Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition characterized by diarrhoea/constipation, pain and bloating, affects one person in five at some point in their lives. Current treatments are not always effective but a new dietary approach looks promising. Recently introduced to the UK from Australia, the Low FODMAP™ diet restricts foods containing poorly absorbed sugars (also known as FODMAPs). These foods include honey, apples, pears, stone fruits, onion, leek, garlic and artichoke. Also on the restricted list for those with IBS on the Low FODMAP diet are polyol sweeteners like xylitol often found in sugar-free foods, and beans and pulses.

Dr Peter Irving, a partner in London Digestive Health at the London Clinic, has this to say about the Low FODMAP diet. ‘Although many people with IBS are keen to try dietary therapy, previous studies of dietary treatments have either been of variable quality or have produced conflicting results. In contrast to this, the Low FODMAP diet has been shown to be effective in a high quality, placebo-controlled trial and is also supported by data from other studies investigating how it works.

If you’re savvy on nutritional matters, you’ll have noted one thing about the above list of FODMAP containing foods. Most are good for you – being high in fiber, pectin, vitamins and minerals. If you cut them out of your diet, its nutritional value could plummet. So if you are troubled by IBS and want to try the Low FODMAP approach, you’d be wise to consult a dietitian first, to ensure that the foods on the restricted list are replaced by nutritionally sound alternatives and that you follow the right diet for your IBS (it is a condition that can vary widely from one person to another).

Source:

The London Clinic Healthcheck Issue 11 December 2009