title: A case-control study of ulcerative colitis in relation to dietary and other factors in Japan. The Epidemiology Group of the Research Committee of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Japan.
abstract: The etiology of ulcerative colitis is essentially unknown. A hospital-based case-control study examined the risk of ulcerative colitis in relation to dietary and other factors. Recruited at 20 hospitals across the nation were 101 ulcerative colitis patients who were 10-39 years old at the time of disease onset and whose disease had been diagnosed within the past 3 years. One hundred and forty-three control subjects were also examined. Information on factors was obtained by using a self-administered questionnaire. Combined consumption of western foods (bread for breakfast, butter, margarine, cheese, meats, and ham/ sausage) was significantly related to an increased risk of ulcerative colitis (trend P = 0.04). Of the six food items of the western food group, margarine was positively and significantly associated with ulcerative colitis (trend P = 0.005), and bread for breakfast tended to be positively associated with the risk (trend P = 0.07). No appreciable association was found for the consumption of Japanese foods, vegetables and fruits, confectionery, or soft drinks. Compared with lifelong nonsmokers, current smokers had a decreased risk, and former smokers had an increased risk. This study confirmed a protective association between smoking and ulcerative colitis, and suggested that margarine or chemically modified fat may play an etiological role in the development of ulcerative colitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008383:Margarine