Esther Askani1, Susanne Rospleszcz2,3, Theresa Rothenbacher4, Nina Wawro5,6, Helmut Messmann7, Carlo N De Cecco8, Ricarda von Krüchten1, Charlotte Kulka1, Lena S Kiefer4, Wolfgang Rathmann9, Annette Peters2,3,10, Christopher L Schlett1, Fabian Bamberg1, Jakob Linseisen5,6, Corinna Storz11. 1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. 2. Chair of Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany. 3. Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. 4. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. 5. Independent Research Group Clinical Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. 6. Chair of Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, UNIKA-T Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany. 7. Department of Internal Medicine III, Klinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany. 8. Division of Cardiothoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA. 9. Institute of Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center, Duesseldorf, Germany. 10. German Center for Cardiovascular Disease Research (DZHK E.V.), Munich, Germany. 11. Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany. Corinna.Storz@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the worldwide burden of diverticular disease, the connections between diverticular disease and dietary habits remain poorly understood, particularly in an asymptomatic representative sample. We investigated the association between asymptomatic diverticular disease as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dietary habits in a Western study cohort. METHODS: Participants from a cross-sectional sample of a population-based cohort study underwent whole-body 3T-MRI including an isotropic VIBE-Dixon sequence. The presence and extent of diverticular disease was assessed in blinded fashion. Habitual dietary intake was recorded using a blended approach, applying 24-h food lists and a food-frequency questionnaire. Traditional cardiometabolic risk factors were obtained by interviews and medical examination. Univariate and multivariate associations were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 308 subjects were included in this analysis (56% male, 56.4 ± 9.1 years). 39.9% had any form of diverticular disease and 15.3% had advanced asymptomatic diverticular disease. After adjustment for age, sex and total energy intake a higher intake of fiber and vegetables was associated with a lower odds for asymptomatic diverticular disease (fiber: OR 0.68 95% CI [0.48, 0.95]; vegetables: OR 0.72 95% CI [0.53, 0.97]) and an increased intake of meat was associated with an approximately two-fold higher odds for advanced asymptomatic diverticular disease (OR 1.84 95% CI [1.13, 2.99]). However, after additional adjustment for body-mass-index (BMI), alcohol consumption, smoking behavior and physical activity only a high fiber and vegetables intake remained significantly associated with lower odds of asymptomatic diverticular disease. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a high-fiber diet and increased intake of vegetables is associated with lower odds of having asymptomatic diverticular disease, independent of age, sex, total energy intake, BMI and other life-style factors.
BACKGROUND: Despite the worldwide burden of diverticular disease, the connections between diverticular disease and dietary habits remain poorly understood, particularly in an asymptomatic representative sample. We investigated the association between asymptomatic diverticular disease as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dietary habits in a Western study cohort. METHODS:Participants from a cross-sectional sample of a population-based cohort study underwent whole-body 3T-MRI including an isotropic VIBE-Dixon sequence. The presence and extent of diverticular disease was assessed in blinded fashion. Habitual dietary intake was recorded using a blended approach, applying 24-h food lists and a food-frequency questionnaire. Traditional cardiometabolic risk factors were obtained by interviews and medical examination. Univariate and multivariate associations were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 308 subjects were included in this analysis (56% male, 56.4 ± 9.1 years). 39.9% had any form of diverticular disease and 15.3% had advanced asymptomatic diverticular disease. After adjustment for age, sex and total energy intake a higher intake of fiber and vegetables was associated with a lower odds for asymptomatic diverticular disease (fiber: OR 0.68 95% CI [0.48, 0.95]; vegetables: OR 0.72 95% CI [0.53, 0.97]) and an increased intake of meat was associated with an approximately two-fold higher odds for advanced asymptomatic diverticular disease (OR 1.84 95% CI [1.13, 2.99]). However, after additional adjustment for body-mass-index (BMI), alcohol consumption, smoking behavior and physical activity only a high fiber and vegetables intake remained significantly associated with lower odds of asymptomatic diverticular disease. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a high-fiber diet and increased intake of vegetables is associated with lower odds of having asymptomatic diverticular disease, independent of age, sex, total energy intake, BMI and other life-style factors.