A team of US researchers has found that the Mediterranean diet may offer symptom relief for individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), offering a less restrictive alternative to traditional dietary approaches.
IBS affects an estimated 4–11 per cent of the global population, and many patients prefer managing symptoms through dietary changes rather than medication.
While the low FODMAP diet is widely recommended and shown to improve symptoms in over half of IBS patients, it is known to be restrictive, costly, and difficult to follow. To address these challenges, researchers at Michigan Medicine have been exploring simpler and more accessible dietary strategies.
In a new study published in the journal Neurogastroenterology & Motility, participants were randomly assigned to either a Mediterranean diet group or a low FODMAP diet group.
According to the findings, 73 per cent of those on the Mediterranean diet reported symptom improvement, compared to 81.8 per cent of those on the low FODMAP diet.
“Restrictive diets like the low FODMAP plan can be hard for patients to adopt due to concerns about nutritional deficiencies, disordered eating, and the time and cost involved,” said Dr. Prashant Singh, gastroenterologist at Michigan Medicine and lead author of the study. “The Mediterranean diet is not an elimination diet and may overcome several of these challenges.”
Although both diets led to symptom relief, the low FODMAP group reported slightly better outcomes in terms of abdominal pain and overall symptom severity.
Still, researchers said the Mediterranean diet shows promise as a more sustainable option. “This study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the Mediterranean diet could be a valuable, evidence-based option for managing IBS,” said Dr. William Chey, Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of Michigan.
Already well-regarded for its cardiovascular, cognitive, and general health benefits, the Mediterranean diet may now hold new potential for IBS patients seeking relief through more balanced and less restrictive eating plans.
—IANS