The Relationship between the Meal Frequency and Functional Dyspepsia in Iranian Adults

Abstract

Limited data are available linking diet-related practices to functional dyspepsia (FD). We aimed to investigate the Relationship between the meal frequency and prevalence of functional dyspepsia among a large sample of Iranian adults.

In this cross-sectional study, 4763 individuals of general adult population in Isfahan, Iran, were asked to report how many main meals and snacks they consumed each day. Frequency of total meals was defined by summing up the frequency of main meals and snacks and participants were categorized into 4 categories of < 3, 3-5, 6-7 and ≥ 8 meals/day. The symptoms of functional dyspepsia were assessed using a validated Persian version of Rome III questionnaire. Functional dyspepsia was defined as bothersome postprandial fullness, early satiation, and/or epigastric pain or epigastric burning.

Compared to those who had one main meal/day, individuals who had consumed 3 main meals/day had a lower chance for early satiation (Odds Ratio: 0.44; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.21-0.90). In Addition, compared to those that never consumed snacks, individuals who had consumed 3 to 5 snacks/day were 39% less likely to have functional dyspepsia (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.40-0.92), 42% lower odds of postprandial fullness (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.34-0.98) and 43% lower chance of epigastric pain (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34-0.97). After adjustment for potential confounders, including diet-related behaviors, individuals with 6-7 total meal and snacks/day had lower odds of functional dyspepsia (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.31-0.82) compared with those with less than 3 meal and snacks/day. Such inverse association was also seen between the meal and snack frequency and early satiation (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.16-0.63) and postprandial fullness (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.29-0.98).

We found an inverse association between the meal and snack frequency and prevalence of functional dyspepsia and its components. Prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.