Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Diet vs Drugs

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Diet vs DrugsNew findings show that dietary adjustments can be a lot more effective than drugs in treating irritable bowel syndrome. Do these effects persist even after returning to former eating habits?Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common diagnosis that causes abdominal pain, gas and abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, in various combinations and with varying degrees of severity. A current study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, compared three treatments: two dietary and one based on use of medications. The participants were adult patients with severe or moderate IBS symptoms.Symptom Relief After Dietary AdjustmentThe patients were divided into three treatment groups:

The first group was given traditional IBS dietary advice, focusing on eating behavior combined with low intake of fermentable carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs. These include products with lactose, legumes, onions, and grains, which ferment in the colon and can cause pain in IBS.
The second group received a dietary treatment low in carbohydrates and proportionally high in protein and fat.
In the third group, the best possible medication was given based on the patient's most troublesome IBS symptoms.

Each group included around 100 participants and the treatment periods lasted four weeks. When the researchers then examined how well the participants responded to the treatments, using an established IBS symptom scoring scale, the results were clear. Of those who received traditional IBS dietary advice and low content of FODMAPs, 76 % had significantly reduced symptoms. In the group receiving low carbohydrates and high protein and fat, the proportion was 71 %, and in the medication group 58 %. All groups reported significantly better quality of life, less physical symptoms and less symptoms of anxiety and depression.The Importance Of PersonalizationAt a six-month follow-up, when participants in the dietary groups had partially returned to their previous eating habits, a large proportion still had clinically significant symptom relief; 68 % in the traditional dietary advice and low FODMAP group, and 60 % in the low-carbohydrate diet group.

Follow the channel News Shot to stay up to date on international medical news, case reports and clinical research.
Follow

„With this study, we can show that diet plays a central role in the treatment of IBS, but that there are several alternative treatments that are effective,“ says Sanna Nybacka. „We need more knowledge about how to best personalize the treatment of IBS in the future and we will further investigate whether there are certain factors that can predict whether individuals will respond better to different treatment options,” she concludes.

This article is based on a press release by the University of Gothenburg. You can find the original publication here and by following the link in our text.Credit: Louis Hansel, Unsplash+