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

1) https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-us/16/management-approach

2) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/codi.13748

3) https://www.uptodate.com/contents/colonic-diverticulosis-and-diverticular-disease-epidemiology-risk-factors-and-pathogenesis

Resources

EXPLANATION TO EVIDENCE PRESENTATION

Figure: Evidence pyramid

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

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

​Evidence based on randomized controlled trials is written in PLAIN font

​Evidence based on observational / cohort studies is written in CURSIVE font