Associations between eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid consumption and inflammatory bowel disease in adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010

Background and Objectives: Current evidence on the associations of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) consumption with the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary EPA and DHA consumption with the incidence of IBD in a population of the United States, which potentially provides insights for global nutritional prevention and control strategies for IBD. Methods and Study Design: Data were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years 2009-2010. EPA and DHA consumption was measured using twice 24-h dietary recall questionnaires. In the arthritis questionnaire, the incidence of IBD was inquired via a subanalysis for arthropathy. To assess the relationship between dietary EPA and DHA consumption with the incidence of IBD, binary logistic regression and limited cubic spline models were used. Results: A total of 4,242 individuals aged 20 years and older participated in this survey. IBD was diagnosed in 52 individuals, representing a prevalence of 1.23%. The 95% confidence interval for crude odds ratios (ORs) of IBD in quartiles 2 and 3 of dietary EPA consumption was 0.14 (0.04-0.55) (p<0.05) and 0.36 (0.18-0.73) (p<0.05) when compared to quartile 1, respectively. The 95% confidence interval for crude ORs of IBD in quartile 4 of dietary DHA consumption was 0.09(0.02-0.35) (p<0.05) when compared to quartile 1. Conclusions: For the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009-2010, increased dietary EPA and DHA consumption may be related to a decreased risk of IBD in Americans aged 20 and above.