Long-term personalized low FODMAP diet improves symptoms and maintains luminal Bifidobacteria abundance in irritable bowel syndrome.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the long-term effects of a personalized low-FODMAP diet on clinical symptoms, nutrient intake, and gastrointestinal microbiota in IBS patients after 12 months.
Results Summary
The study found that 67% of participants reported adequate symptom relief after 12 months, with significant reductions in IBS symptom severity scores. However, there were lower concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, though Bifidobacteria levels remained unchanged.
Population
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who had previously participated in a short-term clinical trial.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
12 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low FODMAP diet | decrease | symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) | patients with IBS | - | improves | #1 |
low FODMAP diet | neutral | nutrient intake | patients with IBS | - | impacts | #2 |
low FODMAP diet | neutral | gastrointestinal microbiota | patients with IBS | - | impacts | #3 |
long-term personalized low FODMAP diet | increase | adequate relief of symptoms | participants | from 5/18 (28%) at baseline to 12/18 (67%) | increased | #4 |
long-term personalized low FODMAP diet | decrease | IBS-SSS total score | participants | from median 227, IQR 99 to 154, 89 | reduction | #5 |
long-term personalized low FODMAP diet | no change | Bifidobacteria abundance | participants | baseline median 9.29 log10 rRNA genes/g, IQR 1.45 vs long term 9.20 log10 rRNA genes/g, 1.41 | was not different | #6 |
long-term personalized low FODMAP diet | decrease | total SCFA | participants | - | lower concentrations | #7 |
long-term personalized low FODMAP diet | decrease | acetate | participants | - | lower concentrations | #8 |
long-term personalized low FODMAP diet | decrease | propionate | participants | - | lower concentrations | #9 |
long-term personalized low FODMAP diet | decrease | butyrate | participants | - | lower concentrations | #10 |
FODMAP reintroduction and personalization | neutral | some of the effects of short-term FODMAP restriction | patients with IBS | - | may normalize | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Short-term trials demonstrate the low FODMAP diet improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but impacts nutrient intake and the gastrointestinal microbiota. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical symptoms, nutrient intake, and microbiota of patients with IBS 12 months after starting a low FODMAP diet. METHODS: Participants enrolled in a previous short-term clinical trial and who had been through structured FODMAP restriction, reintroduction, and personalization were invited to participate in a follow-up study at one time point at 12 months. Gastrointestinal symptoms, stool output, dietary intake, and quality of life were recorded. Stool samples were collected and analyzed for microbiota (qPCR) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Data were compared with baseline (prior to any intervention in the original clinical trial) using non-parametric statistics. KEY RESULTS: Eighteen participants were included in the study. Adequate relief of symptoms occurred in 5/18 (28%) at baseline and increased to 12/18 (67%) following long-term personalized low FODMAP diet (p = 0.039). There was a reduction in IBS-SSS total score between baseline (median 227, IQR 99) and long term (154, 89; p < 0.001). Bifidobacteria abundance was not different between baseline (median 9.29 log10 rRNA genes/g, IQR 1.45) and long term (9.20 log10 rRNA genes/g, 1.41; p = 0.766, q = 0.906); however, there were lower concentrations of total SCFA, acetate, propionate, and butyrate. CONCLUSIONS: In this long-term analysis, two thirds of patients reported adequate relief of symptoms after 12 months of personalized low FODMAP diet that did not result in differences from baseline in Bifidobacteria. FODMAP reintroduction and personalization may normalize some of the effects of short-term FODMAP restriction.