Title: The relationship between dietary phytochemical index and resting metabolic rate mediated
by inflammatory factors in overweight and obese women: a cross-sectional study
Version: 1 Date: 21 Jan 2022
Reviewer's report:
Thank you for this valuable work.  I have some notes
In the abstract
1- If the considered signficant level is <0.05, then any p=0.05 is not significant.
2- For this sentence "However, no mediating effect was observed for high-sensitivity C-reactive
protein (hs-CRP) (p<0.05). " How no effect was observed and the p-value is significant?
Introduction:
3- lines 59-60"beta (TGF-#), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and infiltration of
immune cells into fat cells. the development of inflammatory responses specifically"  Please fix
this sentence.
4- lines 60-61 "Studies show that many obese people have lower RMR. " Add citation
5-lines 65-67 "Studies show that the number of photochemicals in all plant foods reduce the
underlying disorders of CVD, diabetes, cancers, obesity and overweight. " Please delete. This
sentence was repeated in lines 67-69.
6- line 76: delete ", quercetin, " It was repeated twice in the same sentence.
7- lines 79-81 "Antioxidants, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and polyphenols in the
DPI stimulate the sympathetic system, therefore, increasing thermogenic affects RMR. " Please
add a citation.
8-lines 83-84"DPI based on the percentage of daily energy intake of foods rich in phytochemicals
is related to the total energy intake. " Add citation.
9-lines 87-90 "It seems that the study of the relationship between DPI and RMR and the
mediating effect of inflammatory factors among obese and overweight women is important,
because RMR is low in obese and overweight women who may be due to the effect of
inflammatory factors." Add citation.
10- lines 90-91"For this reason, this study evaluated the relationship between DPI and RMR
mediated by inflammatory factors (MCP-1, PAI-1, TGF-# and hs-CRP) in overweight and obese
women." Specify when, where, whome!
Materials and Methods
11- line 97 "This cross-sectional " When was conducted
12- line 97  For your sample
a-"How were they recruited?
b-How did you calucalte your sample size
c-Why 404?
How were they sampled?
13- line 131 "We used a validated and reliable 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for
assessing usual dietary intake during the past year."
a-Add citation
b- Please mention the validity and the reliability of your tool.
c- Did you test the validity or the reliability of your tools? explain how did you do that and add
the validity and reliability tests
OR: Were they validated in previous work?  if yes, please add the validity and the reliability
tests and the citation.
14- lines 147-149"We used indirect calorimetry method to measure RMR by Meta Check, (Kerr
Medical Technologies, Salt Lake City, Utah) measurements were performed using a standard
protocol by occupational nutritionists in all persons, previously described in detail. " Please
check and revise this sentence.
15-lines 156-158: Based on studies, we considered the cutoff to be 20 kcal/24 h/kg. : Which
studies? Did you do pilot studies? Or do you mean the previous studies? Please add the citation.
16- Statistical analysis:  Please break long sentences into short ones so they are more readable
Results
17- line 180- Study Population Characteristics: Please add the table number
18- Consider rewriting the results in more readable way
19- lines 224-227"But in model 2, after adjusting for model 1 plus, all components of food
that were significant after adjustment to energy intake and marital status housing status, job,
weight loss history in past years, number of family members, economic status, blood pressure
and education returned. " Please rewrite this sentence and revise it.
20- lines 233-234 "Results did not indicate any significant mediating role of hCRP (OR =3.11,
95% CI 0.92 -10.50, P =0.04) " These results need to be checked and reviewed to make sure
they are accurate. OR>1, p-value <0.05 but the 95% CI was not significant!   Moreover, how
they were considered not significant? Why did you consider the 95% CI not the P-value here?
21-lines 237-238 "Because the three inflammatory factors eliminate a significant relationship
after being added to the final model." Incomplete sentence.
Discussion
22-lines 247-248 "Our study indicates that there is a positive association between RMR and high
phytochemical diet in adult women. " What do you mean by positive association? How did you
test POSITIVE Association?
23- line 276-277 "Several studies have shown an association between DPI and RMR mediated by
inflammatory markers (MCP-1, PAI-1 and TGF-#) (26). " Please when you say several studies,
then add several references.
Tables
25 -Table results are not easy to read.
In general:
26- The manuscript needs to be reviewd for English language. In some places, it is hard to
understand ideas. Different repeated words, and sentences.
27- Many citations are required.
28- The manuscript needs editing and formating. Just be constant.
29- The results are not easy to read from the manuscript and from the tables.