Association between dietary index for gut microbiota and diarrhea among US adults: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2005–2010

TL;DR

A better diet for gut health, as measured by a dietary index, is linked to a lower risk of diarrhea in US adults.

Contribution

This study is the first to show a significant association between the Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM) and reduced diarrhea risk in a large population.

Findings

Each 1-point increase in DI-GM was linked to a 5% lower risk of diarrhea.

People with a DI-GM score of 6 or higher had a 23% lower risk of diarrhea compared to those with a score of 0–3.

The beneficial components of the DI-GM had a stronger effect on reducing diarrhea risk.

Abstract

Growing attention has been paid to the relationship between the gut microbiota and diarrhea. A recently proposed Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM) reflects the overall dietary quality as it pertains to gut microbiota diversity. However, evidence regarding the association between DI-GM and diarrhea is still lacking. This study aims to investigate the association between DI-GM and the risk of diarrhea.

A total of 15,590 adults (≥20 years old) from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2010 were included in this analysis. Diarrhea was defined by self-reported common Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) type 6 or 7, or more than three bowel movements per day. DI-GM comprises 14 food/nutrient components known to be associated with gut microbiota. A higher score indicates a more favorable diet for the gut microbiota. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between DI-GM and diarrhea, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses performed to confirm robustness.

After adjusting for age, gender, race, physical activity, chronic diseases, and other confounders, each 1-point increase in DI-GM was associated with a 5% reduction in diarrhea risk (adjusted OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91–0.98, p = 0.005). Compared with those who had a DI-GM score of 0–3, individuals with a DI-GM score ≥ 6 demonstrated a significantly lower risk of diarrhea (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65–0.91, p = 0.002). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses further supported this negative association. Notably, the “beneficial component” was found to have a more pronounced effect on reducing diarrhea risk.

Based on a large representative population, our findings suggest that a higher DI-GM score is significantly associated with a lower risk of diarrhea, underscoring the importance of overall dietary patterns in maintaining gut function and homeostasis.

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