Nut, Corn, and Popcorn Consumption and the Incidence of Diverticular Disease

Abstract

Diverticular disease is a common and costly digestive disorder in Western countries. One-third of the US population will develop diverticulosis by the age of 60 years and two-thirds by the age of 85 years.^1-3 Complications, including diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding, occur in an estimated 10% to 35% of persons with diverticulosis.^4,5 Treatment of these complications frequently necessitates hospitalization and invasive procedures, including surgery. At least $2.4 billion in direct health care costs and 3400 deaths are attributed to diverticular disease in the United States each year,^6,7 and the medical and economic impact of this disorder is likely to increase substantially as the population ages.