Intestinal gas: has diet anything to do in the absence of a demonstrable malabsorption state?
Study Goal
To determine how diet, including beans, influences gas-related symptoms in individuals without malabsorption states.
Results Summary
A diet incorporating beans was well tolerated by most individuals in a heart disease biomarker program, but in irritable bowel syndrome patients, avoiding fermentable carbohydrates improved gas-related symptoms. The rate of fermentation influenced symptom production, with slowly fermentable fibers sometimes causing symptoms.
Population
Individuals in a heart disease biomarker program and patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a diet incorporating beans | no change | gas symptoms during carbohydrate fermentation | a majority of individuals involved in a program of heart disease biomarkers | - | is well tolerated | #1 |
a diet avoiding fermentable carbohydrates | decrease | gas-related abdominal symptoms | patients with irritable bowel syndrome | - | improved | #2 |
many slowly fermentable fibers | increase | abdominal symptoms | - | - | can generate | #3 |
Capsaicin | decrease | visceral hyperalgesia | patients with irritable bowel syndrome | - | decreases | #4 |
Capsaicin | decrease | bloating | patients with irritable bowel syndrome | - | improved | #5 |
different strains of Lactobacillus | decrease | gas-forming coliforms | - | - | have antimicrobial properties against | #6 |
prebiotics and probiotics | decrease | abdominal bloating | - | - | show beneficial effects on | #7 |
diet | decrease | gas-related abdominal symptoms | - | - | could improve | #8 |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the relevant publications during the last 12 months supporting that diet can influence gas-related symptoms in the absence of a malabsorption state. RECENT FINDINGS: Gas symptoms during carbohydrate fermentation: a diet incorporating beans is well tolerated by a majority of individuals involved in a program of heart disease biomarkers. By contrast, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, a diet avoiding fermentable carbohydrates improved gas-related abdominal symptoms. The rate of fermentation determines the production of abdominal symptoms, and many slowly fermentable fibers have a rapid fermentation profile that can generate abdominal symptoms. Modulation of visceral sensitivity: diet can influence gas symptoms by increasing the tolerability of the intestine to gas. Capsaicin decreases visceral hyperalgesia and improved bloating in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Changes in gas-producing bacteria: different strains of Lactobacillus have antimicrobial properties against gas-forming coliforms. New clinical studies show beneficial effects of prebiotics and probiotics on abdominal bloating. SUMMARY: Actual data suggest that diet could improve gas-related abdominal symptoms acting on several mechanisms: gas production, visceral hypersensitivity and modulation of gas-producing enteric bacteria.