The association between meal and snack frequency and irritable bowel syndrome

The association between dietary meal intake habits and coronary artery stenosis and cardio-metabolic risk factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

We are not aware of studies examining the association between dietary meal intake habits (DMIH) and severity of coronary artery stenosis (CAS). This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between DMIH and the severity of CAS as well as cardiometabolic risk factors in adults undergoing coronary angiography.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was done on 720 patients undergoing coronary angiography (aged 35-75 years) who were admitted to Afshar Hospital, a referral hospital for cardiovascular diseases in Yazd, Iran. Data on DMIH were gathered by interview. Blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis. Blood pressure, anthropometric indices, and body composition were also evaluated. The relationship between DMIH and the severity of CAS [examined by angiography based on Gensini Score (GS) and Syntax Score (SS)] and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed using logistic regression and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), respectively, in crude and multivariable adjusted models.

RESULTS

After adjustment for all possible confounding variables, the study revealed that people who ate 3 meals/day had a lower risk of severe CAS compared to people who ate 2 or fewer meals (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.88, P-trend = 0.02). There was an inverse association between the number of snacks /day and the severity of CAS (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.87, P-trend = 0.02). There was also an inverse relationship between breakfast frequency/week and the severity of CAS based on both GS and SS (P < 0.05). Breakfast consumption, meal frequency, lunch consumption, snack frequency, and more food consumption on holidays were also associated with different cardiometabolic markers and anthropometric measures (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to the results of the present study, meal frequency and breakfast consumption might be inversely associated with CAS and cardiometabolic risk factors.

The relationship between meal regularity with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in adults

BACKGROUND

The irregular meal pattern and meal-skipping might be related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), however, findings of previous investigations are contradictory. We aimed to examine the relation of meal regularity with IBS in Iranian adult population.

METHODS

Data on 4599 adults who worked in 50 different health centers were used in this cross-sectional study. Dietary habits were measured using a pretested questionnaire. IBS identification was performed through the use of a modified version of Rome III questionnaire.

RESULTS

IBS was prevalent among 18.6% of men and 24.1% of women. After adjustment for potential confounders, those with regular meal pattern, in comparison to those with irregular meals, had 40% lower odds for IBS (OR:0.60, 95%CI: 0.41-0.87). Individuals with regular meals had also 82 lower risk for IBS-Mixed, in comparison to those who had irregular meals (OR:0.18, 0.95%CI: 0.08-0.43). Stratified analysis by gender revealed that women with regular meals, compared with those who did not, had 44% lower risk for IBS (OR: 0.56, 0.95%CI: 0.34-0.91). Normal-weight individuals who had regular meal pattern, compared to those who did not, had 63% lower risks for IBS (OR:0.37, 95%CI: 0.22-0.64). Furthermore, subjects who had regular meal pattern had 53% lower risk for severe symptoms of IBS (OR:0.47, 95%CI: 0.30-0.71).

CONCLUSION

We found that participants with regular meal pattern had reduced odds of IBS, IBS-Mixed and the syndrome severity. Meal regularity was also linked to reduced IBS prevalence in women, and in normal-weight individuals. More prospective studies are needed to affirm these associations.