PRO-INFLAMMATORY FOOD AND DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH IT

Abstract

Inflammation is a biological response of the immune system that can be triggered by a variety of factors, including pathogens, damaged cells and toxic compounds. These factors may induce acute and/or chronic inflammatory responses in the heart, pancreas, liver, kidney, lung, brain, intestinal tract and reproductive system, potentially leading to tissue damage or disease. A diet that can raise the level of inflammation in the body is called pro-inflammatory diet, and a diet that has an opposite effect is called an anti-inflammatory diet. To understand the inflammatory potential of diet, experts have developed the Dietary Inflammation Index (DII) to assess the inflammatory capacity of diet according to the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory efficacy of different dietary components. A low DII score indicates anti-inflammatory potential, whereas a high DII score reflects pro-inflammatory potential. Epidemiological studies have explored the association between dietary inflammatory potential and mental health disorders. This review highlights the pro-inflammatory food and diseases associated with it.