Association between atherosclerosis risk and dietary inflammatory index: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a novel tool for quantifying the inflammatory potential of one's diet, has been extensively employed in various chronic disease research. However, there remains no consensus regarding the association between DII and atherosclerosis (AS). This study aims to systematically evaluate the correlation between DII and the occurrence and progression of AS, thereby providing valuable insights for the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

A comprehensive search was conducted in several databases, to identify observational studies investigating the correlation between DII and AS. The search was conducted from the inception of each database until October 1, 2024. Two independent researchers were responsible for the literature screening, quality assessment, and data extraction of the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software to synthesize the odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis was also conducted based on factors.

This study included a total of seven studies from three different countries, encompassing a sample size of 2879 participants. The meta-analysis findings revealed a significant association between higher DII scores and an increased risk of AS.

A diet characterized by a high DII score may elevate the risk of developing AS, particularly in terms of its impact on plaque vulnerability. Therefore, increasing the intake of anti-inflammatory dietary components holds significant implications for the prevention and management of AS.