Diet in Affects on Symptoms of Painful Bladder Syndrome

Patients with BPS/IC frequently report that specific foods, beverages, and dietary supplements increase symptoms. The role of diet in affecting symptoms of BPS/IC is based on a paucity of information, primarily anecdotal reports. Shorter and colleagues from New York surveyed 104 patients who met National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria for Interstitial cystitis with a goal of determining what foods seemed to exacerbate or alleviate symptoms. Of the initial 327 questionnaires distributed, 32% were returned and the role of non-response bias was not further investigated.

90.2% of responders indicated that certain foods or beverages increased bladder symptoms. Still, 88.5% of responders indicated that they consumed substance that they knew would exacerbate their symptoms. The chief offenders were coffee, tea, soda, alcoholic beverages, certain fruits, fruit juices, tomatoes, tomato-based products, hot peppers, spicy foods, and artificial sweeteners. 75% reported that larger meals caused more bladder symptoms than smaller meals. 30% of subjects found foods that eased their symptoms; water, Prelief®, and alkalinizing agents were beneficial in this survey.

The authors conclude that suggesting that patients eliminate irritant foods such as coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages, citrus fruit/juices, spicy foods, hot peppers, and artificial sweeteners may have a beneficial effect.

It would make sense to alert patients to try to identify whether these foods result in symptom flares, and if so, suggest they be avoided. Given the variability in food effects on patient symptoms, strict compliance with an “IC diet” would not seem to be indicated in the vast majority of patients.

Journal of Urology. 178(1):145-152, July 2007
doi:10.1016/j.juro.2007.03.020
Shorter B, Lesser M, Moldwin RM, Kushner L

Reported by Philip M. Hanno, MD, a Contributing Editor with UroToday

About UroToday
UroToday.com attracts more than 55,000 readers monthly. The website covers over 22 urology disease categories and provides the most in depth Urological conference reports available online. UroToday.com is the world leader in delivering a quality, global online publication providing accurate and timely education that is clinically relevant in the practice of Urology. All scientific content is developed by urologists committed to translating research into clinically relevant science, including all genitourinary cancers, pediatric and geriatric urological dysfunctions for urologists, medical oncologists, advanced nurse practitioners and other medical professionals.

Source: UroToday

RELATED STORIES:
Doctors’ Tests Often Miss High Blood Pressure in Kids with Kidney Disease   Coffee drinkers may live longer than non-drinkers   Going Vegetarian? With A Little Planning, It’s Easier than Ever   Healthy People with High Urinary Protein Levels have Elevated Kidney Disease Risk   Many Diet Studies Lack Key Data   Early Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Acceptance: study   Uterine artery embolization shortens hospital stay but increases minor complications   Yo-Yo Diets An Immune System Risk   Hypertension, old age up nighttime urination   Study confirms ephedrine diet supplements can kill   Red meat diet tied to early eye problems   Hospitals cut medicine tube infections in study

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]