IBS and the Low FODMAP DietNajwa El-Nachef, MDNCSGNA ConferenceSeptember 20, 2014
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Affects up to 20% of adults in US Common symptoms include abdominal
pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea More frequent among females Associated with significant decrease in
quality of life Major economic burden on patients,
healthcare systems and community Remains poorly understood
Horwitz et al. N Engl J Med 2001;344:1846-50
Mechanism of IBS Motility Visceral Hypersensitivity Central Processing Genetic Factors Psychological factors Inflammation Gut Microflora Dietary Factors
Lea et al. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2005;34:247-55
Treatment for IBS Focus on reduction of symptoms Pharmaceuticals Psychological therapy Fiber Probiotics/Antibiotics Dietary and Lifestyle Interventions
Diet and IBS Relationship between diet and
abdominal symptoms is well recognized From the patient’s perspective, the most
frequently perceived cause for symptoms is food intolerance
Up to 50% of patient’s with IBS symptoms worsen after a meal
60% of patients with IBS believe they have a food allergy
Lea et al. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2005;34:247-55
Diet and IBS Dairy Free Low fat High Fiber No coffee/alcohol Food diary, self-eliminate Gluten free diet
Fermentable Carbohydrates Dietary carbohydrates can be classified into
sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides based on their degree of polymerisation.
“Fermentable” owing to their availability for fermentation in the colon, which is either due to the absence or reduced concentration of suitable hydrolase enzymes for digestion or in the case of monosaccharides because of incomplete absorption in the small intestine.
Low FODMAP DietIngested FODMAPs are poorly absorbed in
the small bowelSmall, osmotically active molecules which
draw water into the large intestineFODMAPs are also fermented by colonic
microflora, producing hydrogen and/or methane gas
The increase in fluid and gas leads to diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, and distension
Low FODMAP DietF: FermentableO: Oligo- saccharidesD: Di-saccharidesM: Mono-saccharidesA: and P: Polyols
Fructose Simple monosaccharide Found naturally in many fruits. Also a constituent of
sucrose and fructans. Normally absorbed in small intestine by two
mechanisms: GLUT-5 transporter- present throughout small intesine. GLUT-2 transporter- requires equal amounts of glucose
for more effective absorption. Failure to completely absorb free fructose leads to its
delivery in the colon. Colonic bacteria rapidly ferment free fructose to
hydrogen, carbon dioxide and short-chain fatty acids.
Fructans Major source of fermentable carbohydrates Minimal digestion due to absence of
enzymes in the human GI tract to digest the fructosyl-fructose glycosidic bonds
Wheat and onion are major sources Commercial fructans dervied from sucrose
or chicory root are increasingly added to prepared foods due to their textural and sensory properties
Galacto-oligosaccharides Humans lack a-galactosidase enzymes,
leading to the availability of GOD for colonic fermentation
Milk, legumes and some grains, nuts and seeds
Polyols Sugar Alcohol Absorbed in small intestine by passive
diffusion Present in fruits and vegetables Commonly used in artificial sweeteners
(sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol) Large amounts can cause osmotic
diarrhea
Foods to eliminate Fructans and galactans: wheat and rye in
large amounts, onions, garlic, inulin, legumes, lentils, artichoke, soy milk and almond milk
Lactose: milk, yogurt, ice cream, soft cheese Excess fructose: high fructose corn syrup,
honey, agave, and various fruits (such as apple, pear and watermelon)
Polyols: stones fruits (peach, plum, cherry), mushroom, cauliflower and sorbitol/mannitol
Permissible Foods Grains: rice, oats, gluten free pasta, some gluten free
breads and cereals Fruits: berries (except blackberries), citrus, banana,
grapes, honeydew or cantaloupe melon, kiwifruit Vegetables: Carrots, corn, eggplant, zucchini, peppers,
green beans, lettuce, cucumber, potato, and tomato are a few.
Meats: All meats; avoid processed meats that contain ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, milk solids, or onion/garlic powder
Milk: Lactose free milk, rice milk, lactose free yogurt, hard or ripened cheeses like cheddar and feta
What is the data?
Studies of the mechanisms underlying the effects of fermentable carbohydrates on gastrointestinal symptoms
Delivery of Water/Fermentable Substrate Ileostomy volunteers Two diets tested for 4 days each. One
high in FODMAPs and one low in FODMAPs
All food prepared by investigators At baseline and on day 4, 24 hours
effluent collected 10 patients, ileostomy because of IBD,
no active disease
Barrett et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010 Apr;31(8):874-82
Main effluent weight significantly less during LFD
Subjects perceived significantly thicker consistency on LFD
Barrett et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010 Apr;31(8):874-82
MRI Data with and without FODMAPs
Murray et al. Am J Gastroenterol 2014;109:110-9
MRI Data Cont’d
Studies investigating effectiveness on IBS symptoms
Shepherd 2008 Double blinded, randomized placebo-
controlled rechallenge trial 25 patients responded to dietary change Patients were randomly challenged by
graded dose introduction of fructose, fructans or glucose taken as drinks
70-80% developed symptoms when rechallenged
Shepherd. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2008; 6: 765–71.
Positive Global Symptoms
Shepherd Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2008;6:765-771
Results for Overall SymptomsOverall Pain Bloatin
gWind Nausea Tiredn
ess
Fructan v. Fructose Mix Gluocse
0.45890.01030.0005
0.19860.09740.0016
0.19070.04050.0005
0.06400.03850.0003
0.84760.57270.2467
0.88380.42170.0148
Fructose v. Mix Glucose
0.00200.0010
0.00780.0176
0.00280.0046
0.00030.0611
0.25390.3065
0.76510.3312
Mix v. Glucose
0.0020 0.0002 0.0003 0.0002 0.1265 0.3328
Low FODMAP Diet v. Standard Dietary Advice
Symptom Group Improved %
P value
Bloating StandardFODMAP
4982
0.002
Abdominal pain
StandardFODMAP
6185
0.023
Flatulence StandardFODMAP
5087
0.001
Nausea StandardFODMAP
2967
0.04
Composite score
Standard FODMAP
4986
<0.001
Staudacher J Hum Nutr Diet 2011;5:487-95
Halmos 2014 Crossover trial, 30 patients with IBS and 8
healthy individuals Randomly assigned to groups that received 21
days either of diet low in FODMAPs or a typical Australian diet
Washout period 21 day before crossing over to the alternate diet.
Almost all food was provided during the interventional diet periods
All stools were collected from days 17-21 and assessed for frequency, weight, water content
Halmos et al. Gastroenterology 2014;146:67–75
“I don’t know what the heck gluten is either but I’m avoiding it- just to be safe.”
Supplementary Figure 1 Recruitment pathway and reasons for screen failure. Recruitment survey was a 23-item questionnaire about symptoms, diet, and investigations for celiac disease described previously.<ce:cross-ref refid="bib20" id="crosref0245"> 20 </c...
Is Gluten the Key Player?
Figure 2 Change in symptom severity from run-in for each dietary treatment over 7-day study period. Data shown represent mean ± SEM. Differences across the treatment arms were compared by Friedman test, in which overall symptoms ( P = .001), bloating ( P ...
Biesiekiersk Gastroenterology, Volume 145, Issue 2, 2013, 320 - 328.e3i
Is FODMAP Accepted by Patients?
FODMAP Popularity 668,000 results on Google
16,000“Likes” on Facebook
Several Apps available
Many complain too restrictive
Summary FODMAPs do not cause IBS
Delivery of dietary FODMAP to the distal small and proximal large intestine is a normal phenomenon, one that will generate symptoms if the underlying bowel response is exaggerated or abnormal.
Summary Limited data, which are mainly composed of
studies with relatively small sample sizes, support IBS symptom improvement with a low-FODMAP diet.
Beneficial effect of a low FODMAP diet does not appear to be predominantly based on gluten avoidance
No definite biomarkers as of now that are associated with symptom response
Thank you!