Demand for adult diapers is skyrocketing, reaching a value of $15.4 billion by 2020first and far exceeds sales of infant diapers.2 With an expected compound annual growth rate of 7.8% from 2021 to 2026, the global adult diaper market is predicted to reach a value of $24.2 billion by 2026 , due to the increasing prevalence of urinary incontinence in the elderly.
Seniors are looking for products with improved fluid absorption and retention, while sales are expected to be driven by technological advancements including thinner products. , more comfortable, easier on the skin with better odor control.3
A global report on the adult diaper market published in 2021 named North America as the “leader in the global adult diaper market” thanks to its aging geriatric population. The growing number of successful “awareness campaigns” carried out by diaper manufacturers have helped remove some of the stigma associated with urinary incontinence.4
However, the most pertinent question out of all of this is what causes all urinary incontinence and bladder control problems to begin? You may be surprised to learn that diet is an important factor.5
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is a type of bladder control problem in which urine leaks accidentally. This can happen during everyday activities, such as coughing or exercising, or in bed while you are sleeping. Symptoms of urinary incontinence also include not being able to hold urine, leaking urine without warning, not being able to go to the bathroom in time, or leaking urine during sex.6
In some cases, urinary incontinence can be caused by a urinary tract infection, constipation, or certain medications. However, when the problem persists, it may be related to:7
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Weak bladder or pelvic floor muscles |
Overactive bladder muscles |
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Damage to the nerve that controls the bladder, which can occur in multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or Parkinson’s disease |
Pelvic organ prolapse |
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Prostatitis or prostatitis |
Enlarged prostate, which can lead to benign prostatic hyperplasia |
While urinary incontinence is extremely common, affecting about 50% of women at some point in their lives, less than half of them seek care for their symptoms, often due to the accompanying stigma.8 There are three types of urinary incontinence, including:9
first. Stress urinary incontinence – This describes urine leakage that occurs due to physical activity or pressure on the bladder. It can happen when exercising, coughing, laughing, sneezing, or when lifting heavy objects.
2. Urinary incontinence – This involves a sudden urge to urinate with an uncontrollable feeling. People with urinary incontinence may not be able to hold their urine long enough to go to the bathroom. It can occur in people with diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.ten
3. Mixed incontinence – This is associated with a strong urge to have a bowel movement along with the urine leakage that occurs during physical activity.
Dietary factors that can affect bladder control
Although the risk of urinary incontinence increases with age, following a healthy lifestyle can help you maintain bladder control as you age. Diet is a major factor. In a study of 5,816 women 40 years of age and older, intake of whole fats, saturated fatty acids, and monounsaturated fatty acids was associated with an increased risk of urinary incontinence after one year. .11
What’s more, “trans fats, white flour, white sugar, processed foods, high amounts of vegetable oils, alcohol, soda pop, and other high-sugar beverages contribute to diet-induced inflammation,” orthopedic doctor, Dr. Lina Dobberstein, who is board-certified. in clinical nutrition.twelfth A pro-inflammatory diet, which includes lots of processed foods and vegetable oils – or seeds -, by contrast, has also been linked to urinary incontinence.
In an analysis of 13,441 women under the age of 65, those with the most inflammatory diets had a significantly higher risk of urinary incontinence than those with the most anti-inflammatory diets.13
Research uses the dietary inflammation index, or DII, to assess dietary pro-inflammatory and suggests that inflammation may be a key reason why an unhealthy diet can increase risk of urinary incontinence. Researchers writing in the journal Scientific Reports explain how inflammation can affect bladder control:14
“[H]The igh DII score (representative of an anti-inflammatory diet) was positively associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers including CRP, TNF-α, IL-6.
Studies indicate that inflammatory cytokines play an important role in regulating the expression of associations and pathogenesis of urinary bladder dysfunction and that inflammatory cytokines are involved the interaction of parasympathetic and peptidergic/sensory overactivity inside the bladder with local immune cells.
Furthermore, several molecular pathways indicate that inflammation accompanies SUI . changes [stress urinary incontinence] in the mouse model system. SMAD2 is a known downstream mediator of TGF-β that plays an important role in tissue inflammation and other disorders, SMAD2 was found in SUI upregulated compared with healthy controls in an earlier study . ”
Other dietary factors, including specific foods and medications, that have been linked to bladder control problems and bladder irritation include:15,16
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Alcohol |
Caffeine |
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Gas drink |
Artificial sweeteners |
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Chocolate |
Chili |
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Citrus fruits |
Spicy food |
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Blood pressure and heart medicine |
Muscle relaxants |
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Sedative |
Tomatoes and tomato products |
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Corn Syrup |
Street |
Environmental chemicals affect bladder control
In addition to toxins in the diet, chemicals in the environment can also contribute to bladder control problems. Lower urinary tract dysfunction, including urinary urgency and incontinence, is also common in men and has been described as “almost common in men of advanced age”.17
While research into how environmental chemicals affect the bladder is limited, one animal study found that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in utero can cause an increase in bladder volume. male bladder and changes in bladder function.18
A review published in Toxics adds that chemical insults to the lower urinary tract in men can lead to abnormal sensory processes in the bladder, damage to the ureters, and a functioning bladder. exceed. In the prostate gland, toxin exposure can lead to changes in prostate smooth muscle contraction along with changes in urine velocity.19
The endocrine disrupting chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) has also been linked to lower urinary tract symptoms, including urinary dysfunction,20 and findings “associated with adult BPA exposure in male lower urinary tract dysfunction.”21
Healthy lifestyle changes can improve incontinence
Strong associations exist between urinary incontinence and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and high alcohol and caffeine consumption. Therefore, programs aimed at improving diet and physical activity, while maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking, can improve both heart health and urinary incontinence.22
Since bladder problems can have an adverse impact on quality of life, they can also be a powerful motivator to help you stick to an overall healthy lifestyle – and, Lifestyle and behavior strategies are the first line of treatment for most urinary incontinence cases, anyway, and often they’re successful.
In a study of 19,741 postmenopausal women, those who reported 30 hours or more of physical activity per week had a 16% lower risk of urinary incontinence and a lower risk of mixed incontinence. more than 34%.23
Engaging in exercises such as modified pilates can also be beneficial, with participants reporting improved self-esteem, reduced social shyness, reduced impact on daily activities, and improved relationships. individual system in women with urinary incontinence.24 Taking part in pilates also improves overall attitudes towards exercise, a healthy diet, and well-being.
Paying attention to healthy sun exposure, to ensure optimal vitamin D levels, can also help. Vitamin D receptors can be found in the muscle that stimulates the bladder, and a review of 12 studies found an association between low vitamin D levels and urinary incontinence.25
Copper levels may also be implicated, with high levels increasing the risk.26 This is something to consider, especially, if you are already using birth control pills or copper IUDs. Dobberstein wrote:27
“This makes me question the widespread use of birth control pills and how easily copper IUDs can cause your body to retain copper. Some women also have a genetic predisposition to keep copper. Do birth control methods that affect copper metabolism lead to difficulty with bladder control in some women? If you’re concerned about bladder control and using birth control, get a blood test to measure your copper levels.”
Training on healthy lifestyle and bladder control
The use of adult diapers is becoming so widespread that the products were recently included in a move in Florida to make diaper sales tax-free.28 The diaper sales tax exemption currently only targets diapers for babies, but lawmakers are trying to change that. “Unfortunately, this deal does not include adult products (although they are part of my proposal) – we will continue the fight next year,” Sen. Lauren Book wrote. on Twitter.29
To avoid getting to the point where you’ll need to support the burgeoning adult diaper industry, it’s important to focus on a whole-food diet that limits inflammatory processed foods, as well. such as avoiding the potential dietary triggers listed above. To quench your thirst, water is the best drink for your bladder.30
Regular exercise, which combines strength training, endurance, balance and flexibility, can be beneficial for your bladder and overall health,thirty first while pelvic muscle exercises, known as Kegel exercises, can target and strengthen the muscles that support your bladder.32
Additional forms of bladder control training may also be helpful, such as suppressing the urge to urinate, which distracts yourself when you feel the need to urinate. Timed blanking is another option. By scheduling a time to urinate, such as once every hour, it can help you gradually lengthen the time between urinations.
