Mehrbod Vakhshoori1, Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli1,2, Parvane Saneei3,4, Ahmad Esmaillzadeh5,6,7, Peyman Adibi8. 1. Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Students' Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 3. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. saneeip@yahoo.com. 4. Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. saneeip@yahoo.com. 5. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 7. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 8. Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The association between frequency of meals and snacks and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is less studied in Middle-Eastern countries. AIM: We aimed to determine the relationship between meal and snack frequency with GERD symptoms in a large sample of Iranian adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 4669 individuals filled out a questionnaire about their number of meals and snacks. Frequency of total meals was defined by summing up the frequency of main meals and snacks, and participants were categorized into four categories: < 3, 3-5, 6-7 and ≥ 8 meals/day. GERD was defined as having heartburn sometimes or more during the last 3 months. The severity of disease was assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD in the study population was 23.7%. There was no significant association between meal or snack frequency and GERD symptoms in the whole population. However, after adjustment of all potential confounders, we found that women who consumed 1-2 or 3-5 snacks per day, compared with those who never had snacks, had a 41% (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.42-0.84) and 51% (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.32-0.75) reduced risk of having GERD, respectively. Women who consumed 6-7 or ≥ 8 snacks and meals per day had a 38% (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.41-0.96) and 43% (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.34-0.95) risk reduction for GERD compared with those who ate < 3 snacks and meals per day. CONCLUSION: We found no significant association between meal frequency and GERD symptoms in the whole population. Gender-specific analysis revealed inverse associations between meal and snack frequency and GERD in Iranian women. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these associations.
BACKGROUND: The association between frequency of meals and snacks and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is less studied in Middle-Eastern countries. AIM: We aimed to determine the relationship between meal and snack frequency with GERD symptoms in a large sample of Iranian adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 4669 individuals filled out a questionnaire about their number of meals and snacks. Frequency of total meals was defined by summing up the frequency of main meals and snacks, and participants were categorized into four categories: < 3, 3-5, 6-7 and ≥ 8 meals/day. GERD was defined as having heartburn sometimes or more during the last 3 months. The severity of disease was assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD in the study population was 23.7%. There was no significant association between meal or snack frequency and GERD symptoms in the whole population. However, after adjustment of all potential confounders, we found that women who consumed 1-2 or 3-5 snacks per day, compared with those who never had snacks, had a 41% (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.42-0.84) and 51% (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.32-0.75) reduced risk of having GERD, respectively. Women who consumed 6-7 or ≥ 8 snacks and meals per day had a 38% (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.41-0.96) and 43% (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.34-0.95) risk reduction for GERD compared with those who ate < 3 snacks and meals per day. CONCLUSION: We found no significant association between meal frequency and GERD symptoms in the whole population. Gender-specific analysis revealed inverse associations between meal and snack frequency and GERD in Iranian women. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these associations.
Entities:
Keywords:
Feeding behavior; Gastroesophageal reflux; Meal frequency; Snack frequency
Authors: L A Bradley; J E Richter; T J Pulliam; J M Haile; I C Scarinci; C A Schan; C B Dalton; A N Salley Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 1993-01 Impact factor: 10.864