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Dietary Patterns (Poster Session)

(P22-014-24) The Effect of Special Dietary Structures on Adults With Diarrhea and Constipation

Monday, July 1, 2024
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 291

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Zhuozhi Gong

    Wangjing Hospital of Huajiadi Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
    China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
    Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Teng Li, bachelor (she/her/hers)

    Beijing
    China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,Beijing
    Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

  • HY

    He Yan

    China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
    Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

  • YL

    Yue Lian

    China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
    Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

  • WW

    Wei Wei

    China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
    Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

  • TL

    Tao Liu

    China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
    Beijing, Beijing, China (People's Republic)

Disclosure(s):
Zhuozhi Gong: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Teng Li, bachelor: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Special dietary structures are typically designed to address particular health needs or achieve specific health objectives. Alterations in dietary structure can influence gastrointestinal function, closely linked to constipation and diarrhea. This study aims to explore how special dietary structures impact diarrhea and constipation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey dataset spanning 2005 to 2010. Constipation, diarrhea, and healthy bowel were defined according to the Bristol Scale. The study examined various diet types, including weight-loss, low-fat, low-salt/low-sodium and sugar-free/low-sugar diets. Covariates in this study encompassed age, gender, race, education level, body mass index, family PIR, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, alcohol consumption and strenuous physical activity. Participants with missing, invalid data, or those using antacids, antidiarrheals, and laxatives were excluded. We analyzed the data using weighted chi-square tests and weighted logistic regression models.

Results: A total of 3766 adults were included in this study. The results of the weighted chi-square test showed that a sugar-free/low-sugar diet was associated with both constipation and diarrhea (p < 0.05). Multifactorial logistic regression in the diarrhea subgroup revealed that both Model II and Model III supported a sugar-free/low-sugar diet as a protective factor (Model II OR: 0.133, 95%CI: 0.030 - 0.590, P = 0.008; Model III OR: 0.120, 95%CI: 0.027 - 0.532, P = 0.005). Subgroup logistic regression analysis revealed that low-salt/low-sodium diets were linked to diarrhea in men with constipation (OR: 7.476e-07, 95%CI: 4.302e-07 - 1.299e-06, P < 0.001) and men with diarrhea (OR: 1.262e-06, 95%CI: 7.343e-07 - 2.167e-06, P < 0.001), while sugar-free/ow-sugar diets acted as protective factors for men with constipation (OR: 7.325e-07, 95%CI: 4.286e-07 - 1.252e-06, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Sugar-free/low-sugar diet as a protective factor against diarrhea and in men with constipation. Low-salt/low-sodium diets also act as protective factors for constipation and diarrhea, particularly in men. This information assists doctors in treating patients through dietary modification as an adjuvant therapy.

Funding Sources: National Natural Science Foundation of China (81830115)