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The journal of nutrition, health & aging
Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging 7/2019

Open Access 01-07-2019 | Biomarkers

Associations between Dietary Inflammatory Index Scores and Inflammatory Biomarkers among Older Adults in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study

Authors: Janie Corley, N. Shivappa, J. R. Hébert, J. M. Starr, I. J. Deary

Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging | Issue 7/2019

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Abstract

Objectives

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a key underlying mechanism in several age-related chronic conditions and previous studies have shown that diet can modulate the inflammatory process. We investigated the ability of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), a summary measure of dietary inflammatory potential, to predict concentrations of plasma inflammatory markers in a sample of older people.

Design

Cross-sectional and 3-year follow-up analysis of Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936) study data.

Setting

Baseline data collection occurred between 2004 and 2007 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Participants: Men and women (n 928, age ∼70 at baseline) living in Edinburgh and surrounding regions who are surviving participants of the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947.

Measurements

Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores at age 70 (derived from a food-frequency questionnaire), plasma concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers at age 70 (C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen) and age 73 (CRP, fibrinogen, hs-CRP, Interleukin-6 (IL-6)). Analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, smoking, body mass index, physical activity, and hypercholesterolaemia.

Results

Higher E-DII scores (pro-inflammatory diet) were associated with increased odds of elevated CRP (>3mg/L) at age 70 (OR 1.12; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.24, P = 0.02), and elevated IL-6 (>1.6pg/ml) at age 73 (OR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.23, P = 0.04), but not with fibrinogen.

Conclusion

These results are consistent with the ability of the DII to predict inflammatory biomarker concentrations and suggest that diet plays a role in the regulation of inflammation, even after controlling for potential confounders. This validation study provides support for using the DII in research among older populations.
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Metadata
Title
Associations between Dietary Inflammatory Index Scores and Inflammatory Biomarkers among Older Adults in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 Study
Authors
Janie Corley
N. Shivappa
J. R. Hébert
J. M. Starr
I. J. Deary
Publication date
01-07-2019
Publisher
Springer Paris
Keyword
Biomarkers
Published in
The journal of nutrition, health & aging / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 1279-7707
Electronic ISSN: 1760-4788
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1221-y

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