Mediterranean Diet and Overactive Bladder.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• The link between diet and overactive bladder (OAB) remains unclear.
• Dietary patterns offer a comprehensive view of food intake, potentially predicting disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.
• To explore the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MeDAS) and the Overactive Bladder-Validated 8-question Screener (OAB-V8).

Main Methods:

• The study included 326 adult patients presenting to non-urology outpatient clinics.
• Data were collected using the validated Turkish versions of the MeDAS and OAB-V8 questionnaires.
• Patients with chronic diseases or urinary tract infections were excluded.

Main Results:

• A significant negative correlation was observed between MeDAS and OAB-V8 scores, indicating higher diet adherence was linked to fewer OAB symptoms.
• High OAB symptom scores (OAB-V8) were associated with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²), being single, and lower educational attainment.
• The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MeDAS) effectively assessed patient compliance.

Conclusions:

• Dietary patterns, like the Mediterranean diet, may be crucial in managing overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.
• The Mediterranean diet is recommended as a first-line approach for patients experiencing OAB.
• The 14-item MeDAS provides a practical tool for evaluating patient adherence to this dietary pattern.