Evaluation of the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores, mood states and disease impact scores in fibromyalgia patients

This study included 40 fibromyalgia (FM) patients to assess their nutritional status, dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores, fibromyalgia impact scores, mood states, sleep quality, and anthropometric measurements. Data were collected using a general questionnaire, a 3-day 24-hour dietary intake record, the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-R), the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), anthropometric measurements, and body analysis. Of the patients, 85% were female, with a median age of 43 years (20–64). The most common chronic disease, apart from FM, was cardiovascular disease, with a prevalence of 38%. The use of dietary supplements was 47.5% among all patients, with magnesium being the most commonly used supplement at 89,5%. A total of 80% of the patients were classified as overweight or obese according to BMI; 82.5% fell into the moderate or high severity groups in terms of fibromyalgia impact levels; and 57.5% were in the severe or very severe groups according to anxiety levels.The median DII score of the patients was 2.01 (-1.00–4.17). It was observed that the highest-risk anthropometric measurement groups had the higher DII scores; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0,05). Patients in the first quartile of the DII score had lower FIQ-R total and subcategory scores than those in other quartiles, but no statistically significant difference was found between quartiles (p>0,05). Patients in the first and second quartiles of DII scores had the lowest depression scores, while those in the first quartile had the lowest anxiety, stress, and PSQI scores; however, there was no statistically significant difference between these groups (p>0,05). A weak positive correlation was found between the dietary inflammatory index score and the FIQ-R Function score (r=0,315) (p<0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between depression, anxiety, stress, and FIQ-R (r=0,574, r=0,500, r=0,522) (p<0.05). A weak negative correlation was found between the FIQ-R Total score and body muscle mass and basal metabolic rate (BMR) (r=-0,369, r=-0,350). A weak positive correlation was observed between the FIQ-R Function and FIQ-R Overall Impact scores and body fat percentage (r=0,377, r=0,375), while a weak negative correlation was found with body fluid percentage (r=-0,371, r=-0,372) (p<0.05). In conclusion, apart from the FIQ-R Function category, no statistically significant relationship was found between the dietary inflammatory index and fibromyalgia impact scores, depression, anxiety, or stress. It is thought that a diet with a lower DII score may reduce the impact severity of fibromyalgia in patients.