Nutrients Consumed by the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Jordanian Patients

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of the intestine that affects adults more than children, and can be associated with serious long-term complications like colon cancer. Nutrition has an important role in the management of patients with IBD which can ameliorate macro and micro-nutrient deficiencies in these individuals, and may reverse the physiopathological consequences of such deficiencies, and exert an anti-inflammatory therapeutic benefit. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the differences between macro and micro-nutrients intake among IBD cases and IBD-free controls in a selected sample of Jordanian adults. Methods: A case control study was conducted between November 2018 and December 2019. Three hundred thirty-five Jordanian adults aged between 18-68 years were recruited: 185 were recently diagnosed with IBD (100 (n = UC) and 85 (n = CD)) and 150 IBD-free controls. Nutrients intake and dietary data were collected from all participants using validated food frequency questionnaire. Results: The IBD group showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher intake of energy from fat, saturated fat, amount of total pro- tein, carbohydrates, sugars, fiber, MUFA, trans-fat and cholesterol compared to the control group. Besides, the IBD group showed significant (p < 0.05) higher intakes of vitamins A, D, E, B12, C and folate, beta-carotene, retinol, calcium, potas- sium, iron, Omega-3 and Omega-6 when compared to the control group. However, the control group had a higher intakes of vitamin K and caffeine when compared to the IBD group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Nutrients consumption in IBD patients often changes because of the impaired digestive tract function which may negatively impact the intake and status of macro- and micronutrients. Patients with IBD had a higher intake of some macro and micro-nutrients when compared to the control group, while the control group had higher intake of vitamin K and caffeine when compared to the IBD.