Diet as a risk factor for the development of stress urinary incontinence: a longitudinal study in women

Objective: To assess the association between diet and the onset of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women aged 40 y plus. Design and setting: The Leicestershire MRC Incontinence Study - a prospective longitudinal study of the prevalence, incidence and aetiology of urinary symptoms. Subjects and methods: A total of 5816 women aged 40 y plus and living in the community. Urinary symptoms were reported in a postal questionnaire at baseline and at 1-y follow-up. Dietary intake was assessed in a food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Results: Intakes of total fat, saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids were associated with an increased risk of SUI onset 1 y later. Of the micronutrients studied, zinc and vitamin B12 were positively associated with SUI onset. Conclusion: The results from this prospective study suggest there may be an aetiological association between certain components of the diet and the onset of SUI. The findings need confirming and possible mechanisms to explain these associations need further investigation. Sponsorship: The study was funded by the Medical Research Council.