Popcorn, nuts may not cause diverticular disease

New research explores therapies ranging from stem cells to hypnotherapy to combat digestive diseases including irritable bowel syndrome.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. June 25, 2007.

Washington -- Popcorn, corn, seeds and nuts, long banished from the diets of people with diverticular disease, were absolved of blame by research presented at Digestive Disease Week, held May 19-24 in Washington, D.C.

Patients with the condition traditionally have been advised to avoid such foods. It was suspected that the indigestible fiber they contain could make its way to the colon, lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation and infection. Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle and a number of Boston hospitals decided to test that theory.

What they found was that the opposite seemed to be the case, said lead author Lisa L. Strate, MD, MPH, acting assistant professor in the division of gastroenterology at the University of Washington. "We observed a statistically inverse association between frequent consumption of nuts and popcorn and the development of diverticulitis."

Diverticular disease is common. About a third of Americans develop diverticulosis by age 60 and two thirds by age 85. Although most cases are asymptomatic, 10% to 30% will result in complications that can include pain, fever, nausea, constipation and diarrhea. Less common symptoms include vomiting and bleeding.

For their study, Dr. Strate and colleagues selected 47,228 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and were, in 1986, free of diverticular disease, gastrointestinal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. The men were between 40 and 75 years old.