Consumption of diet with higher Inflammatory Index Linked to Increased Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy

The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is a tool used to assess the inflammatory properties of a diet. Understanding the relationship between dietary inflammation and DR can provide insights into potential preventive strategies. In a recent study, researchers aimed to evaluate the association between DII and DR using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This study was published in the journal BMC Ophthalmology by Rong Liu and colleagues.

The study analyzed data from 1,148 diabetes patients from the 2005–2008 NHANES surveys. DII scores were calculated based on participants' 24-hour dietary consumption data. Demographic characteristics and retinal examinations were compared between groups with and without DR. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between DII and DR, adjusting for potential confounders.

The key findings of the study were:

• A total of 227 subjects (110 non-DR and 117 DR) were included in the analysis after employing an undersampling method to balance the sample size.

• The DR group exhibited significantly higher DII values compared to the non-DR group (1.49 ± 0.21 vs. 1.14 ± 0.29, p < 0.001).

• The DR group also had higher levels of HbA1c (7.7 ± 2.6% vs. 6.8 ± 1.1%, p < 0.001) and longer duration of diabetes (14 ± 11 years vs. 6.52 ± 12 years, p < 0.001) compared to the non-DR group.

• The odds ratio (OR) of DII for DR from logistic regression was 1.38 (95% CI 1.06–1.81, p < 0.001), indicating that higher DII scores were associated with an increased risk of DR.

• Factors such as HbA1c, diabetes duration, and obesity were also identified as important influencing factors for DR.

The study highlights a significant association between higher DII and increased risk of diabetic retinopathy in US adults with diabetes. These findings suggest that dietary factors may play a role in the development of DR, and promoting an anti-inflammatory diet could be a promising approach for managing this condition. Further research is warranted to explore the potential benefits of dietary interventions in preventing or delaying the onset of DR.

Reference:

Liu, R., Zhang, J., Gu, W., Zhao, X., Xiao, L., & Yang, C. Dietary Inflammatory Index and diabetic retinopathy risk in US adults: findings from NHANES (2005–2008). BMC Ophthalmology,2024;24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-024-03303-1