Healthy Eating Index-2020 and bowel habits: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dietary habits play crucial roles in gastrointestinal health. The relationship between dietary patterns, measured using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020), and bowel habits remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the associations between HEI-2020 scores and bowel habits, including fecal incontinence, diarrhea, and constipation, in adults in the US.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 11,590 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the associations adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related covariates. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was used to evaluate the combined effects of the dietary components.

Results

Analysis of 11,590

SUBMITTER: Chen R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12202417 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature