Pre-illness changes in dietary habits and diet as a risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), before diagnosis modify dietary habits, and to investigate the pre-illness diet in patients with recent IBD in comparison with an age-matched healthy control group.


METHODS
Overall, 83 new cases of IBD (41 ulcerative colitis, 42 Crohn's disease) and 160 healthy controls were studied. Portions per week of 34 foods and beverages before onset of symptoms were recorded using a validated questionnaire. Duration of symptoms before IBD diagnosis, presence of specific symptoms and their impact on subjective changes in usual dietary habits were also recorded. The association between diet and IBD was investigated by multiple logistic regression and dietary patterns were assessed by factor analysis.


RESULTS
Changes in dietary habits, due to the presence of symptoms, were reported by 38.6% of patients and were not significantly related to specific symptoms, rather to long duration of symptoms, only in Crohn's disease patients. In IBD patients who did not change dietary habits, moderate and high consumption of margarine (OR = 11.8 and OR = 21.37) was associated with ulcerative colitis, whilst high consumption of red meat (OR = 7.8) and high intake of cheese were associated with Crohn's disease.


CONCLUSIONS
More than one third of IBD patients change dietary habits before diagnosis. Margarine, red meat and cheese increase the risk of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Maconi
Giovanni
G
Department of Clinical Sciences, L. Sacco University Hospital, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy. giovanni.maconi@unimi.it
Ardizzone
Sandro
S
Cucino
Claudia
C
Bezzio
Cristina
C
Russo
Antonio-Giampiero
AG
Bianchi Porro
Gabriele
G
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1998 Mar;10(3):243-9
9585029
Semin Gastrointest Dis. 1998 Jan;9(1):21-30
9547853
Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Apr;95(4):1008-13
10763951
Br Med J. 1980 Feb 2;280(6210):293-4
7357348
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985 Jun 15;290(6484):1786-7
3924257
Digestion. 1990;46(1):10-8
2210092
Am J Clin Nutr. 1979 Sep;32(9):1898-901
474481
Dig Liver Dis. 2002 Jan;34(1):9-12
11926580
Epidemiology. 1992 Jan;3(1):47-52
1313310
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003 Oct;12(10):1091-4
14578148
Dig Dis Sci. 1981 May;26(5):444-8
7249883
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2003 Jun;15(6):607-13
12840670
Br Med J. 1979 Sep 29;2(6193):762-4
519184
Gastroenterology. 1987 Aug;93(2):316-21
3596168
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985 Oct 5;291(6500):971-2
3929989
Scand J Gastroenterol. 1983 Nov;18(8):999-1002
6673083
J Gastroenterol. 1995 Nov;30 Suppl 8:9-12
8563901
Digestion. 2008;77(1):57-64
18349539
Klin Wochenschr. 1976 Apr 15;54(8):367-71
1271690
Am J Clin Nutr. 1996 May;63(5):741-5
8615358
Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Apr;96(4):1101-5
11316154
Digestion. 1988;41(3):161-71
3265683
J Am Diet Assoc. 1985 Dec;85(12):1591-9
4067154
Digestion. 1980;20(5):323-6
7390057
Gut. 2001 Dec;49(6):755-6
11709506
Gut. 1997 Jun;40(6):754-60
9245929
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1995 Jan;7(1):47-51
7866810