What is the Low-FODMAP Diet in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

You may have heard of the low FODMAP diet before. This is a restriction diet used in the practical relief of symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Restriction diets involve eliminating multiple foods from your diet, followed by a period of reintroducing those foods, to figure out exactly which foods the patient is sensitive to.

What are the so-called FODMAPs that we want to limit?

The initials FODMAP stand for Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharides and Polyols, and it consists of groups of certain types of carbohydrates that are thought to cause gastrointestinal symptoms. FODMAPs are poorly absorbed during digestion, reaching the large intestine to be fermented by the bacteria there, which turn them into gas and other chemicals. This causes the walls of the large intestine to stretch, causing abdominal bloating, distention, cramping, pain, and/or changes in bowel habits in many patients with IBS.

Who should follow the Low-FODMAP diet?

This diet can be used alone or side-by-side with medications to treat IBS. Bloating and abdominal pain are the most likely symptoms to improve, but you may see improvements in fatigue, bowel movements, and overall quality of life. Many gastrointestinal conditions overlap with IBS, so sometimes the low-FODMAP diet can be added to treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth if symptoms persist.

Stages of the Low-FODMAP Diet

1) Elimination, in which all FODMAPs are removed from the diet for 2-4 weeks,

2) Reintroduction, where FODMAP groups are added back one at a time, monitoring for recurrence of symptoms

3) Personalization. Once it is determined which FODMAPs are causing symptoms, many patients avoid those foods but still ingest other FODMAPs on a regular basis.

Foods high in FODMAPs