Mediterranean diet could be an effective first-line intervention for IBS
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who were randomized to six weeks of a Mediterranean diet had greater improvement in symptoms than those assigned to a traditional healthy diet, a British trial found.
The Mediterranean diet was noninferior and superior to traditional diet advice in managing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, suggesting that it could be considered a viable first-line dietary intervention, a trial found.
Researchers from the United Kingdom randomly assigned 110 adults who were ages 18 to 65 years and had IBS to follow either a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables, pulses, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil or a traditional diet for six weeks. The traditional diet advice followed guidance from the British Dietetic Association, which encourages a balanced diet and healthy eating patterns, including avoiding excess fatty foods, spicy foods, processed foods, caffeine, fizzy drinks, and alcohol. The study was published Oct. 28 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
The primary end point was the proportion of participants achieving clinical response, defined as a 50-point or greater reduction in IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS) score. In a modified intention-to-treat analysis, it was met by 62% (95% CI, 50% to 73%) of patients following a Mediterranean diet versus 42% (95% CI, 31% to 55%) of those following a traditional one (difference, 20 percentage points [95% CI, 4 to 36 percentage points]; P=0.017), demonstrating noninferiority and superiority. Patients had a greater reduction in mean IBS-SSS score with a Mediterranean diet versus a traditional one (−101.2 vs. −64.5; difference, −36.7 [95% CI, −70.5 to −2.8]; P=0.034). No statistically significant differences were seen between the groups for changes in mood, somatic symptoms, quality of life, or diet satisfaction.
The study authors noted that the mechanism by which a Mediterranean diet would improve the symptoms of IBS is unclear and that some participants in the study withdrew, saying that the diet worsened their symptoms. They concluded that the Mediterranean diet “can be considered as another first-line dietary option [for IBS] before escalating to demanding second-line therapies.”