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Gastrointestinal discomforts and dietary intake in Chinese urban elders: A cross-sectional study in eight cities of China
Due to the high prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) discomforts among the elderly, Zhao et al. (2019) evaluated the associated factors of GI discomforts among an elderly population in an urban setting in China. Data was collected from 688 elders from 8 different Chinese cities, on food intake, dietary pattern and nutrient intake (using a food frequency questionnaire and 24h dietary recall). Of the 83% of the subjects who had experienced at least one of GI discomforts in the past 6 months, dyspepsia was the most common with 66.7%, followed by reflux (44.8%), abdominal pain (35.9%), constipation (35.8%), and diarrhoea (34.7%). Female gender, lower education level, and lower family income were associated with a higher GSRS score (measure of GI discomfort severity). The results revealed those diagnosed with a GI-related disease had a higher incidence of constipation but less reflux. Chronic diseases were also positively associated with certain GI discomforts. Although three dietary patterns within the sample population were identified, no associations between dietary patterns and GSRS score were found. Zhao et al. (2019) did find a correlation between those with higher GSRS score with significantly lower intake of bean products. It was concluded that GI discomforts might be associated with food choice within this elderly Chinese population. [NPIDs: gastrointestinal disorders, digestion, gastrointestinal tract, gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, gut, elderly, China, dyspepsia, reflux, constipation]
Year: 2019
