Diet can be an effective way to relieve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are advised to refrain from overeating or consuming irritating foods such as alcohol, coffee, or carbonated drinks, and to consume small amounts of food as often as possible. Symptom relievers are administered to improve symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension, and medical journals Experimental results were published in ‘The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology’ showing that diet can be a more effective way to relieve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain than symptom relievers.
300 patients with irritable bowel syndrome suffering from moderate to severe symptoms were divided into three groups. The first group followed the dietary guidelines for general irritable bowel syndrome patients and ate lactose, onions, beans, grains, etc., which ferment in the intestines and cause gas and pain. FODMAP intake was restricted, a second group reduced carbohydrate intake and increased protein and fat intake, and the third group was administered symptom relievers to improve the most severe symptoms.
When comparing the severity index of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms after 4 weeks, 76% of patients in the first group had significantly improved bowel syndrome symptoms, and 71% of patients in the second group had such symptoms, compared to 76% of patients who received symptom relievers. In the second group, only 58% of patients had significantly relieved symptoms.
University of Gothenburg
