Associations between healthy food groups and platelet-activating factor, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ and C-reactive protein: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between pro-inflammatory markers platelet-activating factor (PAF), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2), hsCRP, and intake of core food groups including fruit, cruciferous and other vegetables, grains, meat and poultry, fish and seafood, nuts and legumes, and dairy.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. 100 adults (49 ± 13 years, 31% male) with variable cardiovascular disease risk were recruited. Data were collected in 2021 and 2022. Fasting PAF, Lp-PLA 2 activity, hsCRP and usual dietary intake (via a validated food frequency questionnaire) were measured. Intake of foods were converted into serves and classified into food groups. Correlations and multiple regressions were performed with adjustment for confounders.

RESULTS: A one-serve increase in cruciferous vegetables per day was associated with 20-24% lower PAF levels. An increase of one serve per day of nuts and legumes was associated with 40% lower hsCRP levels. There were small correlations with PAF and Lp-PLA 2 and cheese, however, these were not significant at the Bonferroni-adjusted P < 0.005 level.

CONCLUSION: The lack of associations between PAF and Lp-PLA 2 and other healthy foods may be due to confounding by COVID-19 infection and vaccination programs which prevents any firm conclusion on the relationship between PAF, Lp-PLA 2 and food groups. Future research should aim to examine the relationship with these novel markers and healthy food groups in a non-pandemic setting.