Dietary habits in Italian children with inflammatory bowel disease: A case-control multicenter study

• Published in: Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition Vol. 79; no. 3; p. 602
• Main Authors: Gatti, Simona, Vallorani, Martina, Quattrini, Sara, Aloi, Marina, Bramuzzo, Matteo, Felici, Enrico, Zuin, Giovanna, Catassi, Giulia Naspi, Grazian, Federica, Ciacchini, Benedetta, Panceri, Roberto, Catassi, Carlo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Case-Control Studies; Child; Colitis, Ulcerative; Diet, Mediterranean - statistics & numerical data; Energy Intake; Energy Metabolism; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Micronutrients; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Recommended Dietary Allowances; Surveys and Questionnaires; Italy; energy intake; nutrition; IBD; Mediterranean diet; pediatrics
• ISSN: 1536-4801
• DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.12344

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) tend to self-modify their dietary habits according to disease activity and symptoms. This study aimed to assess the adequacy of the usual diet in Italian children with IBD in comparison to a control group and to the recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Dietary habits of IBD children and age- and gender-matched healthy controls were investigated using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire in five Italian pediatric IBD centers. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was assessed using the KID-MED test. Energy (EI), macro, and micronutrients intakes were compared between the two groups, to the RDA and the predicted total energy expenditure (EI/total energy expenditure [TEE]%). IBD subjects (n = 110) reported a lower EI, EI/RDA%, and EI/TEE% compared to controls (n = 110) (p = 0.012, p < 0.0002, and p = 0.014), lower total protein and fat intakes (p = 0.017, p < 0.0001) and lower minerals/RDA, vitamins/RDA and micronutrients/RDA ratio (%). Poor adherence to the MD was more frequent in IBD children compared to controls (p = 0.013). The total EI and carbohydrate intake were inversely correlated with higher disease activity. Italian children with IBD report an inadequate diet in terms of energy, macro, and micronutrients and have a low adherence to a high-quality MD pattern.