According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, the precursor to diverticulitis is diverticulosis, a condition affecting half of the over-60 population in the United States. When the sacs that project or bulge out from the lining of the colon as a result of diverticulosis become inflamed or infected, your condition is known as diverticulitis.
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
According to the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), the primary cause of diverticulitis is diverticulosis. Diverticulosis is best defined as multiple sacs that project or bulge out from the lining of the colon. These sacs are referred to as diverticula. Infection of the diverticula is due to a lack of sufficient fiber in the diet and food in the colon becoming lodged in the diverticular sacs.
Low-Fiber Diets
According to MedlinePlus, doctors believe diets low in fiber ultimately may lead to diverticulosis. Fiber from fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains are insoluble and therefore not absorbed. Fiber assists the colon in completing the job it was meant to do by moving its contents through the intestinal tract and out of the body.
The correlation between low-fiber diets and a higher incidence of diverticular disease is especially evident in the U.S. compared to nations where diets high in fiber are the norm. Nations that traditionally consume more plant-based foods have a lower incidence of diverticular disease, according to the NDDIC.
Increased Abdominal Pressure
Increased abdominal pressure occurs when food does not move through the intestinal tract, the NDDIC reports. Constipation, straining and pushing create the intra-abdominal pressure responsible for the creation of the bulging sacs, or diverticula. When food becomes trapped in the diverticula, an environment is created that contributes to inflammation and infection, or diverticulitis.
