Development of a comprehensive dietary dataset for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) patients and matched controls: protocol, implementation, and future directions for nutrition-based research

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease with unclear etiology and substantial morbidity. While immunological, hormonal, and infectious triggers have been proposed, the role of dietary factors in IGM pathogenesis remains underexplored despite emerging associations between diet and inflammatory conditions. This study describes the development of a comprehensive dataset of dietary intake and nondietary variables from IGM patients and matched controls, enabling future research into potential diet–IGM associations. Between 2022 and 2024, a multicenter case‒control study enrolled 608 female patients with histologically confirmed IGM and 568 matched controls. Data included demographic, reproductive, and anthropometric measurements, hormonal profiles, and detailed dietary intake data evaluated via a validated 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Nutrient intake was calculated using Nutritionist IV software with traditional Iranian foods. Variables were classified by importance, and strict criteria ensured data quality. Participants were from 36 cities across Iran. A total of 430,572 individual data points were generated, resulting in a comprehensive dataset encompassing dietary patterns alongside clinical and health-related variables. This dataset provides a critical foundation for future research on dietary factors in IGM onset, progression, and clinical management, supports evidence-based recommendations, and may guide standardized dietary guidelines for IGM patients.