The FODMAPs diet seems to be the latest craze for IBS and IBD sufferers. FODMAPs stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di- and Mono-saccharides and Polyols; short-chain carbohydrates for us lay people. The basic idea is that because these carbs are not very well absorbed in the small intestine they are prime candidates for fermentation, and that’s not what you want happening in the depths of your gut.
The fermentation occurs when the bacteria in the colon fall on these lovely FODMAP carbs with undisguised glee. That leads to more gas and more water in the digestive system, and that causes intestinal distension and all of the horrible IBS symptoms we know so well.
The acronym was coined by researchers in Australia who are now conducting further studies, so it’s certainly a diet that’s come from a good scientific source. The researchers have measured the level of water in the intestines by using patients with ileostomies and gas production is measured by the good old hydrogen breath test made famous by Dr Mark Pimentel and his small intestinal bacteria overgrowth theory.
So what do you eat on the diet? Well, unfortunately there’s a whole heap of foods that are high in FODMAPs, including apples, wheat, milk, onions and peas. On the bright side, meat, fish and dairy are all suitable for a low FODMAPs diet, as are a range of other fruits and veg.
Looking at the lists of high and low FODMAPs foods I think the main thing to remember is that this is a very specific diet – you can’t just cut out all dairy foods and be done with it, you need to find out exactly which fruits are OK, which veggies are OK, and so on. But then going dairy-free or gluten-free isn’t a walk in the park either, so maybe it would be worth a try.
I’m hoping to find an IBS sufferer who’s tried the FODMAPs approach to interview for the site – if that sounds like you then please get in touch! Doesn’t matter if it was successful for you or not, I’d like to hear all experiences.
What I love about the FODMAPs diet (my IBS saving grace) is that it’s not about cutting all FODMAPs out long term. It’s about initially eliminating them then gradually adding them back into your diet and establishing which FODMAPs are most problematic and what your tolerance levels are. I’ve found that it’s the most flexible IBS diet I’ve experienced to date (and I think I’ve tried them all out!) XXX
My son now aged 13 was diagnosed with post infectious IBS three years ago after food poisoning on an island holiday.
The first year was very bad with constant pain along with the usual altered bowel function. This resulted in treatment by the chronic pain team at our local kids hospital. Over the three years he has had every possible test all normal and tried every drug.
Since that first awful year things have improved and he now gets what I’d call ‘flares’ of IBS symptoms that last about 2 – 3 months interspersed with periods of normality that last about the same time.
J has been on FODMAPS now for about 2 years and it made a big difference. It did not solve the problem but it is a factor in the improvement we have seen. FODMAPS is championed here by a gastroenterologist (we are in New Zealand) and when we did the breath testing J had a huge reaction to the ingestion of the fructose solution. Heaps of gas and a really uncomfortable visibly blown up stomach.
He had no reaction to lactose so he eats dairy no problem. Essentially with the reaction to fructose we cut out/reduce fructose itself and fructans. This means no wheat and no onion family. Its quite doable really – makes eating out a bit difficult.
Our gastroenterologist explained that this is not the source of J’s problem but that for people who have had a ‘gut trauma’ these sensitivities often develop and then perpetuate symptoms.
I’d suggest that anyone interested have the hydrogen breath testing as this is quite definitive. This was the first test in dozens that my son actually had a viable abnormal result and there was something associated that we could actually do about it. For anyone with IBS symptoms it would be worth investigating.
Joanne
That’s great to hear some success stories for this diet. Hope your son continues to improve Joanne. The hydrogen breath test is something I would really like to have done, but I don’t know if it’s offered over here in the UK. Testing seems to be limited to good old colonoscopies and other assorted inserted cameras…
I’ve just started on the FODMAP diet. I spoke to my dietician about the breath tests and she said they are offered on the NHS but not everywhere. You can ask your Dr for a referral. I am going to work it out with the elimination diet instead though.
I recently had the hydrogen breath test and tested positive for fructose malabsorption. As Joanne said, this is the 1st viable abnormal test result I’ve had in 26 years and it was one of the best days of my life…knowing that I “really” had something other than, as the doctors have told me “it’s just IBS”. Also it confirmed that I am not lactose intolerant as I’ve thought I was … no milk products for 26 years. Hopefully the FODMAP diet will help me find my tolerance levels for various foods and I’ll feel better soon. (I’m using the book IBS Free At Last as my guide.) I should write a letter to my doctors telling them the Hydrogen Breath Test should be one of the first tests done for those with IBS type symptoms. It’s easy, non-invasive and while an intolerance may not be the sole problem, it’s a great starting point.
The FODMAP diet is not a “craze for IBS and IBD sufferers”. It is a clinically tested dietary management approach developed by GI researchers and dietitians that has been shown to successfully manage symptoms in individuals with functional GI disorders such as IBS. The diet is based on well understood physiological principle.s You can read more about this approach in the following two links.
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/072710p30.shtml
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/ehcs/breath-testing/practitioner-info/article2.pdf