Association Between Preoperative Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Postoperative Bowel Motility

NCT07808281 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-85646034-604.01-119105
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 110
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Postoperative bowel motility is an important indicator of recovery after abdominal surgery and may be influenced by preoperative nutritional status. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with favorable gastrointestinal function because of its high content of dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds. This prospective observational cohort study aims to investigate the association between preoperative adherence to the Mediterranean diet and postoperative bowel motility in adults undergoing elective abdominal surgery. A total of 110 participants will be assessed for Mediterranean diet adherence using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Nutritional status, dietary intake, and perioperative characteristics will be recorded. Postoperative bowel motility outcomes, including time to first bowel sound, first flatus, first defecation, oral intake, and hospital discharge, will be prospectively monitored. The findings are expected to improve understanding of the relationship between preoperative dietary patterns and postoperative gastrointestinal recovery.

Conditions

Post Abdominal Surgery; Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder; Postoperative Ileus

Keywords

Mediterranean diet; MEDAS; Abdominal surgery; Gastrointestinal motility

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Time to first bowel sound

  Time in hours from completion of surgery, defined as the record time of exit from the operating room, to the first documented bowel sound. Bowel sounds were assessed hourly by surgical residents and recorded on a standardised monitoring form.

  From completion of surgery until the first documented bowel sound, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Time to first flatus

  From completion of surgery until the first patient-reported passage of flatus, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).

• Time to first defecation

  From completion of surgery until the first patient-reported postoperative defecation, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).

• Time to first oral fluid intake

  From completion of surgery until the first documented oral fluid intake, assessed during the postoperative hospital stay (up to 48 hours postoperatively).

• Postoperative Length of Hospital Stay

  From completion of surgery until hospital discharge, assessed up to 60 days postoperatively.

Study Arms (1)

Adults Undergoing Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Adults undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy who were enrolled in this prospective observational cohort study. Preoperative nutritional status and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were assessed before surgery. Participants were not assigned to exposure groups; subgroup analyses according to Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) scores were performed during statistical analysis. Postoperative bowel motility outcomes were prospectively recorded for all participants.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consisted of adults undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the General Surgery Clinic of İnönü University Faculty of Medicine Hospital. Participants were enrolled prospectively between February and April 2026. Preoperative nutritional status and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were assessed before surgery, and postoperative bowel motility outcomes were prospectively monitored during hospitalization.

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years or older and younger than 70 years.
• Scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
• Able to provide written informed consent.
• Able to complete the preoperative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and 3-day dietary record.
• Able to complete all study assessments and postoperative follow-up.

You may not qualify if:

• Cesarean section (obstetric surgery).
• Emergency abdominal surgery.
• Structural bowel obstruction following bowel resection or presence of a temporary ileostomy or colostomy.
• Active inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) during the preoperative period.
• Impaired consciousness or inability to provide informed consent.
• Pregnancy.
• Previous bowel surgery within the last 3 months.
• Short bowel syndrome or conditions requiring chronic parenteral nutrition.
• Severe systemic disease.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bahçeşehir University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Bahcesehir University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

İnönü University Faculty of Medicine Hospital

Malatya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Tosti V, Bertozzi B, Fontana L. Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet: Metabolic and Molecular Mechanisms. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018 Mar 2;73(3):318-326. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glx227.

  PMID: 29244059 BACKGROUND

• Muller SA, Rahbari NN, Schneider F, Warschkow R, Simon T, von Frankenberg M, Bork U, Weitz J, Schmied BM, Buchler MW. Randomized clinical trial on the effect of coffee on postoperative ileus following elective colectomy. Br J Surg. 2012 Nov;99(11):1530-8. doi: 10.1002/bjs.8885. Epub 2012 Sep 14.

  PMID: 22987303 BACKGROUND

• Sofi F, Cesari F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A. Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis. BMJ. 2008 Sep 11;337:a1344. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1344.

  PMID: 18786971 BACKGROUND

• Wattchow D, Heitmann P, Smolilo D, Spencer NJ, Parker D, Hibberd T, Brookes SSJ, Dinning PG, Costa M. Postoperative ileus-An ongoing conundrum. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021 May;33(5):e14046. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14046. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

  PMID: 33252179 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asst. Prof.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 2, 2026
• First Posted: September 8, 2026
• Study Start: January 23, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 23, 2026
• Study Completion: May 23, 2026
• Last Updated: September 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (2)