Association between dietary inflammatory index and sarcopenia development in Polish population

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Inflammation Research

Background:

• Chronic low-grade inflammation, nutritional deficits, and physical inactivity are linked to skeletal muscle diseases like sarcopenia.
• Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss and weakness, significantly impacts older adults' health and mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and sarcopenia in older adults.
• To assess the inflammatory status and its correlation with dietary patterns and physical performance in sarcopenic individuals.

Main Methods:

• 121 individuals (60-96 years) were categorized into sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, and non-sarcopenia groups using EWGSOP2 criteria.
• Muscle strength (hand grip), quantity (ASM, ASMI), and physical performance (6-min walk test) were assessed.
• Dietary intake was evaluated via 24-hour recall, and the Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) was calculated.

Main Results:

• An E-DII threshold of 2.283 indicated an increased risk of sarcopenia (AUC=0.734).
• Higher E-DII scores correlated negatively with gait speed (rs=-0.502) and 6-min walk test results (rs=-0.496).
• The combination of E-DII and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) showed strong diagnostic utility for sarcopenia (AUC=0.805), outperforming traditional inflammatory markers.

Conclusions:

• A pro-inflammatory diet and poor physical fitness are associated with sarcopenia progression in older Polish adults.
• The E-DII serves as a valuable tool for assessing sarcopenia risk and can guide targeted nutritional interventions.
• Integrating dietary inflammatory potential with biomarkers like cfDNA offers a promising approach for early sarcopenia detection and management.