The association between the inflammatory potential of diet and risk of developing, and survival following, a diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Purpose Inflammation has been implicated in ovarian carcinogenesis. This study evaluated two dietary indices: the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP), in relation to risk of developing, and survival following, a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Methods Data came from the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (1375 cases, 1415 population controls). DII and EDIP scores were computed from dietary information obtained using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between DII and EDIP scores and risk of ovarian cancer and proportional hazards models were used for survival analysis. Results A high DII score, reflecting a more pro-inflammatory diet, was associated with a modest increased risk of ovarian cancer [odds ratio (OR) DII score Q4 vs.Q1 = 1.31, 95% CI 1.06–1.63, p trend = 0.014]. Likewise a high EDIP score was associated with an increase in risk of ovarian cancer [OR EDIP score Q4 vs.Q1 = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.73, p trend = 0.002]. We found no association between DII or EDIP score and overall or ovarian cancer-specific survival. Conclusion In conclusion, our results suggest that a pro-inflammatory diet modestly increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer.