Food may induce
inflammation and favor development of
metabolic diseases, which have been associated with increased
inflammation and potential risk of
cognitive impairment. It is customary to know whether food or disease promote
inflammation. Our hypothesis was that Okinawan-based Nordic (O-BN) diet leads to decreased circulating concentrations of inflammatory and neural
biomarkers. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of the O-BN diet on inflammatory and neural responses. First, 2 different breakfasts; one standard and another O-BN-based, were given in random order to 19 healthy volunteers. Second, a 12-week O-BN-dietary intervention was performed in
type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), where the participants were followed for another 16-weeks, with registration of anthropometry and metabolic parameters. Non-diabetic subjects served as controls at baseline. Plasma was analyzed for
cytokines by a 10-plex Luminex assay and neurofilament light (NfL) by an ultrasensitive Single molecule assay.
Cytokine levels decreased after a single breakfast intake, independent of diet composition.
Cytokine levels were higher in T2DM than in controls. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters were improved by the dietary intervention. In parallel,
cytokine levels were lowered, although only significantly for
IL-18 (P = .001), with a tendency of significance for IL-12p70 (P = .07). Levels of
IL-18 correlated with
glucose, HbA1c and
lipids, but not with body mass index,
insulin or blood pressure. NfL levels increased during the intervention (P = .049). O-BN-based diet does not affect postprandial
cytokine levels in health, whereas it renders decreased circulating
IL-18 levels along with metabolic
biomarkers in T2DM, with no beneficial effect on NfL.