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BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation is thought to be a major characteristic of aging, which may increase need for substrates, specifically protein, to support anti-inflammatory processes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess associations between dietary protein and changes in biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress over the long term in a community-dwelling population. METHODS: In 2061 participants of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort who attended exams 7 (1998-2001; mean ± SD age 60.0 ± 8.8 y, 56% female) and 8 (2005-2008), total, animal, and plant protein intakes were assessed by food-frequency questionnaire at each exam, energy adjusted, and averaged. We defined an inflammation and oxidative stress score as the sum of rank-normalized values of 9 circulating biomarkers (C-reactive protein, osteoprotegerin, P-selectin, tumor necrosis factor receptor II, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, interleukin 6, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and lipoprotein phospholipase A2 mass and activity), and urinary isoprostanes, along with 2 subscores. Adjusted least-square means of changes in the scores and log individual biomarkers in quartile categories of intake were estimated with the use of linear regression models, across mean ± SD 6.6 ± 0.7 y of follow-up. RESULTS: -trend = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary protein, particularly from plant sources, may be associated with beneficial changes in the inflammatory burden in aging populations.
Hruby et al. (Wed,) studied this question.