Use of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for the Estimation of Gut Microbiota Composition Based on Dietary Patterns and Its Association with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms in the Lebanese Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Table 2

Semi quantitative FFQ analysis of the food item components consumption from the six food groups of participants (N = 388).

Food groups/food items	Never, n (%)	<3 times per month, n (%)	1–2 times per week, n (%)	3–6 times per week, n (%)	Everyday, n (%)	At least once per day, n (%)
Vegetables
Artichokes	159 (41)	216 (56)	13 (3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Asparagus	211 (54)	169 (44)	8 (2)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Cruciferous^$	43 (11.08)	174 (44.85)	125 (32.22)	32 (8.25)	7 (1.8)	7 (1.8)
Beat juice	270 (69.59)	77 (19.85)	25 (6.44)	11 (2.84)	4 (1.03)	1 (0.26)
Bell pepper	65 (16.75)	173 (44.59)	116 (29.9)	27 (6.96)	5 (1.29)	2 (0.52)
Carrots, celery	35 (9.02)	166 (42.78)	141 (36.34)	29 (7.47)	16 (4.12)	1 (0.26)
Chicory	239 (61.6)	117 (30.15)	26 (6.7)	4 (1.03)	2 (1)	0 (0)
Cucumbers	10 (2.58)	46 (11.86)	112 (28.87)	118 (30.41)	90 (23.2)	12 (3.09)
Eggplants	83 (21.39)	196 (50.52)	80 (20.62)	23 (5.93)	5 (1.29)	1 (0.26)
Onions ^#	9 (2.32)	39 (10.05)	85 (21.91)	127 (32.73)	113 (29.12)	15 (3.87)
Green peas	54 (13.92)	222 (57.22)	97 (25)	13 (3.35)	1 (0.26)	1 (0.26)
Lettuce	4 (1.03)	54 (13.92)	117 (30.15)	141 (36.34)	66 (17.01)	6 (1.55)
Mushrooms	50 (12.89)	180 (46.39)	119 (30.67)	32 (8.25)	7 (1.8)	0 (0)
Cooked okra	217 (55.93)	150 (38.66)	14 (3.61)	4 (1.03)	2 (0.52)	1 (0.26)
Potato	12 (3.09)	110 (28.35)	186 (47.94)	69 (17.78)	11 (2.84)	0 (0)
Cooked pumpkin	223 (57.47)	144 (37.11)	14 (3.61)	6 (1.55)	0 (0)	1 (0.26)
Cooked spinach	97 (25)	256 (65.98)	28 (7.22)	6 (1.55)	0 (0)	1 (0.26)
Sweet potato	157 (40.46)	159 (40.98)	53 (13.66)	12 (3.09)	7 (1.8)	0 (0)
Fresh tomatoes	14 (3.61)	30 (7.73)	103 (26.55)	126 (32.47)	101 (26.03)	14 (3.61)
Zucchini	94 (24.23)	204 (52.58)	75 (19.33)	11 (2.84)	2 (0.52)	2 (0.52)
Fruits
Apples	35 (9.02)	138 (35.57)	130 (33.51)	54 (13.92)	25 (6.44)	6 (1.55)
Apricots	107 (27.58)	207 (53.35)	49 (12.63)	19 (4.9)	3 (0.77)	3 (0.77)
Avocado	57 (14.69)	180 (46.39)	107 (27.58)	32 (8.25)	11 (2.84)	1 (0.26)
Bananas	21 (5.41)	74 (19.07)	127 (32.73)	90 (23.2)	72 (18.56)	4 (1.03)
Berries	65 (16.75)	195 (50.26)	86 (22.16)	36 (9.28)	6 (1.55)	0 (0)
Cherries	110 (28.35)	198 (51.03)	58 (14.95)	15 (3.87)	7 (1.8)	0 (0)
Citrus^&	35 (9.02)	146 (37.63)	137 (35.31)	42 (10.82)	24 (6.19)	4 (1.03)
Dates	101 (26.03)	143 (36.86)	68 (17.53)	36 (9.28)	31 (7.99)	9 (2.32)
Dried fruits	137 (35.31)	159 (40.98)	50 (12.89)	28 (7.22)	9 (2.32)	5 (1.29)
Figs	187 (48.20)	162 (41.75)	29 (7.47)	9 (2.32)	0 (0)	1 (0.26)
Grapes	110 (28.35)	196 (50.52)	58 (14.95)	21 (5.41)	3 (0.77)	0 (0)
Kiwi	123 (31.7)	191 (49.23)	46 (11.86)	20 (5.15)	6 (1.55)	2 (0.52)
Lemon	12 (3.09)	85 (21.91)	101 (26.03)	98 (25.26)	86 (22.16)	6 (1.55)
Mango	128 (32.99)	208 (53.61)	37 (9.54)	11 (2.84)	4 (1.03)	0 (0)
Melon	128 (32.99)	176 (45.36)	61 (15.72)	14 (3.61)	8 (2.06)	1 (0.26)
Peaches	105 (27.06)	186 (47.94)	63 (16.24)	25 (6.44)	9 (2.32)	0 (0)
Pomegranate	121 (31.19)	201 (51.8)	39 (10.05)	19 (4.9)	8 (2.06)	0 (0)
Pineapple	139 (35.82)	203 (52.32)	34 (8.76)	7 (1.8)	5 (1.29)	0 (0)
Plums	184 (47.42)	156 (40.21)	40 (10.31)	6 (1.55)	1 (0.26)	1 (0.26)
Watermelon	103 (26.55)	153 (39.43)	87 (22.42)	28 (7.22)	12 (3.09)	5 (1.29)
Proteins
Fish	35 (9.02)	210 (54.12)	124 (31.96)	17 (4.38)	1 (0.26)	1 (0.26)
Red meat	15 (3.87)	72 (18.56)	178 (45.88)	101 (26.03)	19 (4.9)	3 (0.77)
Eggs	18 (4.64)	82 (21.13)	197 (50.77)	73 (18.81)	15 (3.87)	3 (0.77)
Chicken	5 (1.29)	35 (9.02)	171 (44.07)	152 (39.18)	24 (6.19)	1 (0.26)
Organ meat	146 (51.23)	162 (56.84)	64 (22.46)	14 (4.91)	2 (0.7)	0 (0)
Processed meat	74 (25.96)	161 (56.49)	110 (38.6)	36 (12.63)	7 (2.46)	0 (0)
Chickpeas	58 (14.95)	181 (46.65)	127 (32.73)	17 (4.38)	5 (1.29)	0 (0)
Lentils	33 (8.51)	172 (44.33)	167 (43.04)	12 (3.09)	3 (0.77)	1 (0.26)
Beans	45 (11.6)	192 (49.48)	127 (32.73)	22 (5.67)	2 (0.52)	0 (0)
Soy bean	231 (59.54)	113 (29.12)	35 (9.02)	7 (1.8)	2 (0.52)	0 (0)
Nuts	29 (7.47)	132 (34.02)	129 (33.25)	50 (12.89)	41 (10.57)	7 (1.8)
Grains and dairy
Barley, oat, whole grain bread	68 (17.53)	106 (27.32)	81 (20.88)	68 (17.53)	59 (15.21)	6 (1.55)
Bulgur, quinoa, rice	12 (3.09)	80 (20.62)	171 (44.07)	99 (25.52)	22 (5.67)	4 (1.03)
Milk or cheese	4 (1.03)	37 (9.54)	95 (24.48)	111 (28.61)	132 (34.02)	9 (2.32)
Yogurt	20 (5.15)	114 (29.38)	157 (40.46)	64 (16.49)	31 (7.99)	2 (0.52)
Seeds, herbs, beverages, and olive oil
Mixture of spices and herbs	7 (1.8)	43 (11.08)	86 (22.16)	91 (23.45)	149 (38.4)	12 (3.09)
Fresh herbs^♰	18 (4.64)	71 (18.3)	133 (34.28)	85 (21.91)	76 (19.59)	5 (1.29)
Anise	141 (36.34)	130 (33.51)	73 (18.81)	28 (7.22)	14 (3.61)	2 (0.52)
Green or black tea	55 (14.18)	130 (33.51)	108 (27.84)	51 (13.14)	41 (10.57)	3 (0.77)
Chamomile	139 (35.82)	134 (34.54)	78 (20.1)	25 (6.44)	11 (2.84)	1 (0.26)
Coffee	40 (10.31)	35 (9.02)	30 (7.73)	26 (6.7)	196 (50.52)	61 (15.72)
Seeds	127 (32.73)	145 (37.37)	71 (18.3)	31 (7.99)	13 (3.35)	1 (0.26)
Olive oil	4 (1.03)	21 (5.41)	68 (17.53)	109 (28.09)	170 (43.81)	16 (4.12)
Red wine	104 (26.8)	185 (47.68)	72 (18.56)	18 (4.64)	7 (1.8)	2 (0.52)

Blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries; ^$broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radishes, kale; ^#green onions, white onions, garlic; ^&orange, mandarin, clementine, grapefruit; ^♰parsley, mint, thyme, basil, arugula; boiled, baked, or mashed.