Title:  Evaluating the relationship between dietary flavonoids intake and Constipation Incidence
in the General US Population
Version: 1 Date: 07 Oct 2024
Reviewer:  Luca Massaro
Reviewer's report:
Jiang et al report an interesting landscape on the relationship between dietary flavonoid intake
and constipation incidence in the US population, using NHANES data from 2007-2010. The
authors found an inverse relationship between flavonoid intake, particularly anthocyanidins,
flavanones, flavones, and flavonols, and constipation. The paper concludes that increased intake
of flavonoids could potentially reduce constipation risk.
The paper show a clear and streamlined structure with strong methods and clear objective.
However as some streamlining of the introduction, which is sometimes slightly repetitive and
wordy, may be advised, the main concern I have about this study is the choice of the covariates.
Fiber intake, whether it be soluble or insoluble, can be addressed as one of the primary nutritional
influences on constipation and stool quality. However this seems to be overlooked, even thought
the source of flavonoids from plant-based (and fiber rich) food is highlighted in the text.  I
strongly advise the authors to take into consideration fiber intake in the subject diets and verify
if fiber intake is indeed relevant and if the correlation between flavonoids and constipation is
independent from fiber intake
Title:  Evaluating the relationship between dietary flavonoids intake and Constipation Incidence
in the General US Population
Version: 1 Date: 07 Oct 2024
Reviewer:  Luca Massaro
Reviewer's report:
Jiang et al report an interesting landscape on the relationship between dietary flavonoid intake
and constipation incidence in the US population, using NHANES data from 2007-2010. The
authors found an inverse relationship between flavonoid intake, particularly anthocyanidins,
flavanones, flavones, and flavonols, and constipation. The paper concludes that increased intake
of flavonoids could potentially reduce constipation risk.
The paper show a clear and streamlined structure with strong methods and clear objective.
However as some streamlining of the introduction, which is sometimes slightly repetitive and
wordy, may be advised, the main concern I have about this study is the choice of the covariates.
Fiber intake, whether it be soluble or insoluble, can be addressed as one of the primary nutritional
influences on constipation and stool quality. However this seems to be overlooked, even thought
the source of flavonoids from plant-based (and fiber rich) food is highlighted in the text.  I
strongly advise the authors to take into consideration fiber intake in the subject diets and verify
if fiber intake is indeed relevant and if the correlation between flavonoids and constipation is
independent from fiber intake
Please review this paper.
user
Title:  Evaluating the relationship between dietary flavonoids intake and Constipation Incidence
in the General US Population
Version: 1 Date: 07 Oct 2024
Reviewer:  Luca Massaro
Reviewer's report:
Jiang et al report an interesting landscape on the relationship between dietary flavonoid intake
and constipation incidence in the US population, using NHANES data from 2007-2010. The
authors found an inverse relationship between flavonoid intake, particularly anthocyanidins,
flavanones, flavones, and flavonols, and constipation. The paper concludes that increased intake
of flavonoids could potentially reduce constipation risk.
The paper show a clear and streamlined structure with strong methods and clear objective.
However as some streamlining of the introduction, which is sometimes slightly repetitive and
wordy, may be advised, the main concern I have about this study is the choice of the covariates.
Fiber intake, whether it be soluble or insoluble, can be addressed as one of the primary nutritional
influences on constipation and stool quality. However this seems to be overlooked, even thought
the source of flavonoids from plant-based (and fiber rich) food is highlighted in the text.  I
strongly advise the authors to take into consideration fiber intake in the subject diets and verify
if fiber intake is indeed relevant and if the correlation between flavonoids and constipation is
independent from fiber intake
assistant