Associations of dietary inflammatory index, serum levels of MCP-1 and body composition in Iranian overweight and obese women: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: Although, several studies have illustrated that there is a relation between dietary inflammatory index (DII) with obesity-related parameters, and inflammation, their results were controversial. This study aimed to investigate this relationship among Iranian women. RESULTS: Multivariable linear regression showed that fat mass was 0.14 kg lower in the anti-inflammatory diet group, with respect to the pro-inflammatory group, after adjusting covariates such as age, physical activity, economic and job status (β = − 0.142, 95% CI − 4.44, − 1.71, P = 0.03). Fat-free mass (FFM) was 1.5 kg more in the anti-inflammatory diet group, compared to the pro-inflammatory diet group, after adjusting for potentials cofounders (β = 1.50, 95% CI 0, 3.01, p = 0.05). Furthermore, after adjusting for potentials cofounders, it was revealed that the subjects with lower DII had lower monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in serum (β = − 18.81, 95% CI − 35.84, − 1.79, p = 0.03). These findings suggest an inverse and significant relationship between DII and FFM and also DII is directly related to Fat mass and the level of MCP-1. This finding can be used for developing interventions that aim to promote healthy eating to prevent inflammation and non-communicable disease development among obese females.