Popcorn and Nuts Might be OK for Diverticulosis

(August 27, 2008) - Contrary to a common recommendation to avoid eating popcorn, nuts and corn to prevent diverticular complications (Read about "Diverticular Disease"), a large prospective study of men indicates that the consumption of these foods does not increase the risk of diverticulosis or diverticular complications. That's according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Diverticular disease is a common and costly digestive disorder in Western countries. One-third of the U.S. population will develop diverticulosis by the age of 60 and two-thirds will do so by the age of 85, according to background information in the article. Historically, physicians have advised individuals with diverticular disease to avoid eating nuts, corn, seeds and popcorn, even though there is little evidence to support this recommendation. The authors write that the potential health benefits of nut consumption paired with the large number of individuals with diverticulosis makes it timely and important to study this long-held belief.

The study included 47,228 men age 40 to 75 years who at the beginning were free of diverticulosis or its complications, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. (Read about "Cancer: What It Is" "Digestive System") During 18 years of follow-up, there were 801 new cases of diverticulitis and 383 new cases of diverticular bleeding.

The researchers found that nut, corn and popcorn consumption was not associated with an increased risk of new diverticulitis or diverticular complications but instead just the opposite were observed between nut and popcorn consumption and the risk of diverticulitis. Men with the highest intake of nuts (at least twice per week) had a 20 percent lower risk of diverticulitis compared with men with the lowest intake (less than once per month); men with the highest intake of popcorn had a 28 percent lower risk of diverticulitis compared with men with the lowest intake. No association was seen between corn consumption and diverticulitis, and for diverticular bleeding, there were no significant associations observed for nut, corn or popcorn consumption.