New IBS Study: FODMAPS vs. Gluten

Struggling with IBS and confused about what to eat? Two of the most common categories of foods thought to trigger IBS symptoms are those high in FODMAPS or gluten.

Now we have the first study of its kind to directly compare how these foods affect people with IBS.

First a little background:

➡️FODMAPS stands for fermentable, oligo, di, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are fermentable carbohydrates that are present in many beans, grains, vegetables, and fruits. Foods high in FODMAPS are thought to worsen symptoms like gas, bloating, and abdominal pain.

➡️Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley, rye, and many processed foods. It triggers intestinal damage in people with Celiac disease and may act as a digestive irritant in people who are sensitive to gluten.

For the first time ever, researchers designed a large, randomized, double-blind study to compare three types of diets in people with IBS. Participants were put on a diet that restricted both FODMAPS and gluten and then challenged with a diet high in one, the other, or neither.

Ready for the results?

🙂All participants improved when they followed the diet that restricted both FODMAPS and gluten.

☹️When challenged with a high-FODMAP diet, IBS symptoms worsened.

😕When challenged with a high-gluten diet, IBS symptoms did not significantly worsen.

We could oversimplify these results and sum it up like this: FODMAPS are bad for IBS but gluten is fine. But….

That doesn’t take into consideration the individual!!

When we work with people who have IBS, we identify their unique food triggers and also provide therapies that heal the gut over time. That means they may need to restrict certain foods for a while but then gradually reintroduce them in small quantities.

It’s important to follow the research but also to be realistic about what our patients experience and how they respond as individuals. Want to learn more about what it’s like to be a patient at our clinic? Check out our website for all the info and to get started!

Link to study here