Thomson Catriona L, Garcia Ada L, Edwards Christine A
Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Eur J Nutr. 2025 Aug 23;64(6):265. doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03780-0.
Globally adults are not consuming enough fibre. One barrier to higher fibre intake may be the experience or expectation of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms including flatulence, bloating and abdominal pain. Identifying experiences of GI symptoms and perceptions of the role foods play could inform dietary advice to increase fibre consumption.
An online questionnaire explored GI symptoms in UK adults and their perceived association with individual foods (vegetables, fruit, fibre-rich products and other commonly consumed foods/drinks).
Of 516 respondents (85% female, median age 38 years), 72.1% reported no existing GI conditions, yet 86% experienced GI symptoms in the past month (flatulence (72%), bloating (64%) and abdominal rumbling (58%)). The most concerning (causing anxiety or worry) symptoms were bloating (18%), heartburn (16%) and abdominal pain (13%). Among those without declared GI conditions, 71% attributed symptoms to foods/drinks, with 42% avoiding specific items, notably dairy (17%) and vegetables (13%). Food avoidance was more common in respondents with IBS (78%, P < 0.05). The most common perceptions were that beans (34%) and Brussels sprouts (23%) cause flatulence, fatty and dairy foods cause bloating (17%) and carbonated soft drinks cause belching (17%).
Although flatulence was attributed to some fermentable fibre-rich foods, this symptom did not worry most respondents. The most concerning symptoms (bloating, pain and heartburn) were more commonly associated with other food categories (fatty, dairy and spicy foods). Reassurance that higher fibre intakes are unlikely to cause worrying symptoms could be important in dietary advice to increase consumption.
在全球范围内，成年人膳食纤维的摄入量不足。膳食纤维摄入量增加的一个障碍可能是胃肠道（GI）症状的体验或预期，包括肠胃胀气、腹胀和腹痛。识别胃肠道症状的体验以及对食物所起作用的看法，可为增加膳食纤维摄入量的饮食建议提供依据。
通过在线问卷探究英国成年人的胃肠道症状及其与各类食物（蔬菜、水果、富含纤维的产品以及其他常见食物/饮料）之间的感知关联。
在516名受访者中（85%为女性，年龄中位数为38岁），72.1%报告目前没有胃肠道疾病，但86%的人在过去一个月内出现过胃肠道症状（肠胃胀气（72%）、腹胀（64%）和腹部咕噜声（58%））。最令人担忧（引起焦虑或担心）的症状是腹胀（18%）、烧心（16%）和腹痛（13%）。在未声明有胃肠道疾病的人群中，71%将症状归因于食物/饮料，42%的人避免食用特定食物，尤其是乳制品（17%）和蔬菜（13%）。食物回避在肠易激综合征患者中更为常见（78%，P<0.05）。最常见的看法是豆类（34%）和抱子甘蓝（23%）会导致肠胃胀气，高脂肪和乳制品会导致腹胀（17%），碳酸软饮料会导致打嗝（17%）。
虽然肠胃胀气被归因于一些富含可发酵纤维的食物，但大多数受访者并不为此感到担忧。最令人担忧的症状（腹胀、疼痛和烧心）更常与其他食物类别（高脂肪、乳制品和辛辣食物）相关。在增加膳食纤维摄入量的饮食建议中，向人们保证高纤维摄入不太可能引发令人担忧的症状可能很重要。
