FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL OF THE BRAZILIAN POPULATION'S DIET.

OBJECTIVES To assess the inflammatory potential of the Brazilian population's diet and its association with demographic, socioeconomic, and anthropometric characteristics. METHODS Cross-sectional study performed with 34,003 individuals aged 10 and older, evaluated by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (INA) from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (POF 2008-2009). The Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DIITM) was determined using 34 dietary parameters calculated through non-consecutive 2-day dietary records. Positive scores indicate a pro-inflammatory diet, while negative scores indicate an anti-inflammatory diet. A bivariate and multivariate linear regression analysis based on a hierarchical theoretical model was performed to verify the factors associated with the E-DII. RESULTS The mean of the E-DII was 1.04, with a range of -4.77 to +5.98. The highest values of the pro-inflammatory E-DII were found among adolescents (1.42; p-value<0.001) and individuals with higher income (1.10; p-value<0.001) and level of education (1.18; p-value<0.001). In the final model, the E-DII was associated with higher income quartiles, was higher in the Northeast and South regions, in white people, individuals with ≥9 years of education and adults and adolescents age group. CONCLUSION The Brazilian population consumes a diet with high inflammatory potential, especially adolescents, white people and those with higher income and level of education. Thus, the index presented uneven distribution among the population, emphasizing groups with higher dietary inflammatory potential. The socioeconomic risk profile of a diet with higher inflammatory potential in medium-income countries is different from what is observed in high-income nations.