Empirical dietary inflammatory pattern and risk of metabolic syndrome and its components: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

Background: The rising incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health problem. The inflammatory potential of diet contributes to the development of MetS. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) and risk of MetS among the Tehranian population. Our hypothesis was that high EDIP would increase the risk of MetS and its components.

Methods: In this prospective study, 2216 adults were selected from among the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study participants. The usual dietary intakes were estimated using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical and anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and over 6.2 years of follow up. MetS components were defined according to the modified national Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. The inflammatory potential of diet was calculated using EDIP score; more positive scores means higher pro-inflammatory diet. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the occurrence of MetS and its components across quartiles of EDIP score.

Results: Mean ± SD for EDIP score was 0.61 ± 0.40 (range - 2.3 to 6.9). Participants with the highest EDIP scores, had a higher risk of MetS incidence compared to those with the lowest score (OR: 1.75, 95% CI 1.21-2.54, Ptrend  = 0.003). Among the MetS components, hyperglycemia, abdominal obesity, and low HDL-C had a significant positive association with EDIP score; (OR: 1.46, 95% CI 1.03-2.08, Ptrend  = 0.026), (OR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.03-1.97, Ptrend  = 0.046), and (OR: 1.57, 95% CI 1.34-2.19, Ptrend  = 0.015), respectively. No significant association was found between EDIP score, hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia.

Conclusion: Our finding indicated that higher intake of the pro-inflammatory diet may be an independent risk factor for the development of MetS, hyperglycemia, low HDL-C and abdominal obesity in Tehranian adults.