Can Low-Carb Diets Help Improve IBS Symptoms?
Research in recent years has begun to uncover associations between imbalance of the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease. IBS symptoms have been documented to develop in up to 10 percent of previously healthy individuals after a single episode of gastroenteritis caused by infections like Salmonella, Shigella or Campylobacter, which can severely disrupt the delicate balance of “good” and “bad” gut microbes.1 But, interestingly and perhaps related to these findings, a growing body of research is exploring associations between diet and intensity of symptoms in patients with IBS. It is estimated that about two-thirds of individuals with IBS associate their symptom exacerbation with specific foods.2 Diets high in certain “flatulogenic” foods can profoundly alter the microbiota of persons with IBS, which can have a compound effect over time, prolonging or increasing symptoms, whereas they will have little to no effect on the guts of healthy persons.1
A diet low in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) has been shown to significantly improve IBS symptoms2 and has been cited as first-line therapy for the management of symptoms in IBS.3 FODMAPs is a term used to describe short-chain carbohydrates found in a wide range of foods, including many that are frequently recommended for their high nutritional value (eg, garlic, onions, legumes, apples, broccoli, cabbage, and most wheat-containing products). These foods tend to be difficult to digest and are fermented by bacteria, causing bloating and abdominal discomfort.
A recent crossover study of 30 patients with IBS and 8 healthy controls, matched for demographics and diet, found that gastrointestinal symptom scores were significantly reduced (P<.001) during a 21-day period on the low-FODMAP diet, compared with an equal period of time on an Australian (ie, Western) diet. Symptoms remained relatively unchanged among healthy controls, regardless of which diet they consumed.3
IBS is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders seen worldwide, affecting up to 20% of the population of Western countries. One of its most frequent and bothersome symptoms is bloating. While there is no specific diet recommended for individuals with IBS, avoidance of many of the triggers in the FODMAP food groups may be advantageous, as well as eating small and frequent meals and avoiding caffeine and alcohol.2
References
- Findings suggest that IBS is linked to detectable gut microbiota alterations. News-Medical.Net. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20140310/Findings-suggest-that-IBS-is-linked-to-detectable-gut-microbiota-alterations.aspx. Published March 10, 2014. Accessed April 4, 2014.
- Mearin F, Peña E, Balboa A. Importance of diet in irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterol Hepatol. Published online ahead of print February 27, 2014.
- Halmos EP, Power VA, Shepherd SJ, Gibson PR, Muir JG. A diet low in FODMAPs reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2014;146(1):67-75.
