Imbalances in dietary consumption of fatty acids, vegetables, and fruits are associated with risk for Crohn's disease in children.
OBJECTIVE
The role of dietary factors in the etiology of Crohn's disease (CD) is inconsistent largely due to difficulties in acquiring valid information on consumption habits. We examined the impact of diet on new onset CD in children using a validated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ).


METHODS
A case-control study was carried out. Children < or =20 yr, newly diagnosed with CD, were recruited from 3 pediatric gastroenterology clinics across Canada. Population or hospital controls were selected matched to cases for time of diagnosis (+/-6 months) and area of residence. Dietary consumption 1 yr prior to disease diagnosis was evaluated using a validated FFQ, administered within 1 month of diagnosis. Conditional logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounding variables (energy intake, age, gender, body mass index) was carried out.


RESULTS
A total of 130 CD patients and 202 controls were studied. Mean age at diagnosis (+/-SD) was 14.2 (2.7). There were more male patients (59%). Comparing the highest to the lowest levels of consumption, higher amounts of vegetables (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.33-1.44, P= 0.03), fruits (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25-0.96, P= 0.02), fish (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.20-1.06, P= 0.02), and dietary fiber (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.04-0.37, P < 0.001) protected from CD. Consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCN-omega-3) was negatively associated with CD (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.19-1.00, P < 0.001). A higher ratio of LCN-omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids was significantly associated with lower risks for CD (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.71, P= 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that an imbalance in consumption of fatty acids, vegetables, and fruits is associated with increased risks for CD among Canadian children.
Amre
Devendra K
DK
Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
D'Souza
Savio
S
Morgan
Kenneth
K
Seidman
Gillian
G
Lambrette
Philippe
P
Grimard
Guy
G
Israel
David
D
Mack
David
D
Ghadirian
Parviz
P
Deslandres
Colette
C
Chotard
Virginie
V
Budai
Balint
B
Law
Liliane
L
Levy
Emile
E
Seidman
Ernest G
EG
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids