Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018

Abstract Background The accumulation of abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) has been closely correlated with an array of metabolic disorders and chronic inflammation. This study elucidated the joint effects of a dietary inflammatory index (DII) and vigorous intensity physi...

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Main Authors: Shuoqi Li, Wenbo Fan, Yan Liu, Shiming Li, Wenbing Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00991-3
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author Shuoqi Li
Wenbo Fan
Yan Liu
Shiming Li
Wenbing Yu
author_facet Shuoqi Li
Wenbo Fan
Yan Liu
Shiming Li
Wenbing Yu
author_sort Shuoqi Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The accumulation of abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) has been closely correlated with an array of metabolic disorders and chronic inflammation. This study elucidated the joint effects of a dietary inflammatory index (DII) and vigorous intensity physical activity (PA) on VAT and SAT. Methods The study enrolled 3,444 adults sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The NHANES is designed with a sophisticated, multistage probability sampling methodology and is specifically tailored to comprehensively assess the health and nutritional conditions of the non-institutionalized population. Utilizing the initial 24 h dietary recall data from the NHANES database, our analysis incorporated 28 distinct food parameters for calculating the DII score. Multiple linear regression models are used to calculate the β value and 95% confidence interval of independent and dependent variables. Results Compared with the pro-inflammatory diet group, VAT and SAT in the anti-inflammatory diet group were lower [-21.60 (-32.63, -10.58, P < 0.01) and − 85.67 (-108.80, -62.55, P < 0.01)]. The VAT and SAT in the sufficient vigorous intensity PA group were lower than those in the insufficient vigorous intensity PA group [-27.13 (-38.40, -15.86), P < 0.01; -57.05 (-80.82, -33.27), P < 0.01]. There was a linear positive association between DII with VAT (P < 0.01, P for nonlinearity = 0.13) and SAT (P < 0.01, P for nonlinearity = 0.06). Additionally, there were significant L-shaped relationships between vigorous intensity PA with VAT and SAT (all log-likelihood ratio P < 0.05). Conclusion A lifestyle of anti-inflammatory diet incorporated with sufficient vigorous intensity PA was associated with lower VAT and SAT. Notably, the increase of vigorous intensity PA is associated with the decrease of VAT and SAT in the L-shaped relationships, suggesting that the vigorous intensity PA with at least 75 min per week may be related to greater benefits of VAT.
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spelling doaj-art-ca04a4d1e56b4a23b9d0eded432aa4a22025-08-20T03:42:57ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-07-0144111110.1186/s41043-025-00991-3Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018Shuoqi Li0Wenbo Fan1Yan Liu2Shiming Li3Wenbing Yu4School of Sports Science, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Ocean University of ChinaSchool of Sports Science, Nantong UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Ocean University of ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Ocean University of ChinaAbstract Background The accumulation of abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) has been closely correlated with an array of metabolic disorders and chronic inflammation. This study elucidated the joint effects of a dietary inflammatory index (DII) and vigorous intensity physical activity (PA) on VAT and SAT. Methods The study enrolled 3,444 adults sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The NHANES is designed with a sophisticated, multistage probability sampling methodology and is specifically tailored to comprehensively assess the health and nutritional conditions of the non-institutionalized population. Utilizing the initial 24 h dietary recall data from the NHANES database, our analysis incorporated 28 distinct food parameters for calculating the DII score. Multiple linear regression models are used to calculate the β value and 95% confidence interval of independent and dependent variables. Results Compared with the pro-inflammatory diet group, VAT and SAT in the anti-inflammatory diet group were lower [-21.60 (-32.63, -10.58, P < 0.01) and − 85.67 (-108.80, -62.55, P < 0.01)]. The VAT and SAT in the sufficient vigorous intensity PA group were lower than those in the insufficient vigorous intensity PA group [-27.13 (-38.40, -15.86), P < 0.01; -57.05 (-80.82, -33.27), P < 0.01]. There was a linear positive association between DII with VAT (P < 0.01, P for nonlinearity = 0.13) and SAT (P < 0.01, P for nonlinearity = 0.06). Additionally, there were significant L-shaped relationships between vigorous intensity PA with VAT and SAT (all log-likelihood ratio P < 0.05). Conclusion A lifestyle of anti-inflammatory diet incorporated with sufficient vigorous intensity PA was associated with lower VAT and SAT. Notably, the increase of vigorous intensity PA is associated with the decrease of VAT and SAT in the L-shaped relationships, suggesting that the vigorous intensity PA with at least 75 min per week may be related to greater benefits of VAT.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00991-3Dietary inflammatory indexVigorous intensity physical activityVisceral adipose tissueSubcutaneous adipose tissue
spellingShingle Shuoqi Li
Wenbo Fan
Yan Liu
Shiming Li
Wenbing Yu
Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Dietary inflammatory index
Vigorous intensity physical activity
Visceral adipose tissue
Subcutaneous adipose tissue
title Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018
title_full Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018
title_fullStr Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018
title_full_unstemmed Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018
title_short Combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue: analysis of NHANES 2011–2018
title_sort combined effects of dietary inflammatory index and vigorous physical activity on abdominal adipose tissue analysis of nhanes 2011 2018
topic Dietary inflammatory index
Vigorous intensity physical activity
Visceral adipose tissue
Subcutaneous adipose tissue
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00991-3
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