Dietary fibre and acute appendicitis: a case-control study

In order to investigate the hypothesis that low dietary-fibre intake is a cause of acute appendicitis the diets of 30 children who had had appendicitis were compared with those of 55 age-sex matched controls, using a 7-day weighed food record. Although there were no statistically significant differences the average daily intake of cereal fibre was lower in the cases than the controls, giving limited support to reduced cereal fibre intake acting as a determinant of appendicitis. Low water intake may also be a causative influence. There is some evidence that infection and a familial predisposition may increase susceptibility to the disease.