Extra weight is a key risk factor for urinary incontinence, but a new study suggests that dietary factors may play a role beyond putting on pounds. Women who consumed the most calories were almost three times as likely to suffer urinary incontinence. The association remained even after adjusting for weight, and in fact was stronger among lean women.Fat choices also played a role in risk. Women who ate the most saturated fat, versus polyunsaturated fat, were two and a half times as likely to suffer urinary incontinence. Saturated-fat ratio was also strongly associated with severity of the condition.Nancy N. Maserejian, ScD, of the New England Research Institutes, and colleagues used data from a health and nutrition survey of 2,060 Boston women, ages 30 to 79; 12% of the women reported moderate-tosevere urinary incontinence.Its not entirely clear why the balance of fats in the diet might influence urinary incontinence, but researchers suggested that chronic systemic inflammation could be involved. People with a higher ratio of saturated to polyunsaturated fat in their diets appear to be more prone to inflammation, which in turn has been linked to risk of urinary incontinence.Its not entirely clear why the balance of fats in the diet might influence urinary incontinence, but researchers suggested that chronic systemic inflammation could be involved. People with a higher ratio of saturated to polyunsaturated fat in their diets appear to be more prone to inflammation, which in turn has been linked to risk of urinary incontinence.These are novel findings, and we need more research to verify them, Maserejian cautioned. Losing weight remains the first-line lifestyle therapy for incontinence, she added, but dietary changes coupled with weight loss could be an effective combination for those suffering from urinary incontinence. The findings also could mean that cutting calories and switching fats might help normal-weight women with the condition.TO LEARN MORE: American Journal of Epidemiology, May 15, 2010; abstract at aje.oxfordjournals.org/ cgi/content/abstract/171/10/1116
