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Review
. 2024 Sep 15;16(9):e69437.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.69437. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Dietary Influence on Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Sulaiman Almutairi  1
Affiliations
Review

Dietary Influence on Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Sulaiman Almutairi. Cureus. .

Abstract

Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS) is a chronic condition characterized by discomfort or pain in the bladder region, often exacerbated by bladder filling and alleviated by voiding. Despite numerous theories regarding its etiology, the potential dietary influence on BPS symptoms has not been thoroughly elucidated. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the relationship between nutritional factors and the exacerbation or amelioration of BPS symptoms. An extensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar, to identify studies exploring the impact of diet on interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome(IC/BPS). Comparative analysis was employed to synthesize data from the selected studies, focusing on identifying corroborative and conflicting evidence regarding diet and IC/BPS. The analysis revealed recurring themes across the eight selected studies, including the association of certain foods and beverages with the worsening of IC/BPS symptoms. Patients frequently reported dietary sensitivities, particularly to acidic and spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Evidence from the studies suggests that dietary modifications, both self-directed and structured interventions, may improve symptom severity and overall patient quality of life. Additionally, tools developed and validated for assessing dietary sensitivities could facilitate better management of IC/BPS through personalized diet plans. The impact of individual substances such as caffeine and tea was underscored, indicating their potential as modifiable risk factors in IC/BPS symptomatology. The collective evidence from the reviewed studies confirms the importance of dietary influence on IC/BPS symptom management. An individualized approach to dietary counseling based on patient sensitivities could be beneficial. However, the diversity in study methodologies and outcomes indicates a need for more uniform research to establish standardized dietary guidelines for IC/BPS patients.

Keywords: bladder pain syndrome; diet; dietary influence; nutritional factors; systematic review; urinary symptoms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Article selection process representation of the review
Figure 2
Figure 2. Bias assessment using the AXIS tool
AXIS: Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies
Figure 3
Figure 3. Bias assessment using the RoB 2.0 tool
RoB2.0: Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool for RCTs [13].
Figure 4
Figure 4. Bias assessment using the ROBINS-I tool
ROBINS-I: Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool (Cochrane Methods, London, UK) for non-randomized studies [14].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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