Abstract
To what extent the intake of fruit and vegetables (FV) influences inflammatory status remains elusive, particularly in older populations. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of increased FV intake for 16 weeks on circulating biomarkers of inflammation in a population of older men and women. Sixty-six participants (65–70 years) randomly assigned to either FV or control (CON) groups were instructed to increase FV intake to five servings per day through nutritional counseling (FV) or to maintain habitual diet (CON). Dietary intake and physical activity level (PA) were determined using food frequency questionnaire and accelerometers, respectively, at the start and end of the intervention. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-18, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), MIP-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE), and C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand-1 (CX3CL1, or fractalkine) were analyzed. The FV group significantly increased daily FV intake (from 2.2 ± 1.3 to 4.2 ± 1.8 servings/day), with no change in CON. Waist circumference and PA level were unchanged by the intervention. Interaction effects (time × group, p < 0.05) for TRAIL, TRANCE, and CX3CL1 denoting a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in FV but not in CON were observed. No corresponding effects on CRP, IL6, TNF-α, MIP-1α, and β and IL-18 were observed. The present study demonstrates the influence of increased FV consumption on levels of some inflammatory biomarkers in a population of older adults. Future work is warranted to examine the clinical implications of FV-induced alterations in these inflammatory biomarkers.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilAging is a multifactorial process characterized by a progressive decline in several physiological functions, leading to increased risk of cardiometabolic abnormalities and manifesting disease [1,2]
It is currently suggested that elevated levels of circulating inflammatory biomarkers in older adults, a phenomenon named “inflammaging”, with the presence of metabolic risk factors including central obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension are at the very center of age-related development and progression of chronic diseases [3,4,5]
The same report revealed that diets characterized by low fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption accounted for more than iations
Summary
The present study is a 16-week randomized, controlled parallel-group trial. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either fruit and vegetable (FV) or control (CON). Block-randomization based on biological sex was performed to ascertain equal sex distribution in the two groups. Biological variables, PA level, and dietary intake were assessed before and after the intervention. Written informed consent was obtained from participants and all experimental procedures were performed according to the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 04062682)
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