Diet Low in FODMAPs, Starch, and Sucrose Best for IBS Symptoms Reduction

Celiac.com 08/18/2022 - There's been some evidence that diets low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs), and other ingredients, can help improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. In many cases, diet can trigger or worsen symptoms of IBS. Many IBS patients try restrictive diets to relieve their symptoms, but there's no good information on which diets might be effective, and advisable.

A team of researchers recently conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) reviewing the efficacy of food restriction diets in IBS.

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The research team included Seung Jung Yu, Hong Sub Lee, Hyeon Jeong Gung, Ju Seok Kim, Ki Bae Kim, Yong Hwan Kwon, Jae Hak Kim, Hoon Sup Koo, Hyun-Deok Shin, Sam Ryong Jee, Han Byul Lee, Jeehyoung Kim, and Hye-Won Park.

To get good data for their systematic review and network meta-analysis, the research team searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases until July 21, 2021, to retrieve RCTs assessing the efficacy of restriction diets in adults with IBS. 

They then had two independent reviewers conduct the eligibility assessment and data abstraction. For the study, the team included RCTs that compared a restriction diet with a control diet, and assessed any improvements in global IBS symptoms. 

In all, the team found nearly two thousand citations. After full-text screening, they found fourteen RCTs that were eligible for the systematic review and network meta-analysis. 

Diet Low in FODMAPs, Starch, and Sucrose Works Best

The team's analysis showed that a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet and a diet with low-fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) showed significantly better results than a usual diet. Symptom flare-ups in patients on a gluten-free diet were also significantly lower than in those on high-gluten diets.

These findings showed that a diet low in FODMAPs, starch, and sucrose works best to reduce IBS symptoms. 

There are more studies to conduct to prove the benefits of these dietary restrictions on IBS symptoms, but these findings are definitely interesting for anyone suffering from IBS.

Read the full article from the Korean Journal of Gastroenterology

The researchers in this study are variously affiliated with the IBS Research Study Group of the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan; Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Bucheon, Bucheon; Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon; Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju; Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu; Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang; Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan; Department of Public Health, Ajou University Graduate School of Public Health, Suwon; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul Sacred Heart General Hospital, Seoul; Inje University Medical Library, Busan, Korea.