Association of the dietary inflammatory index and body composition among Paralympic athletes with hemodialysis and hemophilia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: One of the essential parameters of athletes that enhancing fitness and success rate in sports career is body composition. Additionally, perfect performance of athletes is significantly influenced by training and dietary intake. This study aimed to determine the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and body composition among Iran's Paralympic athletes with hemodialysis and hemophilia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted, which recruited 100 athletes with hemodialysis and hemophilia who participated in the 2020 competitive pre-season tests. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, physical activity, sleep pattern, and dietary intake were used in the analysis. DII was scored based on information obtained using food frequency questionnaire. Body composition was assessed using Bio impedance analyzer BIA (TANITA BC-418) and with 7-points skinfold measures. Linear regression model was used for finding the associations between DII with body composition.

RESULTS

The overall DII score was -2.83 and there was a significant difference for the mean body fat percent (P = 0.001) and mean fat free mass percent (P = ≤0.001) between 7-points skin fold measurements and BIA. No significant association had been found between the DII of the participants with the components of their body composition including, body mass index BMI (P = 0.99), waist circumference (P = 0.33), waist hip ratio (P = 0.25), fat mass percent (P = 0.47) and fat free mass percent (P = 0.47).

CONCLUSION

Although athletes in the current study had DII scores indicating their anti-inflammatory diets, we did not find any significant associations between DII with the parameters of body composition.