Abstract
While the relationship between phytochemicals and inflammation has been confirmed by in vivo or in vitro studies, large-scale epidemiological studies comprehensively analyzing phytochemical-rich food groups remain scarce. Therefore, we evaluated the association between the phytochemical index (PI) and the inflammation levels in Korean adults. The data were derived from the 2015–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and a total of 18,699 participants were analyzed. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels >3.0 mg/L and white blood cell (WBC) counts >10 × 103/μL were defined as “elevated.” The PI was calculated based on eight food groups using a 24-h dietary recall. The odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) for elevated hs-CRP levels and WBC counts, according to the PI quintile, were calculated using the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Participants in the higher PI group had lower means of hs-CRP levels and WBC counts than those in the lower PI group (all p for trend <0.001). In fully adjusted logistic regression models, elevated hs-CRP levels and WBC counts in the highest PI group were lower by 40% (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.49–0.76) and 34% (OR: 0.66, CI: 0.47–0.93), respectively. Conclusions: A high consumption of phytochemical-rich foods is associated with lower inflammation. This suggests that adopting phytochemical-rich dietary patterns may be an effective approach for reducing inflammation.
Highlights
Inflammation is an immune response that is essential for recovery from infections and regeneration of damaged tissues in the body [1]
Hs-CRP is widely used as a biochemical indicator for the diagnosis or early detection of chronic diseases owing to advantages such as its high sensitivity, rapid reaction rate, high precision in measuring both high and low concentrations, and indirect prediction of chronic disease risk [6]
The White blood cell (WBC) count is used as an inflammatory biomarker because it is involved in the development of numerous inflammatory responses that occur with foreign agent invasion, such as following bacterial and viral infections and tumor immunity tissue damage [7]
Summary
Inflammation is an immune response that is essential for recovery from infections and regeneration of damaged tissues in the body [1]. Hs-CRP is widely used as a biochemical indicator for the diagnosis or early detection of chronic diseases owing to advantages such as its high sensitivity, rapid reaction rate, high precision in measuring both high and low concentrations, and indirect prediction of chronic disease risk [6]. White blood cell (WBC) proliferation is caused by various inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines [7]. The WBC count is used as an inflammatory biomarker because it is involved in the development of numerous inflammatory responses that occur with foreign agent invasion, such as following bacterial and viral infections and tumor immunity tissue damage [7]
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