Probiotics, prebiotics, and low FODMAP diet for irritable bowel syndrome - What is the current evidence?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a low-FODMAP diet for alleviating IBS symptoms based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Results Summary
The study found that short-term restriction of FODMAPs can improve IBS symptoms, though the quality of evidence remains questionable. Inappropriate use of the diet may negatively impact health, so it is recommended as a second-line treatment under clinical guidance.
Population
General IBS population.
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Short-term (specific duration not mentioned).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
probiotic therapy | decrease | overall IBS symptom scores | general IBS population | - | can be effective in improving | #1 |
probiotic therapy | decrease | abdominal pain | general IBS population | - | can be effective in improving | #2 |
probiotic therapy | no change | - | general IBS population | - | is safe | #3 |
short-term restriction of FODMAP in the diet | decrease | IBS symptoms | - | - | can improve | #4 |
inappropriate use of the low FODMAP diet | decrease | health | - | - | can potentially impact health negatively | #5 |
prebiotics | increase | gut microbiome | - | - | demonstrated the potential use in improving | #6 |
prebiotics | decrease | intestinal inflammatory response | - | - | demonstrated the potential use in improving | #7 |
prebiotics | no change | - | IBS | - | found no evidence to support the clinical use | #8 |
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. While the pathogenesis is not clearly understood, current research points to the role of the gut microbiome and alterations in the diversity of the microbiota. Probiotics, prebiotics, and low FODMAP diet are therapeutic means associated with modification of the gut microbiome for the alleviation of IBS symptoms. This narrative review assesses the current evidence on the efficacy of these treatment options based on findings from recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses published from October 2013 to October 2018. There is a general agreement in the 11 included systematic reviews and meta-analyses that probiotic therapy is safe and can be effective in improving overall IBS symptom scores and abdominal pain in the general IBS population. Nonetheless, conflicting findings remain and no recommendation on the specific species/strains or combination can be made. Short-term restriction of FODMAP in the diet can improve IBS symptoms as per the findings of 7 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, even though the quality of the evidence remains questionable. Inappropriate use of the low FODMAP diet can potentially impact health negatively. As such, a low FODMAP diet is only recommended as a second line treatment guided by qualified clinicians with specialized training. Despite preclinical studies of some prebiotics demonstrated the potential use in improving gut microbiome and intestinal inflammatory response, the beneficial effect of prebiotics for IBS remains theoretical. Two systematic reviews found no evidence to support the clinical use of prebiotics for IBS.