The Relationship of Dietary Nutrient Patterns and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Multicenter Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Gastroenterology
• Public Health

Background:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with known dietary associations.
• However, specific nutrient-based dietary patterns and their association with IBS remain understudied.
• Investigating nutrient intake patterns offers a novel approach to understanding IBS etiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between nutrient-based dietary patterns and the prevalence of IBS.
• To identify specific nutrient patterns associated with reduced odds of developing IBS in an adult population.
• To explore the role of antioxidants, fiber, and sugar intake in IBS risk.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter case-control study involving 317 IBS patients and 601 healthy controls in Iran (2021-2023).
• Dietary habits assessed using a 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).
• Nutrient patterns identified, and logistic regression used to analyze associations with IBS, adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

• Two distinct nutrient patterns were significantly associated with lower IBS odds: Pattern I (high in antioxidants like beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E) and Pattern II (rich in fiber, glucose, fructose, maltose).
• Higher adherence to Pattern I showed an Odds Ratio (OR) of 0.75 (95% CI 0.62-0.92, p=0.00).
• Higher adherence to Pattern II showed an OR of 0.52 (95% CI 0.42-0.64, p=0.00).
• A third pattern, high in sugars and caffeine, showed no significant association with IBS (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.80-1.12, p>0.05).

Conclusions:

• Nutrient patterns rich in antioxidants and fiber are associated with a reduced risk of irritable bowel syndrome.
• Dietary interventions focusing on increasing intake of antioxidant-rich foods and fiber may be beneficial for IBS prevention.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking these nutrient patterns to IBS.