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

Mavil May C Cervo; David Scott; Markus J Seibel; Robert G Cumming; Vasi Naganathan; Fiona M Blyth; David G Le Couteur; David J Handelsman; Rosilene V Ribeiro; Louise M Waite; Nitin Shivappa; James R Hebert; Vasant Hirani

doi:10.1093/jn/nxz256

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

J Nutr. 2020 Feb 1;150(2):373-381. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxz256.

Authors

Mavil May C Cervo¹, David Scott^{1

2}, Markus J Seibel³, Robert G Cumming^{4

5

6

7}, Vasi Naganathan^{5

6}, Fiona M Blyth⁵, David G Le Couteur^{5

6

7

8}, David J Handelsman⁹, Rosilene V Ribeiro¹⁰, Louise M Waite⁵, Nitin Shivappa^{11

12

13}, James R Hebert^{11

12

13}, Vasant Hirani^{5

7

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
² Department of Medicine and Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Science, Melbourne Medical School-Western Campus, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia.
³ Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Education and Research on Aging, Concord Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Aging and Alzheimer's Institute, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Aging Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁸ ANZAC Research Institute and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁹ ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁰ School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹¹ Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
¹² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
¹³ Connecting Health Innovations LLC, Columbia, SC, USA.

PMID: 31665502
DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxz256

Abstract

Background: The relations between diet, chronic inflammation, and musculoskeletal health are unclear, especially among older men.

Objective: This study aimed to determine associations of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) with inflammatory biomarkers, musculoskeletal health, and falls risk in community-dwelling older men.

Methods: The cross-sectional analysis included 794 community-dwelling men, mean age 81.1 ± 4.5 y, who participated in the 5-y follow-up of the Concord Health and Aging in Men Project. Of these, 616 were seen again 3 y later for the longitudinal analysis. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) was calculated from a validated diet history questionnaire. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using DXA. Twenty-four inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed. Incident falls over 3 y were determined through telephone interviews every 4 mo. Multiple regression, linear mixed effects models, negative binomial regression, and mediation analysis were utilized in this study.

Results: A higher E-DII score (indicating a more proinflammatory diet) was associated with higher concentrations of IL-6 (β: 0.028 pg/mL; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.053), IL-7 (β: 0.020 pg/mL; 95% CI: 0.002, 0.037), and TNF-α (β: 0.027 pg/mL; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.051). A higher E-DII score was also associated with lower appendicular lean mass adjusted for BMI (ALMBMI) (β: -0.006 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.010, -0.001). For every unit increase in E-DII (range: -4.91 to +3.66 units), incident falls rates increased by 13% (incidence rate ratio: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.21) over 3 y. Mediation analysis showed that the association between E-DII and 3-y incident falls was influenced by the concentrations of IL-7 by 24%. There was no association between E-DII and BMD.

Conclusions: Consumption of a proinflammatory diet was associated with increased concentrations of IL-6, IL-7, and TNF-α; increased falls risk; and lower ALMBMI in community-dwelling older men. The association between incident falls and E-DII was partly mediated by concentrations of IL-7.

Keywords: bone mineral density; chronic inflammation; community-dwelling older men; dietary inflammatory index; falls; inflammatory biomarkers.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biomarkers / metabolism
Chronic Disease
Diet*
Humans
Inflammation / metabolism
Inflammation / physiopathology*
Male
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal System / metabolism
Musculoskeletal System / physiopathology*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

Biomarkers