Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic bowel disorder, which considerably disturbs the quality of life and works productivity. The prevalence rates of IBS are ranging from 7% to 21% in the general population [1] . IBS is branded by troubles in bowel habits and abdominal pain in the absence of recognized organic pathology [2] . IBS is widely accepted as a mysterious brain-gut complaint [3] . The pathophysiology is today planned nearby a consensual hypothesis called the “brain-gut axis”, which collects all the stimuli of peripheral factors as gut microbiota or local serotonin secretion, on the central pain perception, contributing to visceral hypersensitivity and transit modifications [4] . IBS Patients usually experience abdominal pain and altered bowel habit, with either predominantly diarrhea (IBS-D), constipation (IBS-C), or both (IBS-M) [5] . Stress and concomitant psychopathologies such as somatization, anxiety, and depression are thought to play a significant role in the development, clinical course and response to treatment [6] .

The diagnosis is made according to a symptom-based classification system, the Rome Criteria, with the latest version, Rome IV, recently released. Rome IV has been a compendium of the knowledge accumulated since Rome III was published [7] .

It was well established that some diets, especially onions, garlic, and coffee, were reported to increase the IBS symptoms. Decreasing carbohydrate diets and increasing fiber diet would enhance the patient health where the symptoms were been reduced [8] . Novel approaches to treatment include lifestyle modification, changes in diet, probiotics, and pharmacotherapy directed to the motility, sensation, and intraluminal milieu of patients with IBS [9] .

In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of IBS was 14.4%. Food hypersensitivity, morbid anxiety, and family history were the predictors of IBS [10] . Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the role of some dietary habits in the etiology of IBS in Northern Saudi Arabia.

In this community based cross-sectional survey, data about IBS were obtained from 930 Saudi volunteers living in the city of Hail, Northern Saudi Arabia, during the period from October 2018 to February 2019. Participants were randomly selected by simple random regardless of age, gender, and education or occupation.

A Purposeful questionnaire was designed and used for obtaining the necessary data. A medical student filled each questionnaire during the interview. The following information was obtained from each participant: age, sex, and education level, and some dietary habits (intake of fruits/vegetables, and frequency of daily water intake). IBS was diagnosed based on Rome IV Criteria. Recurrent abdominal pain, on average, at least one day/week in the last three months, associated with two or more of the following criteria: Related to defecation; Associated with a change in frequency of stool; Associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool. Criteria fulfilled for the last three months with symptom onset at least six months before diagnosis. Those didn’t completely fulfillment Rome IV criteria were categorized as patients with IBS symptoms (intermittent IBS symptoms).

The present study, involved 930 Saudi volunteers, their ages ranging from 18 to 78 years with a mean age of 33 years. Out of 930 participants, 395/930 (42%) were males and 535/930 (58%) females, giving males’ females’ ration of 1.00:1.35. The majority of the study subjects were found at age range 21 - 29 years followed by ≥50 years, representing 360/930 (39%) and 157/930 (17%), correspondingly, as indicated in Table 1.

The prevalence of IBS was 11% among males vs. 12.5% among females. The prevalence of IBS symptoms among males was 30% vs. 36.5% females. The prevalence rates of IBS and IBS symptoms in the age group ≤ 20 years were 12.4% and 36.4%, respectively. The prevalence rates of IBS and IBS symptoms in the age group 21 - 29 years were 10.7% and 34.3%, respectively. The prevalence rates of IBS and IBS symptoms in the age group 30 - 39 years were 14.5% and 42%, respectively. The prevalence rates of IBS and IBS symptoms in the age group 40 - 49 years were 13.2% and 27.2%, respectively. The prevalence rates of IBS and IBS symptoms in the age group ≥ 50 years were 10.4% and 30%, respectively, as indicated in Table 2 and Figure 1.

Table 3 summarizes the relationship between IBS status and food habits. Out of 132 persons, use to consume <0.5 liters/day of water 19/132 (14.4%) and 44/132 (33.3%) were found with IBS and intermittent IBS symptoms. Out of 247 participants use to consume 0.5 - 1.00 liters of water 29/247 (11.7%), and 85/247 (34.4%) were found with IBS and intermittent IBS symptoms. IBS was significantly associated with reduced water intake, the RR (95% CI) = 1.1800 (1.0146 to 1.3722), P = 0.0316, as shown in Figure 2. In the present study, the majority of the study population 904/929 (97.3%), didn’t accustom to vegetables/fruits intake. On the other hand, the majority of the study subjects were found accustomed to caffeine 784/917 (85.5%) intake. Out of 133 persons, who didn’t use caffeine, 19/133 (57.6%) and 47/133 (35.3%) were found with IBS and intermittent IBS, respectively. Use of caffeine was not found to be a significant factor for IBS, the RR (95% CI) = 0.8996 (0.7453 to 1.0858), P = 0.2705, as shown in Figure 2. Moreover, home food, fast food, and spicy food didn’t show statistically significant association with IBS, though there were increased proportions of patients among individuals with these habits, as indicated in Table 3 and Figure 2.

The assessment of factors that contributes to the etiology of IBS is very important for all communities. Food is one of the most commonly reported triggers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. However, the role of diet in the etiology and management of IBS has not been clearly established [10] . Thus this study was aiming at determining the role of some dietary as a contribution to the burden of IBS in Northern Saudi Arabia.

In the present study, the prevalence of IBS was 11% among males vs. 12.5% among females. The prevalence of IBS symptoms among males was 30% vs. 36.5% females. As Rome IV criteria were employed in this study, several cases were excluded, though they have IBS symptoms. Such cases were put in a group of IBS symptoms. These prevalence rates were relatively similar to previously reported figures, although almost all previous studies were reporting epidemiology of IBS using Rome II or Rome III criteria. Such points may predict the increasing of IBS prevalence among the Northern Saudi population. The study by Ibrahim et al. [11] from Western Saudi Arabia, reported An IBS prevalence of 14.4% among nurses. Another study from Saudi Arabia has reported a prevalence of 21% among medical students and higher among females than males but were highest among fifth-year students for both genders [12] .

In the present study, the highest prevalence rate was identified in the age group 30 - 39 followed by 40 - 49 years, representing 41.5% and 13.2%, respectively. Although the studies from Saudi Arabia didn’t correlate the relationship between IBS and age in different age groups, the published literature established the signifying of IBS in the age range 30 - 40 years [13] .

About dietary habits, IBS was significantly associated with reduced water intake, the RR (95% CI) = 1.1800 (1.0146 to 1.3722), P = 0.0316. Daily fiber intake of 25 g can increase stool frequency in patients with chronic functional constipation, and this effect can be significantly enhanced by increasing fluid intake to 1.5 - 2.0 liters/day [14] . Fluid loss and fluid restriction and thus dehydration increase constipation. It is therefore essential to maintain hydration as the prevention of constipation [15] . Mineral water supplementation treatment for functional dyspepsia or constipation accompanying IBS can improve gastric acid output and intestinal transit time [16] . However, it was found that cold water intake leads to lowered visceral perception thresholds in IBS patients that were inversely relevant to the abdominal symptoms in symptomatic diarrhea-predominant IBS patients. The alteration of rectal sensitivity and abdominal symptoms following cold water stimulation provided further objective evidence for visceral hypersensitivity in IBS patients [17] .

Although the use of caffeine was not found to be a significant factor for IBS, there was a slightly increased risk in the current study. Caffeine, one of the world’s most popular psychoactive substances, is sought for its central nervous system stimulant effects. If coffee, tea, and soda alone do not provide the desired stimulation, some consumers are turning to the newest fad in the caffeine market, energy drinks [18] . Caffeine stimulates gastric acid secretion and colonic motor activity, mainly coffee [19] . The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines suggest limiting the consumption of coffee and tea to no more than 3 cups per day [20] .

The present study showed that about 97.3% of the participants didn’t consume vegetables/fruits regularly. It is well known that eating a variety of vegetables every day is associated with favorable health across the life course. Internationally, food-based dietary guidelines encourage the consumption of a variety of vegetables and fruit but globally, people are not eating enough vegetables to meet the three-or-more-a-day guideline. Vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals, fiber, and many bioactive compounds that promote health and provide energy [21] .

Moreover, home food, fast food, and spicy food didn’t show statistically significant association with IBS, though there were increased proportions of patients among individuals with these habits. Food is one of the most commonly reported triggers of IBS symptoms. Some diets, especially onions, garlic, and coffee, were reported to increase the IBS symptoms [8] . However, in most instances, one’s can’t control the food intake except when it is homemade. Consumption of spicy foods is directly associated with IBS, particularly in women [22] . Intra-meal fluid intake, chewing insufficiency, higher tooth loss, and the consumption of spicy and fried food were associated with an increased risk of IBS [23] .

The limitations of the present study include its cross sectional setting and its community based design.

IBS is prevalent in Northern Saudi Arabia, both among males and females with relatively increasing among females. Low water intake and insufficient fibers intake (particularly, in vegetables and fruits) might be behind the growing prevalence of IBS in Saudi Arabia.

Authors would like to thank medical students at the College of Medicine, University of Hail, for their active contribution in the collection of data, including Fadyah Mohammed Alradaddi, Nuseibah Saleh Almakhalfi, Rasha Saidan Alshammari, Ethar Abed Alsulami, Raghad Abdullah Almeshari, Ahlam Aedh Naqa Asuhaymi, Maram Abdulaziz Alhejail.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Alharbi, S.H., Alateeq, F.A., Alshammari, K.I., Alshammri, A.S.S., Alabdali, N.A.N., Alsulaiman, M.A.S., Algothi, S.M.I., Altoraifi, A.S., Almutairi, M.Q. and Ahmed, H.G. (2019) Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dietary Habits in Northern Saudi Arabia. Health, 11, 289-297. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2019.113025