Diet in the aetiology of ulcerative colitis: a European prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
The causes of ulcerative colitis are unknown, although it is plausible that dietary factors are involved. Case-control studies of diet and ulcerative colitis are subject to recall biases. The aim of this study was to examine the prospective relationship between the intake of nutrients and the development of ulcerative colitis in a cohort study.


METHODS
The study population was 260,686 men and women aged 20-80 years, participating in a large European prospective cohort study (EPIC). Participants were residents in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany or Italy. Information on diet was supplied and the subjects were followed up for the development of ulcerative colitis. Each incident case was matched with four controls and dietary variables were divided into quartiles.


RESULTS
A total of 139 subjects with incident ulcerative colitis were identified. No dietary associations were detected, apart from a marginally significant positive association with an increasing percentage intake of energy from total polyunsaturated fatty acids (trend across quartiles OR = 1.19 (95% CI = 0.99-1.43) p = 0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
No associations between ulcerative colitis and diet were detected, apart from a possible increased risk with a higher total polyunsaturated fatty acid intake. A biological mechanism exists in that polyunsaturated fatty acids are metabolised to pro-inflammatory mediators.
Hart
Andrew R
AR
Department of Population Health, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
Luben
Robert
R
Olsen
Anja
A
Tjonneland
Anne
A
Linseisen
Jakob
J
Nagel
Gabriele
G
Berglund
Goran
G
Lindgren
Stefan
S
Grip
Olof
O
Key
Timothy
T
Appleby
Paul
P
Bergmann
Manuela M
MM
Boeing
Heiner
H
Hallmans
Goran
G
Danielsson
Ake
A
Palmqvist
Richard
R
Sjodin
Hubert
H
Hagglund
Gun
G
Overvad
Kim
K
Palli
Domenico
D
Masala
Giovanna
G
Riboli
Elio
E
Kennedy
Hugh
H
Welch
Ailsa
A
Khaw
Kay-Tee
KT
Day
Nicholas
N
Bingham
Sheila
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies