Abstract
Background: The association of plant base diets and biomarkers of bone, insulin, and inflammation is still unclear. Objectives: We investigated the associations between biomarkers of bone, insulin, and inflammation and three plant-based diet indices: an overall plant-based diet index (PDI); a healty plant-based diet index (hPDI); and an unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI).Methods: We included 178 elderly subjects who referred to health centers in Tehran. Blood and urine samples were collected to measure osteocalcin, The Human C-telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen (u-CTX-I), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) Parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH) D and insulin resistance and sensitivity. We created an overall PDI, hPDI and uPDI from semi quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data. Results: Dietary groups of Vegetables (r=0.15, P=0.03), nuts (r=0.16, P=0.03), dairy (r=0.25, P=0.001), eggs (r=0.27, P<0.001), red meat and animal products (r=0.25, P=0.001) were directly correlated with osteocalcin. Refined grains were also had positive association with serum insulin concentration (r=0.14, P=0.04). PTH levels are inversely associated with PDI score (β=-0.18, P=0.01). Also serum insulin concentration was negatively associated with PDI score (β=-0.10, P=0.04). Urine CTX-1 levels was significantly associated with hPDI score (β=-0.06, P=0.04). u-CTX-1 levels are inversely associated with uPDI score. This significance did not change with the adjustment of the confounders (β=-0.28, P<0.001). Conclusions: more adherence to PDI and hPDI and less in uPDI may have beneficial effect on biomarkers of bone, inflammation, and insulin thus preserving chronic diseases.