Evaluation of the relationship between orthorexic tendencies and diet quality with quality of life in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This research was conducted with the aim of assessing the impact of orthorexic tendencies, the severity of gastrointestinal system symptoms, and the diet quality on the quality of life in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This research was conducted to assess the impact of orthorexic tendencies, the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms, and diet quality on the quality of life of IBS patients. Data for our study were collected using an online survey method from June 1, 2023, to July 31, 2023. Energy and nutrient intake of patients were determined using a 24-hour dietary recall method. In data collection, the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life, the Orthorexia Nervosa-11 (ORTO-11) for evaluating orthorexic tendencies, the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) for assessing gastrointestinal symptom severity, and the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI) for evaluating diet quality. The study population predominantly consisted of females, accounting for 90.91% and 57.02% were individuals between the ages of 18-30. Following an IBS diagnosis, 70.25% of individuals reported making dietary changes, with 54.11% of these receiving dietary counseling from a dietitian. The most frequently followed diets were gluten-free, low FODMAP, and lactose-free. Those adhering to specific diets had higher HEI scores compared to those who did not (p=0.013). The mean HEI score for patients was found to be 49.90±14.42. A positive correlation was observed between IBS patients' IBS-QOL and ORTO-11 scores (r=0.2538, p=0.005). Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between IBS-QOL and IBS-SSS scores (r=-0.6572, p<0.001). In conclusion, as orthorexic tendencies and symptom severity increase, the quality of life decreases in IBS patients. When planning elimination diets to reduce symptoms in IBS patients, taking orthorexic tendencies into account is important for enhancing their quality of life. Keywords: İrritabl Bowel Syndrome, Quality of Life, Diet Quality, Severity of Sympotms, ORTO-11