Dietary habits and lifestyles are considered to affect the frequency of epigastric symptoms. In our previous study, we found that three amino acids in Japanese broth promoted gastric emptying. We hypothesized that a higher consumption of miso soup which was mainly composed of Japanese broth and miso paste would be associated with a lower frequency of epigastric symptoms. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the association between frequency of miso soup intake and reflux or dyspepsia symptoms in a general Japanese population. Sixteen items of dietary habits were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire, and epigastric symptoms were evaluated using the Frequency Scale for Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (FSSG). We fitted generalized linear models to analyze the association between miso soup intake and FSSG, reflux, or dyspepsia scores adjusted by age, sex, body mass index (BMI), another 15 dietary habits, smoking, drinking alcohol, and unfavorable dietary behaviors. A total of 9,364 subjects were included in the analysis. Trend analysis revealed that higher frequency of miso soup intake was associated with lower FSSG scores (p<0.001). In a generalized linear model, daily intake of miso soup was associated with lower FSSG, reflux, and dyspepsia scores independent of age, sex, BMI, other 15 dietary habits, smoking, drinking alcohol, and unfavorable dietary behaviors (estimate=-0.46, -0.22, and -0.27, respectively; 95% CI=-0.83, -0.12; -0.38, -0.07; and -0.47, and -0.08, respectively). Dairy intake of miso soup was associated with lower epigastric symptoms.
Keywords: Frequency Scale for Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflex Disease (FSSG); Japanese diet; dietary habit; gastric emptying; miso soup.