Barrett's oesophagus is a pre-malignant condition that develops in response to chronic exposure of the oesophageal epithelium to the acid and bile contents of gastro-oesophageal reflux⁽Reference Jankowski, Harrison and Perry¹⁾. Abdominal obesity and poor dietary and nutrient intake are risk factors for Barrett's oesophagus⁽Reference Edelstein, Farrow and Bronner²⁾. The aim of the current cross-sectional study was to assess dietary intake, anthropometry and metabolic profile in patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

Male patients (n 23) with histologically confirmed Barrett's oesophagus were recruited from the Barrett's Oesophagus Clinic at St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Segmental bioelectrical impedance was analysed (Tanita UK Ltd, Middlesex, UK), and fasting blood samples (lipid profile and glucose) were taken. Each patient completed a 3 d dietary record. Dietary intake data were analysed using nutrient analysis software (WISP for Windows Version 3, Tinuviel Software, Anglesey, UK) and subsequent statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 16.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

The mean (sd) age was 54 (12) years, BMI was 28.6 (4.2) kg/m², waist circumference was 104.2 (10.5) cm, blood pressure 149 (21)/95 (17) mmHg and serum cholesterol was 5.16 (1.10) mmol/l. Data on Barrett's oesophagus segment length were available for 20 patients, n=13 had long-segment (≥3 cm) and n=7 had short-segment Barrett's (<3 cm). Mean (sd) dietary energy intake was 9.1 (2.3) MJ/d; protein accounted for 16.9 (2.6) % energy (%en), fat for 35.1 (6) %en, carbohydrate for 44.9 (7.6) %en and alcohol for 7.1 (8.4) %en. When classified as per BMI⁽³⁾, n=4 patients were of healthy weight, n=10 were overweight and n=9 were obese. There were no differences in anthropometric measurements between patients with long-segment or short-segment Barrett's. Patients with long-segment Barrett's had higher intakes of energy than those with short-segment Barrett's (10.0 (2.2) v. 7.2 (1.4) MJ/d, P=0.009). Negative associations were observed between systolic blood pressure and dietary PUFA (r=−0.69, P=0.006) and fish consumption (r=−0.60, P=0.023). Eight patients (38%) met the criteria for the metabolic syndrome⁽⁴⁾.

In summary, the prevalence of central obesity, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome within this cohort exceed that of the general Irish adult population⁽Reference Waterhouse, McLaughlin and Sheehan⁵⁾. Patients with Barrett's oesophagus may be at an increased risk of CVD and type-2 diabetes mellitus in addition to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. These data highlight the need for dietary and lifestyle intervention to decrease the risk of co-morbidities within this patient group.