My primary motivation for launching IBS diet plan was to raise awareness of the low-FODMAP diet. The advice I was given after my diagnosis seemed psuedo-scientific and, frankly, baseless. Most importantly, it didn’t effectively treat my IBS symptoms.
The low-FODMAP diet did. And while the theory is still being tested for efficacy; today it held its own yet again.
A study conducted by H. M. Staudacher, K. Whelan, P. M. Irving, and M. C. E. Lomer aimed to determine whether a low-FODMAP diet is effective for IBS symptom control, and also how it stacked up against the standard dietary guidelines and conventional dietary treatment advice. Patients self-reported symptom severity, and the study concluded that 76% (three-quarters!) experienced great relief on a low-FODMAP diet as compared to 54% on a standard diet. General symptom response was also greatly improved – with the low-FODMAP group scoring 86% as compared to a standard of 49%.
More good news:
- 82% of IBS patients on the low-FODMAP diet experienced a reduction in bloating
- 85% of IBS patients on the low-FODMAP diet experienced a reduction in abdominal pain
- 87% of IBS patients on the low-FODMAP diet experienced a reduction in flatulence.
Keep in mind that patients were simply instructed how to follow the diet – their ability to follow it precisely and accurately was untested. It seems likely that nearly everyone who suffers from IBS could see a reduction in symptoms on a properly executed low-FODMAP diet.
Clearly, a low-FODMAP dietary treatment is much more effective than standard dietary advice for controlling irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.1
