Investigating the Role of Low-FODMAP Diet in Improving Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Background A low–fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol (FODMAP) diet (LFD) appeared to improve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). However, evidence of its efficacy in Asia remains scarce. Objectives This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of LFD intervention among Asian IBS patients and barriers to its adherence. Methods Patients with IBS who were instructed to follow LFD by dietitians at a tertiary hospital in Singapore between July 2013 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Severity scores of 19 gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded using an 11-point rating scale (0 = “no symptoms,” 10 = “extremely severe”) pre- and post-LFD intervention. Adherence to LFD was assessed based on patients’ diet history and a high-FODMAP food checklist. Results Eighty-two patients with a median follow-up of 5.8 weeks were investigated. The LFD adherence rate was 61.0% ( n = 50). Overall, statistically significant improvement was observed in 14 of 19 gastrointestinal symptoms (median difference = −2.0 to −0.5, p < .05). The proportion of patients who had improvement in 10 individual symptoms (defined as ≥1 point reduction in symptom severity rating) was significantly higher in LFD-adherent patients (67.5%–82.4%) than that of the non-adherent group (27.8%–55.0%). Reasons reported for non-adherence included “limited availability of low-FODMAP alternatives” ( n = 9), “limited understanding of LFD” ( n = 7), and “perceived lack of benefit” ( n = 4). Conclusions LFD intervention improved gastrointestinal symptoms in a cohort of Asian IBS patients. Limited access to low-FODMAP alternatives was the main barrier to adherence.