Effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in children and adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome

Table 1 Demographic data and clinical characteristics in irritable bowel syndrome patients' groups before the start of the Mediterranean diet

Variable	Group I (Mediterranean diet) (n = 50)	Group II (n = 50)	P value
Age (yr)	15.50 ± 1.80	15.2 ± 1.5	0.881
Sex (M: F)	27:23	26:24	0.902
Height (z-score)	0.04 ± 1	0.04 ± 1.00	0.661
Weight (z-score)	0.14 ± 0.99	0.12 ± 0.89	0.831
BMI (z-score)	0.18 ± 0.88	0.17 ± 1.02	0.771
IBS subtypes			0.472
IBS-C	22 (44 %)	21 (42 %)
IBS-D	20 (40 %)	21 (42 %)
IBS-M	4 (8 %)	5 (10 %)
IBS-U	2 (4 %)	3 (6 %)
IBS severity			0.552
Mild	12 (24%)	14 (28 %)
Moderate	33 (66%)	31 (62 %)
Severe	5 (10%)	5 (10 %)
Duration of IBS symptoms (mo)	34.40 ± 9.10	35.30 ± 9.80	0.581
Treatment drugs3			0.661
Gastroprokinetic	50	50
Antidepressants	11	12
Antacids	18	20
Antibioticsprobiotics	924	723
IBS-SSS	237.20 ± 65	248.30 ± 71.10	0.681
IBS-QoL	57.30 ± 12.90	59.10 ± 11.70	0.711
Total score	24.10 ± 10.40	22.80 ± 13.50	0.821

¹Independent t-test.

²Chi-square test.

³Treatment drugs for one month before starting the study and during the whole study period.

BMI: Body mass index; IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-C: IBS constipation; IBS-D: IBS diarrhea; IBS-M: IBS mixed; IBS-U: IBS unsubtyped; IBS-SSS: IBS symptoms severity score questionnaire; IBS-QoL: IBS quality of life questionnaire.