Food Compass Score and its association with inflammatory markers and homocysteine in cardiovascular disease-free adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the ATTICA epidemiological study

Background/Objectives Several nutrient profiling systems have been developed to assist in food choices and policy. Food Compass Score (FCS) is a novel holistic food score assessing 54 parameters. The aim was to assess the relation of FCS with inflammatory and lipid markers in cardiovascular disease-free volunteers. Subjects/Methods Information from the ATTICA epidemiological study participants, with complete data on lipid, inflammatory markers and dietary intake were studied ( n = 1018). C-reactive protein (CRP) and amyloid A were determined by immunonephelometry, fibrinogen by nephelometry, homocysteine by fluorometry, while tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin and leptin were determined by ELISA in fasting blood samples. Dietary intake was assessed through a semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. Each food was assigned a FCS value from the published values and then individual’s FCS values were calculated. Results Mean FCS was 56 (standard deviation: 5.7) and it was similar in men and women. FCS was inversely correlated with age ( r = −0.06, p = 0.03). In multiple linear regression models, FCS was inversely associated with CRP (−0.03, 0.01), TNF-a (−0.04, 0.01), amyloid A (−0.10, 0.04) and homocysteine (−0.09, 0.04) (b coefficients, standard errors, all p < 0.05) and was not associated with IL-6, fibrinogen, adiponectin, leptin, or lipids levels (all p > 0.05). Conclusions The inverse correlations of the FCS with inflammatory markers suggest that a diet containing foods with high FCS might be protective against inflammation process. Our results support the usefulness of the FCS, but future studies should evaluate its relation to cardiovascular and other inflammation-related chronic diseases.