A special low carbohydrate diet has been found to relieve the distressing irritable bowel symptoms that affect people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - an umbrella term that covers Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The Australian study, from Box Hill Hospital, Victoria, found the diet, which involves cutting back on foods including wheat, onions, milk, ice-cream, apples, honey, stone fruits and legumes, to be effective in more than half of patients with IBD who have co-existing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

IBS causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea and bloating, but the bowel looks normal. IBD causes similar symptoms but the bowel is inflamed.

Presenting his findings at the Australian Gastroenterology Week conference, lead researcher Dr Richard Gearry, Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch said the study was carried out in 100 patients for a period of at least three months. "Patients were given an individualised dietary assessment to determine which foods, known as FODMAPs (Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols) triggered their abdominal symptoms," he added. FODMAP foods fall into the categories of fructose (eg, apples), lactose (dairy products), polyols (stone fruit), fructans (eg, wheat) and galactans (eg, legumes).

The study showed those patients who adhered to a diet that restricted the trigger foods were more likely to get relief from symptoms, particularly abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloating and wind. "Most patients found that the diet was easy to implement and that the taste was acceptable, which is very important if people are to follow this diet," said Dr Gearry.

Up to 50% of patients with Crohn's disease and 30% of ulcerative colitis patients have IBS as well.

"We don't want to prescribe drugs or perform surgery on patients who do not have inflammation as the cause of their symptoms," said Dr Gearry. "Therefore, if a patient with IBD has symptoms suggestive of IBS, or there is no evidence of inflammation, then using this dietary approach is appropriate."

It is currently estimated that about 61,000 Australians and more than 8000 New Zealanders are currently living with IBD making it more common than epilepsy and comparable in prevalence to type 1 diabetes and schizophrenia. (Australian Gastroenterology Week)

More health research news

Originally posted October 2007.

Disclaimer

Knowledgeable New Zealand health consumers may also find this article useful. This information is intended solely for New Zealand residents and is of a general nature only and no person should act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided and at all times should obtain specific advice from a health professional. All rights reserved. © UBM Medica (NZ) Ltd. This publication is copyright.