Dietary Acid Load and Its Association with Psychological Disorders and the Odds of Disease in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background:

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary acid load (DAL) with psychological disorders and the odds of disease in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

Materials and Methods:

 This case-control study was performed on 61 patients with IBS-D and 61 healthy matched individuals aged 20 to 55 years in Isfahan. To collect data, 3‐day dietary record and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) were used. Also, anthropometric indices were measured.  

Results:

No significant difference was found between potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores between the two groups. There was a significant direct relationship between NEAP scores with stress and depression in the IBS-D group and also with anxiety in the two groups (P<0.05). No association was found between PRAL and NEAP with odds of IBS-D in both crude and adjusted models.

Conclusion:

 Dietary acid load may be associated with psychological disorders in patients with IBS-D. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.