Mixed
Adherence to meat-based or 'Western' dietary patterns is positively associated with elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP), whereas vegetable- and fruit-based or 'healthy' patterns are inversely associated with these markers.
Focus on building your diet around vegetables, fruits, and whole grains rather than meat and refined grains. This pattern is consistently linked to lower levels of inflammatory markers like CRP, which are associated with chronic diseases. While individual food choices matter, the overall pattern of eating has a stronger impact on inflammation.
Studies using principal component analysis or a priori-defined diet scores found that meat-based or 'Western-like' patterns tended to be positively associated with biomarkers of inflammation, predominantly C-reactive protein, while vegetable- and fruit-based or 'healthy' patterns tended to be inversely associated.
Why this rating
The review includes 46 studies, but notes that none were prospective observational studies and results were inconsistent across different statistical methods.
Source
Dietary pattern analysis and biomarkers of low-grade inflammation: a systematic literature review
Janett Barbaresko et al. · Nutrition Reviews · 2013
DOI 10.1111/nure.12035
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