Adherence to healthy eating patterns is associated with higher circulating total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin and lower resistin concentrations in women from the Nurses' Health Study.
BACKGROUND
Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), is associated with a lower risk of diabetes and atherosclerosis.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine whether adherence to the AHEI is associated with higher plasma total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin concentrations and lower concentrations of resistin, as well as biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and insulin resistance.


METHODS
The study evaluated 1922 women from the Nurses' Health Study (62% of whom were overweight) who had no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Their plasma biomarker concentrations were measured in 1990, and data on dietary intake from semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaires administered in 1984, 1986, and 1990 were averaged to account for long-term dietary exposure and to reduce within-subject variability.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age and energy intake, women with the highest adherence to the AHEI had 24% higher median total adiponectin and 32% higher median HMW adiponectin concentrations, as well as 16% lower resistin, 41% lower CRP, 19% lower sE-selectin, and 24% lower ferritin concentrations (P < 0.01 for all) than did women with the lowest adherence to the AHEI. These associations remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders. Inverse associations between the AHEI and soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor II, interleukin-6, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, C-peptide, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin were evident, but they were not significant after adjustment for body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
The preventive effects of healthier dietary patterns on risk for diabetes and atherosclerosis may be mediated by improvements in plasma concentrations of adipokines or other biomarkers of risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Fargnoli
Jessica L
JL
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Fung
Teresa T
TT
Olenczuk
Deanna M
DM
Chamberland
John P
JP
Hu
Frank B
FB
Mantzoros
Christos S
CS
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D052243:Resistin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins