MedWire News: Research published in the journal Gastroenterology challenges the belief that a high-fiber diet protects against the development of diverticulosis.
Indeed, analysis of data from over 2000 colonoscopy patients suggests that patients with high levels of dietary fiber and frequent bowel movements were at increased risk for the condition, report Robert Sandler (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA) and co-authors.
Although diverticulosis is commonly thought to be associated with low levels of dietary fiber, large quantities of red meat, constipation, and physical inactivity, and patients are recommended to increase fiber intake to prevent the condition, little evidence has been provided to confirm this assertion, the team explains.
To investigate, the researchers questioned 2104 individuals who attended an outpatient colonoscopy clinic between 1998 and 2010, on diet and exercise. The patients were aged 30-80 years, and 878 were diagnosed with diverticulosis.
The risk for diverticulosis was significantly associated with increasing age and body mass index (BMI), and with White race.
However, the prevalence of diverticulosis showed a dose-dependent increase with dietary fiber intake, with a ratio of 1.3 for patients in the highest quartile for total intake compared with the lowest quartile, after adjusting for age, race, and BMI.
This was also true for high grain fiber intake and high insoluble fiber intake, say Sandler et al.
Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between risk for diverticulosis and dietary fat or red meat, or exercise, after adjusting for age, race, and BMI.
Constipation was also excluded as a risk factor for diverticulosis, with patients reporting 15 or more bowel movements per week 70% more likely to develop the disease than those reporting seven or fewer per week.
Noting that the mechanism of diverticuli development remains unknown, the team concludes: "Based on our results, previous hypothesizes regarding diverticulosis risk factors and diet recommendations to patients should be reconsidered."
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