diet more effective than medication

To relieve irritable bowel syndrome, a chronic functional disorder of the digestive tract that is common, not serious but can be very bothersome, a diet is more beneficial than taking medication.

Martin Ducret, doctor and journalist at Doctor’s Dailytells us today about a new study which reveals that a diet is more effective than taking medication in relieving irritable bowel syndrome, a common chronic functional disorder of the digestive tract.

franceinfo: This syndrome manifests itself by abdominal pain and transit disorders?

Martin Ducret: Yes, in this study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, nearly 300 patients suffering from this digestive disease were divided into 3 groups. The first group of patients benefited for 1 month from a diet low in FODMAP, that is to say low in foods, with high fermentation power in the intestine such as wheat, onions or even chocolate.

The second group benefited from a diet low in sugars, but rich in proteins, fats, and fibers, that is to say in meat, fish, eggs and vegetables. Finally, the last group did not have a diet but medication in case of symptoms: antidiarrheals, antispasmodics in case of pain or bloating, laxatives in case of constipation.

Ultimately, patients in both groups treated with diet had a reduction in the severity of their symptoms of more than 70%, compared to 58% for patients treated with medication.

A diet would therefore be the first-line treatment to offer to a patient suffering from irritable bowel syndrome?

“Yes, Professor Frank Zerbib, head of the hepato-gastroenterology department at Bordeaux University Hospital, confirmed to me. This study shows that diet gives better results than medication.“A diet should therefore be recommended as a first choice for patients who still present bothersome symptoms, despite the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits: eating a balanced diet, slowly, and at set times, limiting alcohol and coffee, practicing a regular physical activity, getting enough sleep and avoiding stress.

Does implementing such a diet require supervision by a gastroenterologist or a specialized dietician?

“Yes it is imperative, Professor Zerbib pointed out to me. The low FODMAP diet, for example, is difficult to implement because many foods are excluded. In addition, this diet can be responsible for long-term deficiency.” It must therefore be temporary, no more than 6 weeks. The patient will then gradually reintroduce the excluded foods, and will only consume those that they tolerate.

To have more information on the management of this disease and to know which health professional to consult, I recommend to listeners the website of the association of patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.