Associations between dairy consumption and constipation in adults: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Gastroenterology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Constipation is a common gastrointestinal issue affecting a significant portion of the adult population.
• Dietary factors, including dairy consumption, are frequently explored for their potential role in managing constipation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the consumption of dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese) and the prevalence of constipation in a general adult population.
• To determine if specific types or amounts of dairy intake influence constipation risk differently in men and women.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, including 632 women and 609 men.
• Assessed self-reported dairy intake (milk, yogurt, cheese) and constipation status.
• Employed multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for covariates like IBS, BMI, and fiber intake, to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

• In women, consuming 1-2 servings/day of total dairy was significantly associated with reduced odds of constipation (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26-0.90).
• Milk consumption of 1-4 servings/day showed a marginally significant association with reduced constipation odds in women (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.39-1.02).
• No significant associations between dairy consumption and constipation were observed in men.

Conclusions:

• Moderate dairy consumption, specifically 1-2 servings daily, appears to be associated with a lower likelihood of constipation in adult women.
• The study did not find a link between dairy intake and constipation in adult men.
• Further research is recommended to validate these findings and explore potential mechanisms.