Dietary Inflammatory Potential and Its Association with Asthma and Lung Function in a Korean Adult Population

ABSTRACT Background Diets with high inflammatory potential may contribute to asthma and impaired lung function, yet evidence from Asian populations is limited. Objective We aimed to examine the association between the energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) and lung function in Korean adults, stratified by asthma status. Methods Data were analyzed from 12,400 participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018). The E-DII was calculated from 24-hour dietary recall using 21 validated food parameters. Lung function (FEV₁, FVC) was measured by standardized spirometry, and current asthma was defined as both a physician diagnosis and the presence of current symptoms. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusted for age and sex were applied. Results The mean age of participants was 49.8 years, and 51.3% were female; 246 (2.0%) reported current asthma. Compared with non-asthmatic individuals, those with asthma were older and more often female. Higher E-DII scores were associated with greater asthma prevalence and reduced lung function, with stronger associations observed among participants with asthma. Conclusions Higher dietary inflammatory potential was linked to increased asthma risk and lower lung function in Korean adults. These findings suggest that reducing dietary inflammation may benefit respiratory health, although longitudinal studies are needed to confirm temporality and causal direction.