Title:  Evaluating the relationship between dietary flavonoids intake and Constipation Incidence
in the General US Population
Version: 1 Date: 06 Oct 2024
Reviewer:  Maryam Zare
Reviewer's report:
Dear Editor:
Thanks for the review sent to me.
My review comments are as follows:
I. Footnote of Tables including the applied analysis should be written.
II. Cut-point Quartiles of flavonoids should be determined in Tables.
III. In line 95, the word 'wtdr1d' is unclear and should be corrected.
IV. Reference of the depression questionnaire should be added.
V.  Daily dietary fiber, fluid intake, and physical activity need to be adjusted.
VI. which food groups have Flavonoids? I think you can bring it in the form of a table in the
supplementary file.
VII. The results cannot be generalized due to 24-hour recall. Because this questionnaire cannot
show the seasonal and episodic intakes. The results of the discussion should be interpreted with
more caution.
VIII. Flavonoids are in 7 categories. Based on structural differences, flavonoids are generally
classified into seven subclasses: flavonols, flavones, isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavanones,
flavanols, and chalcones[1]. In the manuscript write about 6 categories.
IX. STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies should be added.
X. What questionnaire is used to determine constipation?  In some previous studies, ROME III
criteria have been used[2].
XI. According to the study that was given in the introduction about selenium and magnesium, I
think it is necessary to report the consumption of selenium and magnesium in your results and
discussion section.
XII. In line 72, the relationship should be rechecked.
XIII. Lines 74 to 76 are not clear.
XIV. In line 86, BMQ or BHQ?
XV. Reference PHQ should be added.
XVI. The relationship between the consumption of flavonoids and constipation in men is not
explained in the discussion section. The reasons should be explained in the discussion section.
XVII. In Table 2, Quartile 2 should be rechecked and corrected.
XVIII. In Figure 1, Why constipation has increased despite the increase in consumption of
flavonoids (which possibly has been accompanied by an increase in flavonoid flavonoid-rich
foods)?
1. Shen N, Wang T, Gan Q, Liu S, Wang L, Jin B. Plant flavonoids: Classification, distribution,
biosynthesis, and antioxidant activity. Food chemistry. 2022;383:132531.
2. Salek N, Dadkhah A, Saneei P, Hassanzadeh-Keshteli A, Esmaillzadeh A, Adibi P. The
association between obesity, constipation, and functional constipation in Iranian adults. 2016.
Title:  Evaluating the relationship between dietary flavonoids intake and Constipation Incidence
in the General US Population
Version: 1 Date: 06 Oct 2024
Reviewer:  Maryam Zare
Reviewer's report:
Dear Editor:
Thanks for the review sent to me.
My review comments are as follows:
I. Footnote of Tables including the applied analysis should be written.
II. Cut-point Quartiles of flavonoids should be determined in Tables.
III. In line 95, the word 'wtdr1d' is unclear and should be corrected.
IV. Reference of the depression questionnaire should be added.
V.  Daily dietary fiber, fluid intake, and physical activity need to be adjusted.
VI. which food groups have Flavonoids? I think you can bring it in the form of a table in the
supplementary file.
VII. The results cannot be generalized due to 24-hour recall. Because this questionnaire cannot
show the seasonal and episodic intakes. The results of the discussion should be interpreted with
more caution.
VIII. Flavonoids are in 7 categories. Based on structural differences, flavonoids are generally
classified into seven subclasses: flavonols, flavones, isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavanones,
flavanols, and chalcones[1]. In the manuscript write about 6 categories.
IX. STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies should be added.
X. What questionnaire is used to determine constipation?  In some previous studies, ROME III
criteria have been used[2].
XI. According to the study that was given in the introduction about selenium and magnesium, I
think it is necessary to report the consumption of selenium and magnesium in your results and
discussion section.
XII. In line 72, the relationship should be rechecked.
XIII. Lines 74 to 76 are not clear.
XIV. In line 86, BMQ or BHQ?
XV. Reference PHQ should be added.
XVI. The relationship between the consumption of flavonoids and constipation in men is not
explained in the discussion section. The reasons should be explained in the discussion section.
XVII. In Table 2, Quartile 2 should be rechecked and corrected.
XVIII. In Figure 1, Why constipation has increased despite the increase in consumption of
flavonoids (which possibly has been accompanied by an increase in flavonoid flavonoid-rich
foods)?
1. Shen N, Wang T, Gan Q, Liu S, Wang L, Jin B. Plant flavonoids: Classification, distribution,
biosynthesis, and antioxidant activity. Food chemistry. 2022;383:132531.
2. Salek N, Dadkhah A, Saneei P, Hassanzadeh-Keshteli A, Esmaillzadeh A, Adibi P. The
association between obesity, constipation, and functional constipation in Iranian adults. 2016.
Please review this paper.
user
Title:  Evaluating the relationship between dietary flavonoids intake and Constipation Incidence
in the General US Population
Version: 1 Date: 06 Oct 2024
Reviewer:  Maryam Zare
Reviewer's report:
Dear Editor:
Thanks for the review sent to me.
My review comments are as follows:
I. Footnote of Tables including the applied analysis should be written.
II. Cut-point Quartiles of flavonoids should be determined in Tables.
III. In line 95, the word 'wtdr1d' is unclear and should be corrected.
IV. Reference of the depression questionnaire should be added.
V.  Daily dietary fiber, fluid intake, and physical activity need to be adjusted.
VI. which food groups have Flavonoids? I think you can bring it in the form of a table in the
supplementary file.
VII. The results cannot be generalized due to 24-hour recall. Because this questionnaire cannot
show the seasonal and episodic intakes. The results of the discussion should be interpreted with
more caution.
VIII. Flavonoids are in 7 categories. Based on structural differences, flavonoids are generally
classified into seven subclasses: flavonols, flavones, isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavanones,
flavanols, and chalcones[1]. In the manuscript write about 6 categories.
IX. STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies should be added.
X. What questionnaire is used to determine constipation?  In some previous studies, ROME III
criteria have been used[2].
XI. According to the study that was given in the introduction about selenium and magnesium, I
think it is necessary to report the consumption of selenium and magnesium in your results and
discussion section.
XII. In line 72, the relationship should be rechecked.
XIII. Lines 74 to 76 are not clear.
XIV. In line 86, BMQ or BHQ?
XV. Reference PHQ should be added.
XVI. The relationship between the consumption of flavonoids and constipation in men is not
explained in the discussion section. The reasons should be explained in the discussion section.
XVII. In Table 2, Quartile 2 should be rechecked and corrected.
XVIII. In Figure 1, Why constipation has increased despite the increase in consumption of
flavonoids (which possibly has been accompanied by an increase in flavonoid flavonoid-rich
foods)?
1. Shen N, Wang T, Gan Q, Liu S, Wang L, Jin B. Plant flavonoids: Classification, distribution,
biosynthesis, and antioxidant activity. Food chemistry. 2022;383:132531.
2. Salek N, Dadkhah A, Saneei P, Hassanzadeh-Keshteli A, Esmaillzadeh A, Adibi P. The
association between obesity, constipation, and functional constipation in Iranian adults. 2016.
assistant