High intake of dietary fibre from fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of hospitalisation for diverticular disease

Mahmood W Mahmood,Alicja Wolk,Fredrik Hjern,Mirna Abraham-Nordling,Niclas Håkansson

doi:10.1007/s00394-018-1792-0

Mahmood W Mahmood, Alicja Wolk + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1792-0

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Abstract

Backgrounds and aimsHigh intake of dietary fibres has been associated with a reduced risk of DD. However, reports on which type of dietary fibre intake that is most beneficial have been conflicting. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between different dietary fibres and hospitalisation due to diverticular disease (DD) of the colon.MethodsThis was a major cohort study. The Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men were linked to the Swedish Inpatient Register and the Causes of Death Register. Data on the intake of dietary fibre were collected through questionnaires. The effect of intake (in quartiles) of different types of dietary fibre on the incidence of hospitalisation due to DD was investigated using multivariable Cox regression. Estimates were adjusted according to age, BMI, physical activity, co-morbidity, intake of corticosteroids, smoking, alcohol intake and education level.ResultsWomen with intake of fruit and vegetable fibres in the highest quartile (median 12.6 g/day) had a 30% decreased risk of hospitalisation compared to those with the lowest intake (4.1 g/day). Men within the highest quartile (10.3 g/day) had a 32% decreased risk compared to those with a low intake (2.9 g/day). High intake of fibres from cereals did not affect the risk.ConclusionA high intake of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of hospitalisation due to DD. Intake of cereals did not influence the risk.

Highlights

Diverticular disease (DD) of the colon is common among adults
During 337,919 person-years of follow up, 255 (0.57%) men in the Cohort of Swedish Men (COSM) cohort were diagnosed with diverticular disease (DD), and correspondingly 505 (1.14%) women in the Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC) cohort during 287,789 person-years of follow-up
A high intake of fibre from cereals among both women and men was not associated with the risk of hospitalisation for DD [women 0.90 (0.68–1.19); p = 0.5 and men 0.76 (0.53–1.10); p = 0.05] (Table 5). This major prospective cohort study among middle-aged men and women demonstrates that high intake of dietary fibre, especially from fruits and vegetables, reduces the risk of hospitalisation for diverticular disease

Summary

Introduction

Diverticular disease (DD) of the colon is common among adults. The lifetime risk to develop complications such as diverticulitis is up to 4% [1]. Dietary and lifestyle factors affect the risk of DD, though recent studies have found a hereditary component [3,4,5]. It is stated that low dietary intake of fibre increases the risk of DD, in terms of the development of diverticula in predominately the sigmoid colon as well as the promotion to diverticulitis and its complications [6,7,8]. Recent studies have not seen this association [9]. High intake of dietary fibre is thought to decrease the risk of recurrence after medically managed diverticulitis [10]

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