IBS linked to inflammation-promoting foods

Takeaway

• Pro-inflammatory diet is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), particularly among women and patients with BMI ≥25 kg/m².

Why this matters

• Consuming foods with lower dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores may prevent IBS in some patients.

Study design

• Researchers studied dietary intake and IBS status of participants (n=3363) who responded to a validated, dish-based, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (DS-FFQ) and a modified Rome III diagnostic questionnaire for functional gastrointestinal disorders.
• They used DS-FFQ data to classify participants into DII score quintiles.
• Funding: Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Key results

• Top DII quintile participants were more likely to develop IBS than those in the bottom quintile (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.03-1.80).
• This association was greater for top DII quintile women than men (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.00-2.00).
• Top DII quintile participants with BMI ≥25 kg/m²were more likely to develop IBS than those in the bottom quintile (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07-2.53).
• DII score was not significantly associated with IBS symptom severity.

Limitations

• The study was cross-sectional and did not establish causality.
• Participant diet and health data were self-reported.
• Participants were Iranian health workers; findings may not apply to other populations.