Visceral fat: A key factor in diverticular disease of the colon

background and aim: diverticular disease of the colon is a common disease, representing na important health problem in western countries. the authors aimed to study the visceral fat and parameters of obesity in the diverticular disease of the colon. methods: case-control study of unselected medium-risk subjects who underwent colonoscopy for screening of colorectal cancer during 1 year. subjects were inquired by a nutritionist about nutritional habits. anthropometric variables were evaluated. visceral and subcutaneous fat were assessed by ultrasound by the same gastroenterologist. statistics: x2, t test, logistic multivariate regression, odds ratio (or). results: included 303 individuals, 46.9% female, mean age 60±6.6 years. sixty-four (21%) individual had diverticular disease of the colon. people with diverticula were signifi cantly older (p=0.01), had more visceral fat (p < 0.01), waist circumference (p=0.01) and total fat consumption (p=0.01). logistic regression analysis showed age and visceral fat as independent risk factors for diverticular disease of the colon. the probability of occurrence of disease was 3-times higher in individuals in the 3rd tertile of age (older than 63 years old) than those younger than 56 years old (1st tertile of age) - or 3.1, 95% ci 1.5-6.5. for visceral fat, those individuals in the 3rd tertile had a two-fold risk of having diverticular disease of the colon (or 2.3, 95% ci 1.02-5.2) than those in 1st tertile. there was no significant difference for sex, body mass index, subcutaneous fat or fiber intake. conclusion: older age and higher visceral fat were independent risk factors for the occurrence of diverticular disease of the colon