Cruciferous vegetable intake is inversely correlated with circulating levels of proinflammatory markers in women

Background: Higher intakes of cruciferous vegetables or their constituents have been shown to lower inflammation in animal studies. However, evidence for this anti-inflammatory effect of cruciferous vegetable consumption in humans is scarce. Objective/Design: In this cross-sectional analysis, we evaluated associations of vegetable intake with a panel of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers among 1,005 middle-aged Chinese women. Dietary intake of foods was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Multivariable-adjusted circulating concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interlukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 were lower among women with higher intakes of cruciferous vegetables. The differences in concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers between extreme quintiles of cruciferous vegetable intake were 12.66% for TNF-α (P_trend=0.01), 18.18% for IL-1β (P_trend=0.02), and 24.68% for IL-6 (P_trend=0.02). A similar, but less apparent, inverse association was found for intakes of all vegetables combined but not for noncruciferous vegetables. Levels of the urinary oxidative stress markers F₂-isoprostanes and their major metabolite, 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-F_2t-IsoP, were not associated with intakes of cruciferous vegetables or all vegetables combined. Conclusions: This study suggests that the previously observed health benefits ofcruciferous vegetable consumption may be partly associated with the anti-inflammatory effects of these vegetables.