Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII)(®) and Metabolic Syndrome in the Selected Population of Polish Adults: Results of the PURE Poland Sub-Study

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the inflammatory potential of the diets of residents of Lower Silesia, based on the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), with the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. Diets were characterized according to DII terciles. The study group consisted of 1570 individuals enrolled in the Polish arm of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study. Participants’ diets in DII T1 (most anti-inflammatory diet) had the highest intake of vegetables (except for potatoes), fruits, nuts and seeds, low-calorie beverages, tea, and coffee (all p < 0.001). On the other hand, participants’ diets in DII T3 (most pro-inflammatory diet) contained a lot of whole-fat products, refined cereals, fats (except for vegetable oils), fruit juices, red meat, processed meat/meat products, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, sugar, and honey (all p < 0.001). Overall, we did not find an increased prevalence of MetS and its individual components in DII tercile 3 (T3) compared to DII tercile 1 (T1), except for an increased prevalence of abnormal TG in DII T3 compared to T1 (OR 1.34; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.78) in the crude model. In the adjusted model, a lower prevalence of abnormal fasting glucose (FG) was found in DII T2 compared to DII T1 (OR 0.71; 95% CI = 00.54 to 0.94). Results of this study are informative and provide an important basis for further research on the quality of diet and nutrition.