The inflammatory food index and its association with weight gain and incidence of diabetes

Diet plays a central role in regulating inflammation and is closely related to the development of chronic diseases. Researchers in Brazil have developed an inflammatory food index (IFI) based on the relationship of food items with biomarkers of inflammation to evaluate its association with weight gain and type 2 diabetes.
A sample of 9,909 participants of the ELSA-Brasil study was analysed. Standardized measurements including interviews, anthropometry, and laboratory exams were performed at baseline and follow-up. A baseline food frequency questionnaire was used to derive IFI scores using reduced rank regression (RRR). The inflammatory pattern derived included 11 pro-inflammatory food groups: processed meat, red meat, pork, sugary soda, and hot dogs. The anti-inflammatory pattern included seven food groups: fruits, nuts, and wine. The IFI score, adjusted through logistic regression for multiple sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical covariates, including body mass index, predicted the development of a large weight gain (tertile 3 vs. 1: OR = 1.30; 95%CI 1.08-1.55). The score, adjusted for sociodemographic factors through proportional hazard models, predicted incident diabetes (tertile 3 vs. 1: HR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.04-1.52).
These findings support the hypothesis that subclinical inflammation caused by a pro-inflammatory food pattern, characterised mainly by greater ultra-processed food consumption, underlies weight gain and the development of type 2 diabetes.
Source: Bárbara P. Riboldi, Vivian C. Luft, Paula A. Bracco, et al. The inflammatory food index and its association with weight gain and incidence of diabetes: Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, Volume 32, Issue 3, 2022, Pages 675-683, ISSN 0939-4753, doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2021.12.022.