Title:The Role of Dietary Approach in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Volume: 26
Issue: 19
Author(s): Piero Portincasa*, Antony Lembo, Ornella de Bari, Domenica M. Di Palo, Anna Maggio, Ilaria Cataldo and Giuseppe Calamita
Affiliation:
- Clinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, Bari,Italy
Keywords:
Diet, functional gastrointestinal disorders, FODMAPs, intestinal microbiota, IBS, gas-producing foods.
Abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disorder of the gastrointestinal
tract and is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal diseases. In IBS multiple pathophysiological
mechanisms including alterations in intestinal motility, permeability, nutrient absorption,
and intestinal microbiota have been implicated. Foods are commonly reported by patients
to be a trigger of symptoms and therefore are likely involved in the generation of symptoms in
IBS. Among all possible therapeutic options, a first-line approach to IBS is dietary education
and identification of foods potentially responsible for the onset or worsening of symptoms. Dietary
approaches include reduction of gas-producing foods (i.e. fermentable oligo-, di-, and
monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs)), lactose and gluten. Further studies are required to
link the ultimate role of diets in different IBS subtypes.