title: Diet in the aetiology of ulcerative colitis: a European prospective cohort study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Population Health, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors: Andrew R
authors: AR
authors: Hart
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Luben
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Olsen
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Tjonneland
authors: Jakob
authors: J
authors: Linseisen
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Nagel
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Berglund
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Lindgren
authors: Olof
authors: O
authors: Grip
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Key
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Appleby
authors: Manuela M
authors: MM
authors: Bergmann
authors: Heiner
authors: H
authors: Boeing
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Hallmans
authors: Ake
authors: A
authors: Danielsson
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Palmqvist
authors: Hubert
authors: H
authors: Sjodin
authors: Gun
authors: G
authors: Hagglund
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Overvad
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Palli
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Masala
authors: Elio
authors: E
authors: Riboli
authors: Hugh
authors: H
authors: Kennedy
authors: Ailsa
authors: A
authors: Welch
authors: Kay-Tee
authors: KT
authors: Khaw
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Day
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: Bingham
mesh_terms: 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