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A new study published online in the journal Gut suggests that embracing a healthy lifestyle may significantly lower the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and abnormal bowel habits.
Researchers examined the impact of five key healthy behaviors—never smoking, obtaining at least 7 hours of sleep per night, engaging in high levels of vigorous physical activity weekly, maintaining a high-quality balanced diet daily, and consuming moderate amounts of alcohol—on the incidence of IBS among middle-aged participants in the UK Biobank.
The study encompassed 64,286 participants with an average age of 55, over half of whom were women. During a monitoring period averaging just over 12.5 years, 961 cases of IBS were recorded.
Analysis revealed a significant association between the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors and a reduced risk of IBS. Participants who reported adhering to a greater number of these behaviors demonstrated a lower incidence of the condition.
Specifically, individuals who practiced three or more healthy behaviors experienced a 42% lower risk of developing IBS compared to those who did not engage in any of the specified healthy behaviors. Furthermore, three behaviors—never smoking, engaging in high levels of physical activity, and obtaining sufficient sleep—were independently associated with a decreased risk of IBS.
The study’s findings remained consistent even after adjusting for various potentially influential factors, such as age, sex, employment status, residential area, gut infection, family history of IBS, or other lifestyle choices.
While the study was observational and therefore unable to establish causality, the results underscore the potential significance of lifestyle modifications in preventing the onset of IBS. Previous research has predominantly focused on managing IBS symptoms rather than primary prevention.
Dr. Paul Macey, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of lifestyle choices in mitigating the incidence of IBS. He noted, “IBS has a complex etiology, involving biological, genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Our findings underscore the value of lifestyle modification in the primary prevention of IBS and suggest that healthy lifestyle choices could significantly attenuate the effects of etiological factors on the incidence of IBS.”
While further research is warranted to explore the causal mechanisms underlying these associations, the study highlights the potential public health implications of promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors in reducing the burden of IBS and improving overall gastrointestinal health.
