THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET IS A PROTECTIVE FACTOR AGAINST GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN YOUNG PEOPLE

Background and aim: Irregular meals and an unbalanced diet were often associated to gastrointestinal symptoms in young people. We aimed to assess the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) in young people. Material and methods: 718 students (M: 410; age range 14-21) were re- cruited and the presence of GIS was explored by the Roma III questionnaire. Data regarding demographic parameters (weight, height, BMI) were collected. Kidmed test (Serra-Majem L. et al.2004) was performed to evaluate dietary habits. Subjects were divided based on BMI in underweight ( < 19.9 kg/m 2 ; UW), normal weight (20.0-24.9; NW) and overweight ( > 25.0; OW). Adher- ence to the MD was evaluated using the Kidmed score (theoretical range 0-12). Higher Kidmed score (8-12) and lower one (0-3) correspond to greater and lower adherence to the MD respectively. Results: Almost half (n 330) of the sample population suffered GIS with a significant prevalence of females (M 145, F 185; p < 0.05). Dyspeptic, intestinal and overlapped symptoms were found in 271 (131 M), 59 (27 M), 39 (14 M) respectively. Lower Kidmed score independently on BMI was associated with a significant increased GIS prevalence (see table; p < 0.05). Some underweight subjects with good adherence to MD (Kidmed score 8-12) had a significant increase of GIS prevalence (see table; p < 0.05). Table 1. Kidmed score Kidmed score G.I. symptoms Controls tot UWNWOW tot UWNWOW 0–3 141 A (43%) 26 B 54 C 61 D 82 a (21%) 5 b 13 c 64 d 4–7 160 A (48%) 28 B 101 C 31 D 214 A (55%) 56 B 132 C 26 D 8–12 29 A (9%) 7 B 19 C 3 D 92 a (24%) 2 b 81 C 9 D TOT 330 61 B 174 C 95 D 388 63 B 226 C 99 D In the columns are indicated number of subjects. Capital and small letters are used to express differences between classes of BMI in symptomatic and controls respectively. Numbers not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A balanced diet like Mediterranean type seems a protective factor against GIS. Others factors independently of dietary habits are involved in to determine GIS in some underweight subjects