate portion size than women during the interview.…”

Intergenerational associations of dietary inflammatory index with birth outcomes and weight status at age 5 and 9: Results from the Lifeways cross‐generation cohort study

“…Specific nutrients also are considered to be anti‐inflammatory, such as fibre, folate and vitamins E and C . Our results are consistent with these findings; in addition, we also report an inverse association between parental E‐DII and HEI scores observed in previous studies …”

“…Specific nutrients also are considered to be anti-inflammatory, such as fibre, folate and vitamins E and C. 40 Our results are consistent with these findings; in addition, we also report an inverse association between parental E-DII and HEI scores observed in previous studies. 41 Limited data regarding maternal DII or its potential influence on offspring birth outcomes or childhood health exist. In our study, stress may underlie these findings.…”

Predictors of Retention Among African Americans in a Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Healthy Eating and Active Living in the Spirit (HEALS) Intervention

“…Variable selection began as a series of bivariate analyses (ie, exposure + potential covariate) where covariates with a P≤.20 were added to a "full" model. [25][26][27] The covariates that were entered into the first model (full model) were age, BMI, intervention group, distance to data collection site, partner status, depression symptoms, and employment status. Backward elimination procedures were used to develop "final" models that included all covariates that were statistically significant (P<.05) The Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) was also performed to assess the difference between models as variables were removed.…”