Association between the dietary inflammatory index and pain in US adults from NHANES

ABSTRACTABSTRACTObjectives The growing global burden of pain is gradually expanding from the medical field to public health. Dietary inflammatory potential correlates with inflammatory markers, and inflammation is one of the main mechanisms of pain.Methods This study explored the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and pain from the NHANES database on DII and pain (neck pain, low back pain, joint pain, and headache or migraine) using logistic regression and stratified analysis.Results The results show a stronger association between DII and joint pain (Q4 of DII adjusted-OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.08–1.40, P = 0.003) and headache or migraine (Q4 of DII adjusted-OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.15–1.48, P < 0.001), but no association is found in neck pain (Q4 of DII adjusted-OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.89–1.20, P = 0.65) and low back pain (Q4 of DII adjusted-OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.92–1.17, P = 0.54). After stratifying the data according to demographics, differences in the relationship between DII and pain are found at different levels of the population.Discussion This study identifies high DII as a risk factor for joint pain and headache or migraine.KEYWORDS: Dietary inflammatory indexpainmigraineheadachelow back painneck painjoint painNHANES AcknowledgementsThe authors thank to NHANES database for the publicly available data and Zhang Jing (Shanghai Tongren Hospital) for his work on the NHANES database. His outstanding work, nhanesR package and webpage, makes it easier for us to explore NHANES database.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data Availability StatementThe original data for this study are available from publicly available databases (https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/Default.aspx). Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.Additional informationNotes on contributorsYue ShiYue Shi, a female master's degree student, is currently pursuing studies in acupuncture and massage at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The primary research focus is on the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and massage for pain management.Xueyi ZhangXueyi Zhang is a famele specializing in Pediatrics of TCM since 2021 at Chengdu TCM University. This postgraduate program allows them to deepen their understanding of pediatric health and explore innovative approaches to disease prevention and treatment in children. Her research aims to develop effective preventive measures and treatment protocols. Now she is getting resident standardization training in TCM Hospital of Sichuan Province.Yue FengYue Feng, a male associate professor, currently works at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture and massage are his primary areas of specialization, and his research interests center on the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases and hypertension. Patients suffering from neck, back, and other types of pain are the primary focus of clinical attention.