PD316 - FOOD-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN IBD: LINKS WITH NUTRITIONAL STATUS, MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

PD316

FOOD-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN IBD: LINKS WITH NUTRITIONAL STATUS, MEDITERRANEAN DIET ADHERENCE, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

F. Mascaretti^1,*, L. Pozzi¹, A. Destro¹, S. Stella², F. Caprioli¹, F. Facciotti³

¹Gastroenterology, ²Occupational Health Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, ³Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

Rationale: Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, significantly affect patients’ quality of life. Diet plays a key role, yet universal recommendations are lacking, and patients often adopt personal restrictions that may impair nutritional and psychological well-being. This study evaluated the association between food-related quality of life (FR-QoL) and clinical, nutritional, and psychological factors in IBD, also assessing adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study collecting anthropometric data, body composition (BIA), nutritional status (MUST), disease activity (CDAI, Partial Mayo), scores for FR-QoL, anxiety, depression, and Mediterranean diet adherence.

Results: A total of 105 patients were enrolled. Anxiety and depression affected 34% and 22% of patients. FR-QoL negatively correlated with anxiety in UC (p = 0.04). Mediterranean diet adherence increased the likelihood of high FR-QoL by 30% (p = 0.01). Reduced FR-QoL was associated with disease activity and prior surgeries (both p < 0.01), as well as anxiety, and depression (both p < 0.01).
Despite normal BMI in most patients, body composition showed frequent muscle-mass reduction and low phase angle, suggesting possible sarcopenia and impaired nutritional status. Higher Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with nutritional advantages, particularly in CD, where it correlated with improved phase angle.

Conclusion: FR-QoL in IBD is influenced by nutritional status, disease activity, and psychological health. The Mediterranean diet may support better FR-QoL, reinforcing the need for a multidisciplinary approach (nutritional and psychological care). An innovative classifier predicting impaired FR-QoL showed high accuracy and discrimination, supporting future patient stratification and personalized interventions.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared