Indulging in fast food more than once a week is linked to a significantly increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenterologists from Barwon Health report.

The case-controlled study of 236 people from Victoria with newly diagnosed IBD found that the consumption of frequent fast food was associated with nearly six times the odds of having ulcerative colitis (UC) and nearly three times the odds of Crohn’s disease.

However the research team led by gastroenterologist Olga Niewiadomski from St Vincent’s Hospital in Fitzroy found a high intake of fruit and caffeine was protective, as was having a family pet in childhood.

According to the authors the findings support emerging theories on IBD aetiology.

“Firstly that early childhood exposures are important and secondly that modulation of the intestinal microbiota through immunologic, hygienic and dietary events may increase the risk of IBD in the future,” they wrote.

More work was needed to explore the effect of these exposures on biological mechanisms, such as the gut microbiota and immune system, the researchers said.

“In the meantime, intervention can be planned to reduce these exposures, such as changes in diet, in an effort to curb the rising incidence of IBD, especially in countries where the rate is still low,” they added.