There is no need for complicated diets.
A new pilot study suggests that the Mediterranean diet may be a viable alternative for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who struggle to maintain more restrictive eating plans. The study found that 73% of participants with IBS who followed the Mediterranean diet for one month experienced a reduction in abdominal pain.
In comparison, 82% of participants on the low FODMAP diet—currently a more widely prescribed but restrictive approach for IBS—reported similar or greater symptom relief. Dr. Prashant Singh, a gastroenterologist at the University of Michigan and the study’s lead author, noted that while the low FODMAP diet can be effective, it also poses challenges due to its complexity, cost, and potential risks for nutritional deficiencies and disordered eating patterns.
The Mediterranean diet emphasizes whole, plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil, with moderate intake of fish, poultry, and dairy, and limited consumption of red and processed meats. Unlike the low FODMAP approach, it does not involve eliminating entire categories of foods, which may make it more sustainable for long-term use.
For the study, researchers divided 20 IBS patients into two groups: one followed the Mediterranean diet, and the other adhered to a low FODMAP regimen. Meals were supplied to participants, and the primary objective was to achieve at least a 30% reduction in abdominal pain. While the Mediterranean diet showed promise, those on the low FODMAP plan experienced greater overall symptom improvement, including in pain intensity and IBS severity scores.
Despite the small sample size, the researchers concluded that more studies are needed to explore the Mediterranean diet’s potential as an effective dietary intervention for IBS. Dr. William Chey, co-author and head of gastroenterology at the University of Michigan, emphasized that this research adds to the growing interest in less restrictive, yet still evidence-based, dietary options for managing IBS symptoms.
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