Pain-Free Living

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Improves with Diet

By Lisa Cantkier

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder that affects 10 to 20 percent of the population. Those affected commonly present with long-term abdominal pain or discomfort, as well as a bloated feeling, diarrhea or constipation.

The FODMAPs diet has been shown to ease the symptoms of IBS. Specifically, the diet limits carbohydrates that are Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharides and Polyols. Some examples of FODMAPs are fructose (found in agave fruits, high fructose corn syrup and honey), lactose (found in dairy), fructans (found in garlic, onions and wheat), galactans (found in legumes) and polyols, which are sugar alcohols and fruits that have pits or seeds, such as apples, avocados, cherries and figs.

According to a new study published in the November 2015 issue of Gastroenterology, researchers found the FODMAPs diet reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) “as well as traditional IBS dietary advice.”

In the four-week trial, researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden compared the results of 33 IBS patients on a diet low in FODMAPs with the results of 34 IBS patients given “traditional dietary advice (i.e., a regular meal pattern, avoidance of large meals and reduced intake of fat, insoluble fibers, caffeine and gas-producing foods such as beans, cabbage and onions), with greater emphasis on how and when to eat rather than on what foods to ingest.”

In total, 67 patients participated in the study (33 patients completed the diet low in FODMAPs and 34 patients completed the traditional IBS diet). The researchers found a reduction in the severity of IBS symptoms in both patient groups during the intervention, without a significant difference between the groups. At the end of the four-week diet period, 19 patients (50%) in the low-FODMAP group had reductions in IBS severity scores and 17 patients (46%) in the traditional IBS diet group had reductions in IBS severity scores.

The authors of the study conclude, “A diet low in FODMAPs reduces IBS symptoms as well as traditional IBS dietary advice. Combining elements from these two strategies might further reduce symptoms of IBS.” It was also concluded that “food diaries demonstrated good adherence to the dietary advice.”

 

Read more about the study here.

Last Reviewed November 17, 2015

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