Proinflammatory Diet Is Associated With Increased Risk of Fecal Incontinence Among Older Women: Prospective Results From the Nurses' Health Study

Abstract

Fecal incontinence (FI) is a debilitating gastrointestinal disorder with a devastating impact on quality of life,^1,2 particularly on older women, partly because of unique risk factors including parity and menopause.^2,3 Therefore, identifying modifiable factors, such as diet, are crucial for developing effective prevention strategies for FI among those at risk. We previously found higher dietary fiber intake was associated with lower FI risk,⁴ providing the first population-based data to connect diet and FI prevention. However, prospective evidence on other dietary factors and FI risk has been limited. Dietary patterns may be associated with gut microbiome characteristics, which may influence inflammatory responses in the gastrointestinal tract⁵ and drive neurosensory disturbances.⁶ Moreover, chronic inflammation may drive reduced muscle mass and function,⁷ and pelvic floor dysfunction is an established FI risk factor.^1,2 We hypothesized that a proinflammatory dietary pattern may be associated with increased FI risk and tested this hypothesis in the Nurses' Health Study.