Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and osteosarcopenia using nationally representative data. METHODS: We utilized data from 1,418 men and women aged ≥ 50 years old participating in Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS), a nation-wide, cross-sectional study conducted in 2021. Osteosarcopenia was defined based on standard criteria, considering the presence of both osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia. We assessed dietary patterns using a semi-quantitative 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and calculated energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores based on 31 specific food items. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between osteosarcopenia and E-DII, adjusting for potential confounders. Nutrient intake calculations were performed using Nutritionist IV software. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 60.1 (SD = 7.9) years, with 770 (54.3%) being women. The prevalence of osteosarcopenia was 8.8% (95% CI: 7.3-10.6%). Osteosarcopenia was more prevalent among women, older participants, and rural inhabitants. However, the difference was not statistically significant for sex and area of residence. After adjusting for confounders, the odds ratios for osteosarcopenia in the second and third tertiles of E-DII score were 2.23 (95% CI: 1.23-4.05) and 2.47 (95% CI: 1.40-4.37), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an association between osteosarcopenia and the DII. A healthy low-inflammatory diet may play a crucial role in maintaining musculoskeletal health among the elderly.