The role of the low-FODMAP diet in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - A Literature Review

Abstract

Background and Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common GI disorder that responds to dietary interventions, such as the low-FODMAP diet [1], and this review provides an overview of current evidence for its clinical efficacy and microbial impact.  Methods and Results: A growing body of data from systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrates that a low-FODMAP diet is highly effective in reducing overall GI symptoms in adults with IBS [2]; also, randomized crossover trials suggest that a patient\'s baseline symptom severity can predict their clinical response to the intervention[3]. The advantages of avoiding fermentable carbohydrates seem to extend beyond the lower GI tract, with the potential to also relieve comorbid dyspeptic symptoms[4]. Restricting these carbohydrates, however, has a profound effect on the ecosystem of the gut microbiota[5].  Conclusions: The low-FODMAP diet is an evidence-based approach for the treatment of IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders [2, 3], but given its known effects on the colonic microbiome, long-term compliance should be monitored to avoid changes in the microbiota [1, 5, 6].