IBS sufferers could ease symptoms with specific diet, new NHS trial finds
The diet could be a "simple, enjoyable and highly effective first step" in managing the common condition, researchers said
Adopting a Mediterranean diet could help alleviate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, research has discovered. The diet, packed with fruit, vegetables, pulses, wholegrain, nuts, fish and olive oil, might be a "simple, enjoyable and highly effective first step" in tackling the widespread condition, scientists said.
IBS impacts the digestive system, triggering stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea. It's typically a lifelong condition, though it can be controlled through lifestyle modifications and medication.
Diet alterations are generally the first line of treatment, with sufferers encouraged to avoid missing meals, boost fruit and vegetable consumption and cut back on fatty, spicy, processed foods, caffeine, carbonated beverages and alcohol. Scientists at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust assessed how this conventional guidance stacked up against the Mediterranean diet.
Dr Imran Aziz, senior clinical lecturer in gastroenterology at the University of Sheffield, said: "For millions of people worldwide, IBS symptoms can severely impact daily life."
The study involved 139 individuals with IBS, with 68 adopting the Mediterranean diet for six weeks and 71 sticking to traditional dietary guidance. Both groups participated in 30-minute online educational sessions about their diets and received email support materials.
The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, revealed that 62% of those following the Mediterranean diet reported a significant improvement in their symptoms compared with 42% in the other group.
Dr Aziz said: "Our study provides strong evidence that the Mediterranean diet can be a simple, enjoyable and highly effective first step in managing this common condition. The Mediterranean diet was found to be not just as good as traditional dietary advice, but actually significantly better at reducing symptoms.
"Using a Mediterranean diet as an initial treatment also potentially simplifies care for both patients and healthcare providers. These findings will inform future guidelines for the management of IBS."