Biomaterial Database

Vegetarianism, dietary fibre and gastro-intestinal disease. 1994

P Nair, and J F Mayberry

Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Leicester General Hospital, UK.

OBJECTIVE To review the association between vegetarianism, dietary fibre and gastro-intestinal disease. METHODS There is an increasing trend towards vegetarianism in the United Kingdom. Studies have shown a lower than expected death rate in vegetarians with a significant association between meat eating and mortality from all causes in men. Vegetarians were found to have a lower incidence of gastro-intestinal cancer, gallstones, diverticular disease and constipation. Patients treated with vegetarian/high-fibre diets have not experienced significant benefits when diets are used in gastro-intestinal cancer, peptic ulcer disease or inflammatory bowel disease. CONCLUSIONS The benefits of a vegetarian life-style may be conferred to non-vegetarians by eating a carefully planned non-vegetarian diet consisting of increased fruit, vegetables and fibre.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009026	Mortality	All deaths reported in a given population.	CFR Case Fatality Rate,Crude Death Rate,Crude Mortality Rate,Death Rate,Age Specific Death Rate,Age-Specific Death Rate,Case Fatality Rate,Decline, Mortality,Determinants, Mortality,Differential Mortality,Excess Mortality,Mortality Decline,Mortality Determinants,Mortality Rate,Mortality, Differential,Mortality, Excess,Age-Specific Death Rates,Case Fatality Rates,Crude Death Rates,Crude Mortality Rates,Death Rate, Age-Specific,Death Rate, Crude,Death Rates,Determinant, Mortality,Differential Mortalities,Excess Mortalities,Mortalities,Mortality Declines,Mortality Determinant,Mortality Rate, Crude,Mortality Rates,Rate, Age-Specific Death,Rate, Case Fatality,Rate, Crude Death,Rate, Crude Mortality,Rate, Death,Rate, Mortality,Rates, Case Fatality
D010437	Peptic Ulcer	Ulcer that occurs in the regions of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT which come into contact with GASTRIC JUICE containing PEPSIN and GASTRIC ACID. It occurs when there are defects in the MUCOSA barrier. The common forms of peptic ulcers are associated with HELICOBACTER PYLORI and the consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).	Gastroduodenal Ulcer,Marginal Ulcer,Gastroduodenal Ulcers,Marginal Ulcers,Peptic Ulcers,Ulcer, Gastroduodenal,Ulcer, Marginal,Ulcer, Peptic,Ulcers, Gastroduodenal,Ulcers, Marginal,Ulcers, Peptic
D002769	Cholelithiasis	Presence or formation of GALLSTONES in the BILIARY TRACT, usually in the gallbladder (CHOLECYSTOLITHIASIS) or the common bile duct (CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS).	Gallstone Disease,Cholelithiases,Gallstone Diseases
D003248	Constipation	Infrequent or difficult evacuation of FECES. These symptoms are associated with a variety of causes, including low DIETARY FIBER intake, emotional or nervous disturbances, systemic and structural disorders, drug-induced aggravation, and infections.	Colonic Inertia,Dyschezia
D004043	Dietary Fiber	The remnants of plant cell walls that are resistant to digestion by the alimentary enzymes of man. It comprises various polysaccharides and lignins.	Fiber, Dietary,Roughage,Wheat Bran,Bran, Wheat,Brans, Wheat,Dietary Fibers,Fibers, Dietary,Roughages,Wheat Brans
D004241	Diverticulum, Colon	A pouch or sac opening from the COLON.	Colonic Diverticulum,Colon Diverticula,Colonic Diverticula,Diverticula, Colon,Colon Diverticulum,Diverticula, Colonic,Diverticulum, Colonic
D005767	Gastrointestinal Diseases	Diseases in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT from ESOPHAGUS to RECTUM.	Cholera Infantum,Gastrointestinal Disorders,Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders,Gastrointestinal Disorders, Functional,Disease, Gastrointestinal,Diseases, Gastrointestinal,Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder,Gastrointestinal Disease,Gastrointestinal Disorder,Gastrointestinal Disorder, Functional
D005770	Gastrointestinal Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, from the MOUTH to the ANAL CANAL.	Gastrointestinal Cancer,Cancer of Gastrointestinal Tract,Cancer of the Gastrointestinal Tract,Neoplasms, Gastrointestinal,Cancer, Gastrointestinal,Cancers, Gastrointestinal,Gastrointestinal Cancers,Gastrointestinal Neoplasm,Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer,Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers,Neoplasm, Gastrointestinal
D006113	United Kingdom	Country in northwestern Europe including Great Britain and the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland, located between the North Sea and north Atlantic Ocean. The capital is London.	Great Britain,Isle of Man