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Diverticular disease

Lifestyle modifications

Prevention

  • Adequate intake of dietary fiber (1)

  • A vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of symptomatic diverticular disease through decreasing inflammation and altering intestinal microbiota 3)

  • Limiting intake of salt and red meat (1)

  • Regular physical activity, particularly vigorous activity (1, 2)

  • Avoid obesity (1)


NUTRITION

  • Asymptomatic diverticulosis: Increasing dietary fiber may reduce the risk of developing symptomatic diverticulitis (1)

  • Symptomatic mild diverticular disease: Increasing dietary fiber and hydration (1)

  • Symptomatic divertilitis: A low residue (fiber) diet with minimal residues after digestion and absorption including refined bread, cereals, white rice, juice, dairy products (1)


SMOKING

  • Smoking cessation is recommended as smoking increases the risk of diverticular disease and complications (1, 2)


WEIGHT

  • Weight reduction if overweight or obese (1)

References

Resources

Evidence Pyramid

EXPLANATION TO EVIDENCE PRESENTATION

Evidence based on guidelines and evidence based Clinical Decision Systems is written in BOLD

Evidence based on meta analysis or systematic reviews is written in BOLD and CURSIVE

Evidence based on randomized controlled trials is written in plain font

Evidence based on observational / cohort studies is written in CURSIVE

Figure: Evidence pyramid

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