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In many rural regions of developing countries, increasing market access is reshaping local food systems. Traditional diets rooted in local agriculture are being replaced by market-driven alternatives. It is suspected that this dietary transition will contribute to rising risks of non-communicable diseases through increased chronic inflammation. This study, conducted in northern Lao People's Democratic Republic, investigated the association between dietary transition and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a biomarker of chronic inflammation in three villages with varying levels of market exposure.

Data were collected from 380 adults in three villages with different degrees of market integration. Questionnaires recorded individual characteristics and weekly intake frequency of 28 food groups. Dried blood spots were analyzed for CRP using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis, and scores were compared among villages. Associations between dietary patterns and CRP were examined using multivariable logistic regression. To account for seasonality, analyses were conducted within same-season subgroups: rainy (Na Lae, Na Savang) and dry (Na Savang, Nam Nyon).

CRP concentrations were higher in villages with a higher degree of market integration. A dietary pattern was identified, characterized by high consumption of foraged wild plants and a low intake of market-related foods. This pattern was negatively associated with elevated CRP in the dry season subsample.

Higher CRP concentrations were found in residents of villages with a higher degree of market integration. This trend may partly be explained by a dietary transition from a foraging-based to a market-dependent diet.