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Fiber and Low FODMAP Diets in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Dietary Fiber in Health and Disease

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Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder occurring in people <45 years.

IBS is a chronic and relapsing functional colonic disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, distension, and changes in bowel habits that lack visible structural or anatomic abnormalities.

IBS pathophysiology is associated with colonic microscopic and molecular abnormalities from low-grade inflammation, neuronal hyperexcitability, and microbiota dysbiosis including reduced bacteria diversity, lower levels of butyrate-producing bacteria and increased levels of pathogenic bacteria.

Celiac disease and bile acid malabsorption may be confounding and difficult to distinguish from IBS symptoms.

Although certain foods can be triggers for IBS symptoms, some types of fiber supplements and low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diets and traditional IBS dietary guidance (avoidance of large meals, moderate dietary fat intake, limits on high lactose milk products and gas producing foods such as beans, cabbage and onions) have been shown to reduce the risk of acute IBS symptoms.

Of the supplemental fiber options, psyllium has been most consistently shown to provide moderate relief of IBS symptoms.

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    Mark L. Dreher

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Dreher, M.L. (2018). Fiber and Low FODMAP Diets in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In: Dietary Fiber in Health and Disease. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50557-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50557-2_6

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