Food intake and inflammation in European children: the IDEFICS study.

Abstract
Purpose This cross-sectional study assesses the relationship
between consumption frequencies of food items and
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in European
children.
Methods Out of the baseline sample (N = 16.228) of
the IDEFICS study, 6.403 children (1.315 boys aged 2
to <6, 1.908 boys aged 6 to <10, 1.204 girls aged 2 to <6
and 1.976 girls aged 6 to <10 years) had hs-CRP measured
and the Children's Eating Habits Questionnaire filled,
including a food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression
adjusted for body mass index z-score, education of the
mother, breast-feeding and self-reported hours of physical
activity in a sport club per week was conducted.
Results Mean frequency intake of raw vegetable was
lower in boys (p = 0.022 in young and p = 0.020 in old)
and older girls (p = 0.026) with high hs-CRP concentration,
while in younger girls (p = 0.008) the same occurred
with the cooked vegetables. The probability of having
higher hs-CRP concentration was significantly associated
with having low consumption frequency of vegetables
(p = 0.004 in older boys, raw vegetables; and p = 0.0032 in
younger girls, cooked vegetables). Also, honey/jam intake
decreased the probability of having higher concentration of
hs-CRP, whereas soft drinks with sugar, mayonnaise and
cereals milled increased this probability.
Conclusions Out of all food items associated with hs-
CRP, frequency intake of vegetables presented more associations
across all the analysis. Findings suggest that a highfrequency
intake of vegetables is inversely related to an
inflammatory status in children. More studies are needed to
assess the association between diet and inflammation.