Abstract
BackgroundCarbohydrates can cause gastrointestinal symptoms due to incomplete absorption in the small bowel. Thus, high-carbohydrate diets may induce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).ObjectiveThis observational and cross-sectional study assessed the association between consumption of several carbohydrate-enriched staple foods, such as rice, Japanese wheat noodles, Chinese noodles, bread, pasta, and buckwheat noodles, and the prevalence of IBS in Japanese adults.Subjects and MethodsOne thousand and eighty-two (837 men) Japanese adult employees aged 19-85 were included in this cross-sectional study conducted in 2011. IBS diagnosis was based on the Rome III criteria. Consumption of staple foods was assessed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire, and divided into three categories (low, middle, high) depending on their distribution.ResultsIn the multivariate analysis, daily consumption of rice (odds ratios [ORs] and [95% confidence interval (CI)]: middle, 1.36 [0.93–1.99]; high, 1.67 [1.12–2.49]; P for trend = 0.01), bread (middle, 1.88 [1.28–2.75]; high, 1.63 [1.10–2.41]; P for trend = 0.01), pasta (middle, 1.47 [1.01–2.15]; high, 1.68 [1.12–2.52]; P for trend = 0.01), and buckwheat noodles (middle, 1.76 [1.18–2.61]; high, 1.98 [1.31–3.00]; P for trend = 0.001) were associated with higher prevalence of IBS after adjustment for socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle-related factors. Buckwheat noodles, but not other staple foods, retained an association with the prevalence of IBS even after adjustment for daily intake of carbohydrates or plant proteins.ConclusionsThis cross-sectional study demonstrated that the consumption of staple foods, such as rice, bread, pasta, and buckwheat noodles is associated with the prevalence of IBS. Of these, the consumption of buckwheat noodles, but not other staple foods, is associated with IBS independent of carbohydrate or plant protein contents.
Highlights
But not other staple foods, retained an association with the prevalence of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) even after adjustment for daily intake of carbohydrates or plant proteins. This cross-sectional study demonstrated that the consumption of staple foods, such as rice, bread, pasta, and buckwheat noodles is associated with the prevalence of IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder associated with abdominal pain or discomfort [1]
Very few studies have investigated the possible association between buckwheat or other staple foods and IBS prevalence. This population-based cross-sectional study aims to examine whether the consumption of major staple foods in Japan, including rice, Japanese wheat noodles, Chinese noodles, bread, pasta, and buckwheat noodles, are associated with the prevalence of IBS in Japanese adults. This cross-sectional study is a part of the Oroshisho Study, a prospective study of lifestyle-related illnesses and health status in Japanese adult workers aged 19–85 years based on annual health examinations for employees between 2008 and 2011
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder associated with abdominal pain or discomfort [1]. High-carbohydrate diets have been shown to play a role in the symptoms of IBS, because carbohydrates could cause gastrointestinal symptoms due to incomplete absorption in the small bowel [9]. Previous studies have revealed that very low-carbohydrate diets can improve the diarrhea-predominant symptoms of IBS [10]. Staudacher et al [11, 12] reported that a low fermentable carbohydrate diet appeared to be more effective than standard dietary advice for symptom control of IBS. Carbohydrates can cause gastrointestinal symptoms due to incomplete absorption in the small bowel. High-carbohydrate diets may induce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
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