Unless you have been hiding away from all published materials you will be aware that Monash University in Australia have proposed and others have supported that for people with irritable bowel syndrome, that following a diet low in FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols content will result in symptom resolution.
Yet here at Clinical Education we have stressed that following this diet has risks of key nutrient insufficiencies and in particular those foods rich in aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists, which are vital for gut mucosal immune balance and competence. In effect the use of a low FODMAP diet for long term health is not justified, but short term intervention may be helpful.
Published in the Journal – Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin[1] (I know the title of the journal doesn’t suggest a desire for a non-drug therapy to work) they cite conflicting studies and short duration follow ups. Whilst these are perfectly valid points the dropping of a simple dietary strategy which in many people does create clinical benefits and lifestyle relief due to lack of long term studies is harsh – however, practitioners should be conscious that this is a transitional intervention and that other co administered interventions should be included to ensure a return to broader food choice as soon as possible.
Reference
[1] Does a low FODMAP diet help IBS? [No authors listed] Drug Ther Bull. 2015 Aug;53(8):93-6 View Abstract
