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Session: Nutrients and Inflammation (Oral 10)

(OR10-03-23) Associations Between Diet and Markers of Gastrointestinal Inflammation in Healthy Adult Cohort

Sunday, July 23, 2023
2:24 PM – 2:36 PM ET
Location:  Constitution B
CELA ELPC

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Yasmine Y. Bouzid, BS (she/her/hers)

    Doctoral Candidate
    University of California, Davis
    Davis, California, United States

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • ZA

    Zeynep Alkan, B.S.

    Chemist
    USDA-ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center
    Davis, California, United States

  • Charles B. Stephensen, PhD

    Research Leader
    USDA-ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center
    Davis, California, United States

  • DL

    Danielle G. Lemay, PhD

    Research Molecular Biologist
    USDA-ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center
    Davis, California, United States

Disclosure(s):
Yasmine Y. Bouzid, BS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: The purpose of this project was to examine associations between reported dietary intake and markers of gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation in a healthy human adult population.

Methods: In a cross-sectional observational trial of 358 healthy adults, participants completed up to 3 unannounced 24-hour dietary recalls using the Automated Self-Administered Dietary Assessment Tool® (ASA24) and a Block 2014 Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to assess recent and habitual intake, respectively. Those who provided a stool sample were included in this analysis. Inflammatory markers from stool, including calprotectin, neopterin, and myeloperoxidase were measured by ELISA along with LPS-binding protein (LBP) from plasma.

Results: We observed an inverse correlation between FFQ legume intake, ASA24 and FFQ total vegetable intake with calprotectin levels (n = 295, p = 0.025, 0.043, 0.045). Myeloperoxidase was inversely correlated with ASA24 legume intake (n = 295, p = 0.049). ASA24 energy, fiber, vegetable (excluding legumes), total vegetable, fruit intake, and HEI score were each inversely correlated with neopterin levels (n = 289, p = 0.04, 0.00004, 0.006, 0.004, 0.002, 0.014). Neopterin was also inversely correlated with FFQ fiber, vegetable (excluding legumes), and fruit intake (p = 0.046, 0.0.31, 0.035). ASA24 and FFQ total Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and the HEI saturated fat component score (higher scores reflecting moderation of intake) were each inversely correlated with LBP levels (n = 348, p = 0.015, 0.042, 0.038, 0.019). In a two-group analysis, participants with low fiber intake also had significantly higher LBP levels (p = 0.01). When those with clinically elevated calprotectin ( >100 μg/grams) were excluded, ASA24 energy and saturated fat were positively correlated with calprotectin (n = 253, p = 0.023, 0.026) and FFQ fiber, legume, and total vegetable intake were inversely correlated with calprotectin (p = 0.038, 0.033, 0.039). ASA24 total HEI score was inversely correlated with calprotectin (p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Higher diet quality, particularly high fiber and low saturated fat intake may be protective against GI inflammation even in healthy adults.

Funding Sources: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS)