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A pilot examine from Michigan Drugs researchers discovered that the Mediterranean weight loss plan might present symptom reduction for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The work is printed within the journal Neurogastroenterology & Motility.
Research contributors have been randomized into two teams, one following the Mediterranean weight loss plan and the opposite following the low FODMAP weight loss plan, a typical restrictive weight loss plan for IBS.
Within the Mediterranean weight loss plan group, 73% of the sufferers met the first endpoint for symptom enchancment, versus 81.8% within the low FODMAP group.
Irritable bowel syndrome impacts an estimated 4–11% of all individuals, and a majority of sufferers favor dietary interventions to remedy.
The low FODMAP weight loss plan results in symptom enchancment in additional than half of sufferers, however is restrictive and exhausting to comply with.
Earlier investigations from Michigan Drugs researchers into extra accessible various diets led to a proposed “FODMAP simple,” which tried to solely limit the meals teams within the FODMAP acronym which are almost certainly to trigger signs.
“Restrictive diets, such as low FODMAP, can be difficult for patients to adopt,” mentioned Prashant Singh, MBBS, Michigan Drugs gastroenterologist and lead creator on the paper.
“In addition to the issue of being costly and time-consuming, there are concerns about nutrient deficiencies and disordered eating when trying a low FODMAP diet. The Mediterranean diet interested us as an alternative that is not an elimination diet and overcomes several of these limitations related to a low FODMAP diet.”
The Mediterranean weight loss plan is already common amongst physicians for its advantages to cardiovascular, cognitive, and basic well being. Earlier analysis on the impact of the Mediterranean weight loss plan on IBS, nevertheless, had yielded conflicting outcomes.
On this pilot examine, two teams of sufferers have been supplied with both a Mediterranean weight loss plan or the restriction part of a low FODMAP weight loss plan for 4 weeks.
The first endpoint was an FDA-standard 30% discount in belly ache depth after 4 weeks.
All of the sufferers included within the examine have been recognized with both IBS-D (diarrhea) or IBS-M (combined signs of constipation or diarrhea).
This examine was the primary randomized managed trial to check the Mediterranean weight loss plan to a different potential weight loss plan. (Earlier research had in contrast the Mediterranean weight loss plan to the people’ typical diets or weren’t randomized managed trials.)
Whereas the Mediterranean weight loss plan did present symptom reduction, the low FODMAP group skilled a better enchancment measured by each belly ache depth and IBS symptom severity rating.
Researchers discovered the outcomes of this pilot examine—which 20 sufferers accomplished—sufficiently encouraging to warrant future, bigger managed trials to analyze the potential of the Mediterranean weight loss plan as an efficient intervention for sufferers with IBS.
“This study adds to a growing body of evidence which suggests that a Mediterranean diet might be a useful addition to the menu of evidence-based dietary interventions for patients with IBS,” mentioned William Chey, M.D., chief of Gastroenterology on the College of Michigan, president-elect of the American School of Gastroenterology, and senior creator on the paper.
The researchers imagine research evaluating long-term efficacy of the Mediterranean weight loss plan with long-term outcomes following the reintroduction and personalization phases of low FODMAP are wanted.
Extra data:
Prashant Singh et al, Efficacy of Mediterranean Weight-reduction plan vs. Low‐FODMAP Weight-reduction plan in Sufferers With Nonconstipated Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized Managed Trial, Neurogastroenterology & Motility (2025). DOI: 10.1111/nmo.70060
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College of Michigan
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Mediterranean weight loss plan supplies symptom reduction for sufferers with irritable bowel syndrome in pilot examine (2025, Might 30)
retrieved 31 Might 2025
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