P1183 Perception of the role of diet on symptom exacerbation in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Abstract Background A substantial proportion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) believe that diet plays an important role in disease activity. As a result, IBD patients often change their dietary regimen in order to improve their symptoms and to prevent recurrences, however most of them choose self-imposed dietary restrictions that may lead to malnutrition and to a significant reduction in quality of life. The aim of our study was to evaluate dietary habits and the perception of the relationship between diet and symptoms in IBD patients. Methods A semi-structured questionnaire assessing demographics, clinical features, perception of the role of diet on symptom exacerbations and dietary habits including adoption of food restrictions was developed by our gastroenterologists and dietitians and was administered to patients with IBD. Results 85 patients with IBD (56 with Ulcerative Colitis and 29 with Crohn’s Disease, mean age 55.0 ± 15.9 years, 43 males) were enrolled in the study. Most IBD patients did not perceive diet as a possible cause of disease (68/85 patients, 80.0%) or relapses (70/85 patients, 82.3%), but the majority of them (55/85 patients, 64.7%) believed that certain foods and drinks could worsen disease symptoms. Alcohol, carbonate drinks, milk, spicy and fat foods were often considered as a possible cause of symptom deterioration. Although 50/85 patients (58.8%) stated that they changed their diet after the diagnosis, only 19/85 patients (22.3%) declared to adopt a "restrictive" diet by reducing or avoiding some foods. However, 64/85 patients (75.3%) showed low/intermediate adherence to Mediterranean Diet (MD) (calculated with the MediLite Score), and no patient had high adherence to MD. Finally, the majority of IBD patients declared that they would like to receive more information on diet in relation to their disease. Conclusion In our study, the majority of IBD patients perceived that certain foods and drinks could worsen disease symptoms and accordingly changed their diet after the diagnosis. The adoption of restrictive diets is probably more frequent than declared by IBD patients, as suggested by the high prevalence of low/intermediate adherence to MD. Education of healthcare providers is important to improve knowledge and quality of nutrition in IBD patients.