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Association Between Preoperative Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Postoperative Bowel Motility

Association Between Preoperative Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Postoperative Bowel Motility: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07808281
Enrollment
110
Registered
2026-09-08
Start date
2026-01-23
Completion date
2026-05-23
Last updated
2026-09-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder, Post Abdominal Surgery, Postoperative Ileus

Keywords

Mediterranean diet, MEDAS, Abdominal surgery, Gastrointestinal motility

Brief summary

Postoperative bowel motility is an important indicator of recovery after abdominal surgery and may be influenced by preoperative nutritional status. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with favorable gastrointestinal function because of its high content of dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds. This prospective observational cohort study aims to investigate the association between preoperative adherence to the Mediterranean diet and postoperative bowel motility in adults undergoing elective abdominal surgery. A total of 110 participants will be assessed for Mediterranean diet adherence using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Nutritional status, dietary intake, and perioperative characteristics will be recorded. Postoperative bowel motility outcomes, including time to first bowel sound, first flatus, first defecation, oral intake, and hospital discharge, will be prospectively monitored. The findings are expected to improve understanding of the relationship between preoperative dietary patterns and postoperative gastrointestinal recovery.

Detailed description

Postoperative bowel motility is one of the most important indicators of recovery following abdominal surgery. Delayed gastrointestinal motility is associated with postoperative ileus, prolonged hospital stay, delayed oral feeding, and increased healthcare costs. Several factors, including surgical stress, anesthesia, inflammation, and preoperative nutritional status, may influence the recovery of bowel function after surgery. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, and fish, and a low intake of red and processed meat. This dietary pattern provides dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds that may improve gut microbiota composition, reduce inflammation, and support normal gastrointestinal function. Previous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on gastrointestinal health; however, evidence regarding its association with postoperative bowel motility remains limited. This prospective observational cohort study aims to investigate the association between preoperative adherence to the Mediterranean diet and postoperative bowel motility in adults undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A total of 110 participants will be enrolled after ethics committee approval. Preoperative nutritional status, dietary intake, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet will be assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), food frequency questionnaires, and three-day dietary records. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and perioperative data will also be collected. Postoperative bowel function will be prospectively evaluated by recording the time to first bowel sound, first passage of flatus, first defecation, first oral intake, and hospital discharge. Dietary nutrient intake will be analyzed using a nutrition analysis software program. The association between Mediterranean diet adherence and postoperative bowel motility outcomes will be examined using appropriate statistical methods. The findings are expected to improve understanding of the role of preoperative dietary quality in postoperative gastrointestinal recovery and may contribute to optimizing perioperative nutritional management in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Bahçeşehir University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Adults aged 18 years or older and younger than 70 years. * Scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. * Able to provide written informed consent. * Able to complete the preoperative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and 3-day dietary record. * Able to complete all study assessments and postoperative follow-up.

Exclusion criteria

* Cesarean section (obstetric surgery). * Emergency abdominal surgery. * Structural bowel obstruction following bowel resection or presence of a temporary ileostomy or colostomy. * Active inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) during the preoperative period. * Impaired consciousness or inability to provide informed consent. * Pregnancy. * Previous bowel surgery within the last 3 months. * Short bowel syndrome or conditions requiring chronic parenteral nutrition. * Severe systemic disease.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to first bowel soundFrom completion of surgery until the first documented bowel sound, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).Time in hours from completion of surgery, defined as the record time of exit from the operating room, to the first documented bowel sound. Bowel sounds were assessed hourly by surgical residents and recorded on a standardised monitoring form.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to first flatusFrom completion of surgery until the first patient-reported passage of flatus, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).Time in hours from completion of surgery, defined as the recorded time of exit from the operating room, to the first patient-reported passage of flatus.
Time to first defecationFrom completion of surgery until the first patient-reported postoperative defecation, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).Time in hours from completion of surgery, defined as the recorded time of exit from the operating room, to the first patient-reported postoperative defecation.
Time to first oral fluid intakeFrom completion of surgery until the first documented oral fluid intake, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).Time in hours from completion of surgery, defined as the recorded time of exit from the operating room, to the first documented postoperative oral fluid intake. The time of oral fluid intake was obtained from hospital records.
Postoperative Length of Hospital StayFrom completion of surgery until hospital discharge, assessed up to 60 days postoperatively.Time in hours from completion of surgery, defined as the recorded time of exit from the operating room, until hospital discharge. The time of discharge was obtained from hospital records.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 9, 2026