Lower Dietary Inflammatory Index Scores Are Associated with Lower Glycemic Index Scores among College Students

Abstract

The association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), the glycemic index (GI), and the glycemic load (GL) is not known, although it is known that carbohydrates are pro-inflammatory. We aimed to measure the association between the DII and both GI and GL among college students. In this cross-sectional study, 110 college students completed a 3-day food diary, which was used to calculate the DII, the GI, the GL, and the healthy eating index (HEI)-2010. Least square means and 95% confidence intervals of the GI, the GL, and the HEI-2010 were presented per DII tertile using generalized linear mixed models. Participants in tertile 1 of DII scores had lower GI and GL scores, but higher HEI-2010 scores than those in tertile 3. Pearson correlations showed that DII score was positively correlated with the GI score (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), but negatively correlated with the HEI-2010 (r = −0.56, p < 0.001). DII score was not correlated with GL score. Results from this study suggest that increased inflammatory potential of diet, as represented by higher DII scores, was associated with increased GI scores and lower quality of diet on the HEI-2010. Use of the DII suggests new directions for dietary approaches for preventing chronic diseases that moves beyond convention by decreasing systemic inflammation.

Do Nutritional Factors Interact with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain? A Systematic Review

“…According to the Healthy Eating Index-2010 and the Mediterranean diet score, which allow objectivation of overall diet quality [62], these plant-based diets are considered more healthful compared to an omnivorous diet. Additionally, according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) which was developed to measure the inflammatory potential of specific foods and dietary constituents [63], plant-based dietary patterns are classified as anti-inflammatory dietary patterns [64]. Therefore, more specifically, pain-relieving effects of vegetarian and vegan diets might result from their anti-inflammatory characteristics.…”

The association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and obesity indices in university students in Tehran

“…In the present study no association was observed between the DII and energy intake. In a study of 110 students, Kim et al, found no significant association between DII and energy intake (17). However, in the study conducted by Mazidi et al there was a positive correlation between DII and energy intake (25).…”

“…Also, a lower percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates and protein is associated with a higher DII score. In a study conducted by Kim et al on 110 students, no association was found between protein and carbohydrate intake and DII, but there was a direct relationship between fat intake and DII (17). Cora et al conducted a study on 599 participants with a mean age of 20 years, and the results demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between energy, carbohydrate and protein intake and DII, but it no was not correlated with total fat intake (7).…”

“…Kim et al (2018) conducted a study of 110 students to investigate the association between DII and glycemic index, and they found that there was no significant relationship between DII and weight, BMI, waist circumference and fat percentage (17). Also, Camargo et al (2017) conducted a study on 90 overweight men and women with sedentary lifestyle, aimed to investigate the association between DII and heart risk factors, and the results indicated that there was no significant association between DII and weight, waist circumference, BMI, Obesity, overweight and body fat percentage (30).…”

“…Another prospective study also found a direct relationship between DII and weight, BMI, waist-to-hip circumference, and fat percentage (16). However, in another study of college students, no significant relationship was found between DII and the above items (17).…”