Dose-response association between dietary fiber intake and hemorrhoid risk among sedentary professionals: a...

While prolonged sedentary behavior is an established contributor to hemorrhoidal disease, the precise quantitative impact of dietary fiber within sedentary occupational cohorts remains to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to characterize the dose-response relationship between fiber consumption and hemorrhoid prevalence among professionals in sedentary roles.

In this cross-sectional investigation of 421 sedentary professionals, dietary patterns were evaluated via validated instruments, and hemorrhoid status was determined through a combination of clinical assessment and symptom-based screening. We utilized multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Furthermore, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, adjusted for age, BMI, exercise habits, and sedentary duration, was employed to model the dose-response landscape.

The cohort exhibited a hemorrhoid prevalence of 38.95%. Multivariable-adjusted models revealed a significant inverse correlation between total fiber intake and hemorrhoid risk (P for trend < 0.001). Compared with the lowest energy-adjusted intake group (< 13.1 g/d), participants in the highest quartile (>18.5 g/d) had lower odds of hemorrhoids (adjusted OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.98). RCS regression identified a non-linear "L-shaped" association (P for non-linearity = 0.024). The curve showed visual flattening near 25 g/d, which should be interpreted as a descriptive pattern rather than a statistically validated threshold.

Higher dietary fiber intake was independently associated with lower hemorrhoid prevalence among sedentary workers. Because of the cross-sectional design, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of causality. Prospective studies are needed to clarify temporality and to determine whether increasing dietary fiber intake can reduce future hemorrhoid occurrence.