Non-alcoholic fatty liver is associated with increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective cohort study

Shanshan Wu, Changzheng Yuan, Zhirong Yang, Si Liu, Qian Zhang, Shutian Zhang, Shengtao Zhu, Shanshan Wu, Changzheng Yuan, Zhirong Yang, Si Liu, Qian Zhang, Shutian Zhang, Shengtao Zhu

Abstract

Background: The relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver degree as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the prospective association of non-alcoholic fatty liver degree as well as NAFLD with incident IBS in a large-scale population-based cohort.

Methods: Participants free of IBS, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, alcoholic liver disease, and any cancer at baseline from the UK Biobank were included. Non-alcoholic fatty liver degree was measured by a well-validated fatty liver index (FLI), with FLI ≥ 60 as an indicator of NAFLD. Primary outcome was incident IBS. Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the associated risk of incident IBS.

Results: Among 396,838 participants (mean FLI was 48.29 ± 30.07), 153,203(38.6%) were with NAFLD diagnosis at baseline. During a median of 12.4-year follow-up, 7129 cases of incident IBS were identified. Compared with non-NAFLD, NAFLD patients showed a 13% higher risk of developing IBS (HR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.05-1.17) after multivariable adjustment. Compared with the lowest, the highest FLI quartile was associated with a significantly increased risk of IBS (HRQ4 VS Q1 = 1.21, 1.13-1.30, Ptrend < 0.001). Specifically, the positive association between non-alcoholic fatty liver degree and IBS was also observed by per SD change of FLI (adjusted HR = 1.08, 1.05-1.10). Further sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis indicated similar results, with the positive association particularly observed in females, but not in males.

Conclusions: High degree of non-alcoholic fatty liver as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with increased risk of incident IBS. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.

Keywords: Cohort study; Irritable bowel syndrome; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

© 2022. The Author(s).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the study population. UKB: UK Biobank; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; ALD: alcoholic liver disease; FLI: fatty liver index
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The association between baseline FLI and incident IBS.  Note: All adjusted HRs were calculated by adjusting the following covariates: age, gender, Townsend deprivation index, education level, ethnicity, smoking status, alcohol drinking, IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), and type 2 diabetes. IBS: irritable bowel syndrome; FLI: fatty liver index; CI: confidence interval; HR: hazard ratio
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Subgroup analysis for the association between baseline FLI and incident IBS. A According to FLI quartiles. B According to FLI per SD change. C According to the diagnosis of NAFLD or not by the predefined cutoff of FLI. All adjusted HRs were calculated by adjusting the following covariates: age, gender, Townsend deprivation index, education level, ethnicity, smoking status, alcohol drinking, IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and type 2 diabetes; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome; FLI: fatty liver index; CI: confidence interval; HR: hazard ratio

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Source: PubMed

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