Dietary factors and the risk of lumbar spinal stenosis: A case–control analysis from the PREFACE study

There is a lack of knowledge on the association of dietary factors and Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). We evaluated the association of a Mediterranean diet (MD), its major food components and ultra-processed food (UPF) with the risk of LSS. Participants were recruited from the Neurosurgery Department of the IRCCS Neuromed, Italy. The study sample consisted of 156 cases of LSS, and 312 controls matched 1:2 for sex, age (±6 months) and physical activity, without a history or clinical evidence of LSS who were identified from the general population. Adherence to MD was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Score based on 9 food groups. UPF was defined according to NOVA classification and calculated as the ratio (%) of UPF (g/d) on total food consumed (g/d). In multivariable-adjusted analysis, a 2-point increase in the MD score was not associated with LSS risk (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.72–1.46). An increment of 10 g/d of fruits and nuts, cereals or fish led to lower odds of LSS (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99; OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82–0.94; OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76–0.99, respectively). Additionally, 1% increment in the consumption of UPF in the diet was independently associated with higher LSS risk (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04–1.14). A diet rich in fruits, cereals, fish is associated with lower risk of LSS while a large dietary share of UPF increases the risk of this disease. Further studies with a prospective design and larger sample sizes are warranted. •There is a lack of knowledge on the association of dietary factors and Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS).•In this analysis, diets rich in fruits, cereals and fish are associated with lower risk of LSS.•Our findings also show a higher LSS risk associated with ultra-processed food.