Physical activity at work and duodenal ulcer risk

Article Abstract:

Duodenal ulcer is a condition caused by an imbalance between the protective properties of the intestinal lining (mucosa) and the destructive properties of gastric acid. It is further characterized by erosions in the wall of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). Not all of the causal factors involved in the development of duodenal ulcer are known, but it has been reported that individuals who are physically active in their jobs are at greater risk for developing duodenal ulcer than are individuals with jobs not requiring physical labor. It is not known to what extent this reflects the different lifestyles of manual workers and office workers (the former are, on average, of a lower socioeconomic status than the latter), and to what extent it reveals physical activity as a true risk factor. To further investigate this question, a study was carried out in which the cases of 76 recently diagnosed duodenal ulcer patients and 76 healthy controls were analyzed. The risk of duodenal ulcer was greater in those patients who smoked, who were in a lower social class (as determined by a standardized grouping of occupations), and who were physically active on the job. The lower social classes tended to have jobs that required greater levels of physical activity, but even when social class was statistically controlled, more active individuals tended to be at greater risk for developing ulcer; this was true for all social classes. The mechanism by which increased activity leads to a higher incidence of ulceration is not known, but might involve activity-induced alterations in blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, or changes in nutrient intake in more active individuals. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Manual work, Blue collar workers

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Effect of diets low and high in refined sugars on gut transit, bile acid metabolism, and bacterial fermentation

Article Abstract:

The per capita consumption of refined sugar has doubled in industrialized nations in the 100 years between 1870 and 1970. Epidemiological studies have implicated diets high in refined sugar in the etiology of colorectal cancer, gall stones, Crohn's disease (an inflammatory disorder of the intestine), and obesity, with all its attendant complications. Although retrospective studies invariably link high refined sugar intake with health problems, very few experimental studies have attempted to determine the effect of chronic high intake of refined sugar on digestive function. To further investigate these effects, nine healthy volunteers (between 23 and 26 years of age) ate only a chemically defined low-sugar diet for 14 days, followed by 14 days during which only a chemically defined high-sugar diet was eaten. Various indices of digestive function were measured at the end of each 14-day period. The type of diet had no effect on the wet or dry weight, acidity, or water content of the stools. On the high-sugar diet, mouth-to-anus transit time (the time taken for food to go from the mouth to excretion in the feces) was increased, despite a shortened mouth-to-cecum transit time (the time from ingestion to arrival at the large intestine). This indicates a greater amount of time spent by the food in the large bowel in subjects eating the high-sugar diet. Additionally, the fecal concentration of bile acids and metabolic production of hydrogen were increased during the period when the high-sugar diet was being ingested. Hence, the amount of refined sugar in the diet can have significant effects on digestive processes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Diet, Gastrointestinal diseases, Diet in disease, Bile acid metabolism

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Duodenal ulcer and refined carbohydrate intake: a case-control study assessing dietary fibre and refined sugar intake

Article Abstract:

Duodenal ulcer is an inflammatory condition of the initial segment of the small intestine. Many factors contribute to the development of duodenal ulcer, including stress, smoking, and drug treatment. Food and fluid intake are thought to play important roles in the likelihood of developing an ulcer, but the exact nature of the effects of different diets is poorly understood. It has been suggested that ingestion of a diet high in fiber or low in refined sugars may be protective against duodenal ulcer, but this remains controversial. To investigate this issue, 78 patients with duodenal ulcer and a group of matched, healthy control subjects were evaluated. Statistical techniques applied to the data demonstrated that when other risk factors (e.g. smoking) were corrected for, there was no correlation between total dietary fiber intake and risk of ulcer. There was, however, a correlation between high vegetable fiber intake and low ulcer incidence; there was also a greater tendency for patients with high refined sugar intake to develop duodenal ulcers. Smoking, weight, and social class were also associated with ulcer prevalence. When these variables were statistically controlled for, the relationship between low sugar intake and low ulcer incidence remained strong, but the relationship between high vegetable fiber and low ulcer occurrence was weakened. It appears that neither total dietary fiber nor fiber subtype is strongly linked to ulcer formation, but low intake of refined sugar may play a protective role. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention, High-fiber diet, High fiber diet

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