Differences in dietary habits of people with vs without irritable bowel syndrome and their association with symptom and psychological status: A pilot study

Table 2 Dietary habits, clinical characteristics, and psychological states of irritable bowel syndrome patients and non-irritable bowel syndrome participants, n (%)

	IBS patients	Non-IBS participants	P value
Dietary habits	n = 25	n = 110
Quantity per time (g for solid food and mL for liquid food)
Seafood	150 (100, 200)	100 (75, 150)	0.004
Soybean and its products	250 (150, 350)	200 (100, 250)	< 0.001
Spicy food	250 (150, 300)	200 (150, 250)	0.036
Dry-fried nuts	75 (50, 100)	62.5 (50, 75)	0.021
Soft drinks			< 0.001
0 mL	5 (20.0)	45 (40.9)
250 mL	9 (36.0)	54 (49.1)
500 mL	11 (44.0)	11 (10.0)
Vegetables	350 (300, 400)	250 (200, 300)	< 0.001
Fruits	250 (200, 300)	200 (150, 250)	< 0.001
Intake frequency [times per week (t/wk)]
Egg			0.019
≤ 1 t/wk	2 (8.0)	41 (37.3)
2–6 t/wk	13 (52.0)	38 (34.5)
≥ 7 t/wk	10 (40.0)	31 (28.2)
Soybean and its products			< 0.001
≤ 1 t/wk	10 (40.0)	95 (86.4)
2–6 t/wk	7 (28.0)	12 (10.9)
≥ 7 t/wk	8 (32.0)	3 (2.7)
Spicy food			0.001
≤ 1 t/wk	7 (28.0)	63 (57.3)
2–6 t/wk	7 (28.0)	33 (30.0)
≥ 7 t/wk	11 (44.0)	14 (12.7)
Barbecue			< 0.001
≤ 1 t/wk	12 (48.0)	93 (84.5)
2–6 t/wk	9 (36.0)	14 (12.7)
≥ 7 t/wk	4 (16.0)	3 (2.7)
Dry-fried nuts			< 0.001
≤ 1 t/wk	15 (60.0)	102 (92.7)
2–6 t/wk	4 (16.0)	7 (6.4)
≥ 7 t/wk	6 (24.0)	1 (0.9)
Coarse grain			0.019
≤ 1 t/wk	9 (36.0)	54 (49.1)
2–6 t/wk	3 (12.0)	36 (32.7)
≥ 7 t/wk	13 (52.0)	20 (18.2)
Clinical and psychological score	n = 25	n = 178
IBS-SSS	150.0 (37.5, 187.5)	N/A	N/A
IBS-QOL	46.0 (35.5, 74.5)	N/A	N/A
GSRS	4.0 (3.0, 6.5)	3.0 (1.0, 5.0)	0.007
VSI	64.0 (53.0, 68.5)	29.0 (17.5, 38.25)	< 0.001
HADS anxiety score	7.0 (3.5, 10.0)	3.0 (1.0, 6.0)	< 0.001
HADS depression score	5.0 (2.5, 8.0)	3.0 (1.0, 6.0)	0.026

The data are presented as the median (Q1, Q3) or numbers (percentages). All P < 0.05 vs controls. IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-SSS: IBS symptom severity scale; IBS-QOL: IBS-specific quality of life; VSI: Visceral sensitivity index; HADS: Hospital anxiety and depression scale; GSRS: Gastrointestinal symptom rating scale; N/A: Not applicable.