Association between self-reported vegetarian diet and the irritable bowel syndrome in the French NutriNet cohort

Camille Buscail; Jean-Marc Sabate; Michel Bouchoucha; Marion J Torres; Benjamin Allès; Serge Hercberg; Robert Benamouzig; Chantal Julia

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0183039

Association between self-reported vegetarian diet and the irritable bowel syndrome in the French NutriNet cohort

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 25;12(8):e0183039. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183039. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Camille Buscail^{1

2}, Jean-Marc Sabate³, Michel Bouchoucha³, Marion J Torres¹, Benjamin Allès¹, Serge Hercberg^{1

2}, Robert Benamouzig³, Chantal Julia^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle, Université Paris 13, Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Biostatistiques (CRESS), Inserm 1153, Inra U1125, Cnam, COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Bobigny, France.
² Département de santé publique, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France.
³ Service d' Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France.

Abstract

Background: There is growing interest in using diet counselling in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Among new emerging diets, vegetarian diets (VD) seem to be experiencing an important popularity, partly because of their alleged health benefits. A recent study performed among a rural Indian population showed that predominant VD could be associated with IBS.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the association between the VD and IBS, among a large French cohort, the NutriNet-santé study.

Methods: Subjects participating in the NutriNet-Santé cohort study completed a questionnaire based on Rome III criteria (N = 41,682). Anthropometrics, socio-demographical and lifestyle data, including VD, were collected prior to the completion of Rome III questionnaire via self-administered questionnaires. Association between VD and IBS and its subtypes was investigated through multivariate logistic regression.

Results: The included subjects were mainly women (78.0%) and the mean age was 49.8±14.3 years. Among these individuals, 2,264 (5.4%) presented an IBS, and 805 (1.9%) reported a VD. Overall, VD was not associated with IBS or subtypes. A stable VD (i.e. self-declared at least three times) was associated with IBS (aOR 2.60 95%CI [1.37-4.91]), IBS mixed (aOR 2.97 95%CI [1.20-7.36]) and IBS diarrhoea (aOR 2.77 95%CI [1.01-7.59]).

Conclusions: This study suggests that a long term VD could be associated with IBS. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm these results, and investigate the multiple aspects of the vegetarian diet, possibly related to the IBS.

MeSH terms

Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet, Vegetarian*
Female
France / epidemiology
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome / epidemiology*
Male
Self Report*

Grants and funding

The NutriNet-Santé Study is supported by the French Ministry of Health, the Institut de Veille Sanitaire, the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, the Santé publique France Institute and the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale and Paris 13 University. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Study sponsors had no part in study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and the writing of the article and the decision to submit it for publication.