The role of diet in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in adults: a narrative review
- PMID: 19559137
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.04.012
The role of diet in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in adults: a narrative review
Abstract
This review summarizes what is known about the effect of diet on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms emphasizing data from randomized, controlled clinical trials. Studies suggest that IBS symptoms in one quarter of patients may be caused or exacerbated by one or more dietary components. Recent studies indicate that a diet restricted in fermentable, poorly absorbed carbohydrates, including fructose, fructans (present in wheat and onions), sorbitol, and other sugar alcohols is beneficial, but confirmatory studies are needed. Despite a long history of enthusiastic use, fiber is marginally beneficial. Insoluble fiber may worsen symptoms. Some patients with IBS, especially those with constipation, will improve with increased intake of soluble fiber. Prebiotic fibers have not been adequately tested. Daily use of peppermint oil is effective in relieving IBS symptoms. The usefulness of probiotics in the form of foods such as live-culture yogurt and buttermilk for IBS symptoms is not established. In clinical practice, it is very difficult to establish that a patient's symptoms result from an adverse reaction to food. A double blind placebo-controlled food challenge is the most reliable method, but it is not suitable for routine clinical use. A modified exclusion diet and stepwise reintroduction of foods or trials of eliminating classes of food may be useful.
Similar articles
-
IBS or intolerance?Aust Fam Physician. 2009 Dec;38(12):962-5. Aust Fam Physician. 2009. PMID: 20369147
-
Review article: probiotics and prebiotics in irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Aug 15;28(4):385-96. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03750.x. Epub 2008 Jun 4. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008. PMID: 18532993 Review.
-
[Nutritional factors and nutritional therapy for irritable bowel syndrome--what is worthwhile?].Z Gastroenterol. 2008 Mar;46(3):279-91. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-963427. Z Gastroenterol. 2008. PMID: 18322884 Review. German.
-
The role of food intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2005 Jun;34(2):247-55. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2005.02.005. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2005. PMID: 15862933 Review.
-
Diet and the irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 1991 Jun;20(2):313-24. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 1991. PMID: 2066155 Review.
Cited by
-
Exploring the gut microbiota: lifestyle choices, disease associations, and personal genomics.Front Nutr. 2023 Oct 5;10:1225120. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1225120. eCollection 2023. Front Nutr. 2023. PMID: 37867494 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Red Cell Distribution Width, Mean Platelet Volume, and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.Cureus. 2023 Aug 31;15(8):e44496. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44496. eCollection 2023 Aug. Cureus. 2023. PMID: 37791223 Free PMC article.
-
Host Sorbitol and Bacterial Sorbitol Utilization Promote Clostridioides difficile Infection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.Gastroenterology. 2023 Jun;164(7):1189-1201.e13. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.02.046. Epub 2023 Mar 8. Gastroenterology. 2023. PMID: 36898551 Free PMC article.
-
Innovative approaches to service integration addressing the unmet needs of irritable bowel syndrome patients and new approaches for the needs of IBS patients.Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Nov 16;9:998838. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.998838. eCollection 2022. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022. PMID: 36465902 Free PMC article.
-
The potential impact of nutritional intake on symptoms severity in patients with comorbid migraine and irritable bowel syndrome.BMC Neurol. 2022 May 30;22(1):199. doi: 10.1186/s12883-022-02723-0. BMC Neurol. 2022. PMID: 35637446 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical