Mixed
A low-FODMAP diet significantly improves general symptoms and quality of life in adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) compared to a standard high-FODMAP diet.
If you have IBS, a low-FODMAP diet is more effective than standard dietary advice for reducing symptoms like pain and bloating. Because this diet restricts many healthy foods, you should work with a dietitian to ensure you stay healthy and get enough nutrients. This approach is recommended as a first-line treatment option.
This meta-analysis provides high-grade evidence of an improved general symptom score among patients with irritable bowel syndrome who have maintained a low-FODMAP diet compared to those on a traditional IBS diet, therefore showing its superiority to regular IBS dietary therapy.
Why this rating
It is a meta-analysis of 10 studies (including RCTs), but the authors note considerable heterogeneity and potential publication bias.
Source
Low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet improves symptoms in adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared to standard IBS diet: A meta-analysis of clinical studies
Péter Varjú et al. · PLoS ONE · 2017
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