Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Nut, Corn, and Popcorn Consumption and the Incidence of Diverticular Disease

2008; American Medical Association; Volume: 300; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1001/jama.300.8.907

1538-3598

Lisa L. Strate, Allen Yan Lun Liu, Sapna Syngal, Walid Aldoori, Edward L. Giovannucci,

Urinary and Genital Oncology Studies

IVERTICULAR DISEASE IS A COMmon and costly digestive disorder in Western countries.2][3] Complications, including diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding, occur in an estimated 10% to 35% of persons with diverticulosis. 4,5Treatment of these complications frequently necessitates hospitalization and invasive procedures, including surgery.At least $2.4 billion in direct health care costs and 3400 deaths are attributed to diverticular disease in the United States each year, 6,7 and the medical and economic impact of this disorder is likely to increase substantially as the population ages.Historically, physicians have advised individuals with diverticular disease to avoid nuts, seeds, popcorn, corn, and other high-residue foods. 5,8,91][12] Stool may lodge within a diverticulum, obstruct the neck, or abrade the mucosa and precipitate inflammation or bleeding. 1,13uts, seeds, popcorn, and corn are presumed to be particularly likely to abrade the mucosa or to lodge within small diverticula. 5However, the biological mechanisms responsible for diverticu-lar complications remain poorly understood.Aside from luminal trauma, potential inciting factors include elevated colonic pressures, compromised colon wall integrity, and altered bacterial flora. 1 4 -2 0 To our knowledge, there is no evidence to support consumption of nuts, corn, popcorn, or seeds as a risk factor.Compelling evidence suggests that nuts are an important part of a healthy diet.Nuts are high in protein, unsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients.A diet high in nuts may protect against many com-mon diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer of the colon and prostate, and cholelithiasis.