The Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index with Metabolic Syndrome and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in
Parto Hadaegh1,2, Amir Abdi1,3, Farzad Hadaegh1
1Prevention of Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Metabolic and Obesity Disorders, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) shows a potential link to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in youth. More research is needed to confirm these associations and guide public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in children and adolescents are early indicators of adult non-communicable disorders.
- Identifying modifiable risk factors like the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is crucial for early public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and MetS in children and adolescents.
- To systematically review the association between the DII and CIMT in children and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies from January 2000 to August 2024.
- Two reviewers screened studies and assessed quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
- A narrative synthesis approach was used due to study design heterogeneity (PROSPERO: CRD420250643107).
Main Results:
- Seven studies (2 prospective cohorts, 5 cross-sectional) involving over 13,000 participants (ages 6-19) were included.
- Two studies indicated a harmful association between DII and MetS (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.43 and β: 0.12; 0.003, 0.22), while two others found no significant link.
- Regarding CIMT, two studies showed null associations, and one found a positive association with high CIMT (OR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.15, 5.24).
Conclusions:
- Inconsistent associations between DII, MetS, and CIMT in pediatric populations were reported.
- Suggestive evidence of harm from a limited number of studies indicates a critical knowledge gap.
- Further research is warranted to clarify the role of DII in pediatric MetS and CIMT.
Context:
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in children and adolescents are critical early warning signs for the development of non-communicable disorders in adulthood. Identifying modifiable risk factors such as the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is therefore essential for implementing early public health interventions to prevent irreversible long-term health consequences.
Objectives:
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association of DII with MetS and CIMT in children and adolescents.
Data Sources:
Using three literature databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus), we searched for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 1 August 2024, which assessed the association of DII with MetS or CIMT among children and adolescents.
Study Selection:
Two reviewers screened and assessed the quality of studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Data Extraction:
Given the heterogeneity of study designs, a narrative synthesis approach was employed (PROSPERO: CRD420250643107).
Results:
Out of 23,393 records identified, two prospective cohorts and five cross-sectional studies met our inclusion criteria, including four and three studies focused on MetS and CIMT as the outcome, respectively. The included studies investigated a combined population of over 13,000 participants, comprising both sexes, aged 6 to 19 years. Two studies, one cross-sectional (odds ratio: 1.20; 95% confidence interval: 1.01, 1.43) and one prospective (β: 0.12; 0.003, 0.22), showed a harmful association between DII and MetS, while two other studies did not find any statistically significant association. Regarding the association between DII and CIMT, two studies noted null associations, while another study observed a positive association with high CIMT [odds ratio = 2.46 (1.15, 5.24)].
Conclusions:
In light of the inconsistent associations between the DII with MetS or CIMT reported in the literature, the suggestive evidence of harm from a small number of studies highlights a critical gap.
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