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Association between the metabolic syndrome and the irritable bowel syndrome: a cross-sectional study among a sample of Lebanese adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2025

Myriam Abboud Open the ORCID record for Myriam Abboud [Opens in a new window] ,
Suzan Haidar Open the ORCID record for Suzan Haidar [Opens in a new window] ,
Nadine Mahboub Open the ORCID record for Nadine Mahboub [Opens in a new window] ,
Tracy Mamo ,
Dimitrios Papandreou Open the ORCID record for Dimitrios Papandreou [Opens in a new window]  and
Rana Rizk Open the ORCID record for Rana Rizk [Opens in a new window]
Myriam Abboud
Affiliation:
College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Suzan Haidar*
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
Nadine Mahboub
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
Tracy Mamo
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
Dimitrios Papandreou
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, CHS, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Rana Rizk
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Epidémiologie Clinique, et de Toxicologie (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon
*
Corresponding author: Suzan Haidar; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Evidence of an association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is emerging but is still inconclusive. The current cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the relationship between the two syndromes in a sample of Lebanese adults (n 221; mean age: 43·36 years; 62·9 % females), recruited from a large urban university and its neighbouring community. MetS was diagnosed based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria, and IBS was assessed using the Birmingham IBS scale. Logistic regression analyses were performed taking MetS and its components as dependent variables and IBS and its subscales as independent variables. Covariates included socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle variables. MetS was positively associated with visual analogue scale (VAS) IBS (total scale (Beta = 4·59, P = 0·029) and VAS–diarrhoea subscale (Beta = 4·96, P = 0·008). Elevated blood pressure (Beta = 5·02, P = 0·007), elevated fasting blood sugar (Beta = 4·19, P = 0·033) and elevated waist circumference (Beta = 5·38, P = 0·010) were positively associated with VAS–Diarrhoea subscale. MetS and IBS were found to be positively associated in a sample of the Lebanese adult population. We suggest that it might be of value to screen for either condition if one of the syndromes exists. Future longitudinal studies are essential to establish a causal relationship between the two syndromes to further understand the commonality related to pathogenesis and explore potential underlying mechanisms.

Keywords

Metabolic SyndromeIrritable Bowel SyndromeLebanonAdults
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , First View , pp. 1 - 10
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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