The dataset for the assessment of the inflammatory potential of the overall diet consumed by women of childbearing age.

The data presented in this article is related to the research article titled "Racial differences in dietary choices and their relationship to inflammatory potential in childbearing age women at risk for exposure to COVID-19". This data article provides details of dietary intake data from 509 women (African American, n = 327 and Caucasian American, n = 182) who are residents of Birmingham, AL. All women were characterized for demographic and lifestyle factors and indicators of excess body weight (EBW) that are likely to influence overall dietary habits. Dietary intake data was collected by administering the modified version of the NCI validated Block food frequency questionnaire (98.2-isoflav version) that includes 110 food items of the original version (98.2 version) and an additional 24 phytochemical rich food items. The data article describes our approach to derive the dietary inflammatory score using a validated empirical dietary inflammatory index based on the frequency and the amount of consumption of each food item with minor modifications. This data will allow researchers to understand the composition of a Southern-style diet consumed by women of childbearing age and its relationship to inflammatory potential, EBW, dietary guidelines, dietary reference intakes or diet quality indices.

Racial differences in dietary choices and their relationship to inflammatory potential in childbearing age women at risk for exposure to COVID-19.

Since the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is linked to chronic inflammation, people with initial lower inflammatory status could have better outcomes from exposure to this disease. Because dietary habits are one of the most important modifiable risk factors for inflammation, identification of dietary components associated with inflammation could play a significant role in controlling or reducing the risk of COVID-19. We investigated the inflammatory potential of diets consumed by African American (AA) and Caucasian American (CA) women of childbearing age (n = 509) who are at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 by being residents of Birmingham, Alabama, a city severely affected by this pandemic. The overall pro- and anti- inflammatory scores were calculated using dietary intake data gathered using Block food frequency questionnaire. The proinflammatory potential of diets consumed by AAs was significantly higher compared to CAs. Several anti- and proinflammatory nutrients and food groups consumed differed by race. With consumption of a greater number of antioxidants and B-vitamins, CAs switched toward an anti-inflammatory score more effectively than AAs while AAs performed better than CAs in improving the anti-inflammatory score with the consumption of a greater number of minerals and vitamin D. Effective race-specific dietary modifications or supplementation with nutrients identified will be useful to improve proinflammatory diets toward anti-inflammatory. This approach could aid in controlling the current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics of a similar nature in women at risk for exposure.