The association between dietary inflammation scores and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases in Iranian adults

Abstract

Background Potential dietary inflammation can precursor chronic diseases such as hepatic disorders. We aimed to examine the association of empirical dietary inflammatory patterns (EDIP) and dietary inflammation scores (DIS) with the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) in Iranian adults. Methods This case–control study was conducted on 225 newly diagnosed NAFLD cases and 450 controls aged 20–60 years. The individuals’ dietary data were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The detection of NAFLD in subjects was done using the ultrasonography scan of the liver and confirmation of gastroenterologists. To calculate of EDIP score, the average daily intakes of each item (15 food items) were multiplied by the proposed weights, and then all the weighted values were summed. Also, to calculate the DIS score, each food item (18 food items) is multiplied by its specific weight to obtain the weighted values of each item. The weighted values were then standardized using the Z-score. Finally, the standardized weighted values of all the items were summed to get the overall DIS score for the individuals. Logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) of NAFLD across tertiles of EDIP and DIS. Results The mean (SD) age and BMI of the study population (53% male) were 38.1 (8.8) years and 26.8 (4.3) kg/m2, respectively. The median (IQR) of EDIP and DIS scores in individuals were 0.52 (0.34, 0.73), and 0.04 (− 0.55, 0.59), respectively. Based on the multivariable-adjusted model, after controlling for age, sex, physical activity, smoking, marital status, waist-to-hip ratio, and dietary energy intake, individuals in the second (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.07–3.76) and third tertiles of DIS (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.39–4.63) had a higher odds of NAFLD compared to the lowest tertile of DIS (Ptrend = 0.003). Also, in the final model, there is a significant direct association between EDIP score and odds of NAFLD [(OR T2 vs. T1 = 0.88, 95% CI 0.50–1.57) and (OR T3 vs. T1 = 1.82, 95% CI 1.02–3.23)], (Ptrend = 0.031). Conclusion Our results suggested that higher scores of EDIP and DIS, indicating the high inflammatory potential of dietary pattern, are associated with increased odds of NAFLD in Iranian adults.

Low-Grade Inflammation and Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption: A Review

“…They also found highly suggestive evidence for increased risk of cancer, in particular oral, respiratory, pancreatic and colorectal cancer, and all-cause mortality [ 28 ]. As for EDIP, several observational studies have associated a higher score with increased fasting blood sugar and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, as well as with an increased risk of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, heart failure and depression [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Dietary patterns in rural and metropolitan Australia: a cross-sectional study exploring dietary patterns, inflammation and association with cardiovascular disease risk factors

“…It is difficult to make comparisons with the wider literature using the DIS, as our study examined its cross-sectional association with measured risk factors at a single point in time rather than its longitudinal association with CVD risk factors or mortality, as has more commonly been analysed 21 31 32. Most studies that have examined the association of the DIS and mortality in cohort data have shown associations between a more inflammatory diet, and increased risk of mortality for CVD and cancers.…”

“…For everyone in the sample, the factor loading of each food group was multiplied by the mean consumption of each food group (in grams per day) to calculate factor scores for each dietary pattern. Adherence to dietary pattern was determined by splitting individual factor scores into quartiles, consistent with previous studies 20 30 31. For example, for a given dietary pattern, participants with a factor score in the top 25% were categorised as high adherers, whereas individuals with a factor score in the lowest 25% were categorised as low adherers 20 30 31.…”

“…Adherence to dietary pattern was determined by splitting individual factor scores into quartiles, consistent with previous studies 20 30 31. For example, for a given dietary pattern, participants with a factor score in the top 25% were categorised as high adherers, whereas individuals with a factor score in the lowest 25% were categorised as low adherers 20 30 31. The adherence of a participant to any given dietary pattern did not preclude the participant from being a high or low adherer to any other dietary pattern.…”

“…The validated DIS was developed by Byrd et al , using REGARDS data from >30 000 participants, and has been applied to multiple other studies exploring dietary data 21 31 32. To apply the DIS to the data in this study, food groups and supplements were categorised according to the DIS 19 groupings (consisting of 18 food groups and 1 multivitamin/mineral supplement group) 21.…”