A randomized controlled trial compared the effectiveness of a low FODMAP diet with traditional dietary advice for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The study included 75 patients meeting the Rome III criteria for IBS, who were randomly assigned to either a low FODMAP diet group (n = 38) or a group following traditional IBS dietary advice (n = 37) for four weeks. Both diets led to significant reductions in IBS symptom severity, with no significant difference in the effectiveness between the two groups. Symptom improvements were measured using the IBS Symptom Severity Scale, and food diaries showed good adherence to the dietary instructions.

The results showed that both dietary approaches effectively reduced IBS symptoms, with 50% of the low-FODMAP group and 46% of the traditional diet group reporting a reduction in IBS severity scores of 50% or more. However, there was no significant difference in the symptom reduction between the groups. The study suggests that while a low-FODMAP diet is effective in managing IBS, traditional IBS dietary advice is equally beneficial. Combining elements from both dietary strategies may offer further improvements in managing IBS symptoms.

Reference: Böhn L, Störsrud S, Liljebo T, et al. Diet low in FODMAPs reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome as well as traditional dietary advice: a randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology. 2015 Nov;149(6):1399-1407.e2. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.07.054. Epub 2015 Aug 5. PMID: 26255043.