Managing Diet & Nutrition for Treating IBS Symptoms
A听鈥済ut-brain mis-interaction鈥鈥攖hat鈥檚 how听gastroenterologist Michelle Cohen, MD,听refers to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition experienced by five to听15% of the global population, and much of her own medical practice.听听
鈥淲e听evaluate听the different sub-types of IBS鈥攄颈补谤谤hea, constipation, and mixed pattern鈥攁nd try to look at it in terms of whether a patient is experiencing the condition mildly, moderately, or severely,听and how much it impacts their quality of life,鈥 explains听Dr. Cohen,听Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at 富二代成版人app (WCM).
Based on a detailed medical history听and limited test workup, gastroenterologists can diagnose the condition and help patients manage it听by creating an individualized treatment approach.听
Treating Symptoms of IBS
Medication can be of limited use for some IBS patients, so diet is an effective way to start addressing IBS.听
鈥淭he response rate for medications for IBS is not crazy high and can sometimes cause only a modest improvement in symptoms,鈥 Dr. Cohen says. 鈥淭hat tells us we need to look at other things听at听play.鈥听
For patients with less severe cases of IBS, diet can sometimes be enough to improve symptoms. But even dietary changes have to be customized based on the patient.听
鈥淭he puzzle picture听of IBS听is the same听from one patient to the next, but everyone鈥檚 puzzle听pieces听are different,鈥 Dr. Cohen says. 鈥But we know there is some response to diet鈥攊t can be a key player in managing symptoms for patients with a听mild case听of IBS.鈥听
Maintaining a Low FODMAP Diet
One of the go-to diets for patients with IBS-D (diarrhea) is called the听, which can be used to help patients identify which foods trigger their symptoms.听The diet is an attempt to limit foods that听may听cause gas and bloating, namely,听fructose,听lactose,听fructans,听galactans, and听polyols.听
鈥淐ertain foods definitely promote diarrhea, and some patients have food intolerances that get tied into IBS symptoms,鈥 Dr. Cohen says.听
Constipated patients, she adds, may see results by balancing听the different fibers the ingest听and听making modifications to the low FODMAP diet.听
鈥淥ther dietary tweaks like lowering fat and caffeine intake can be helpful,鈥 Dr. Cohen says.听
WCM dietitians and nutritionists听can听be an important听resource for IBS patients.听
鈥淲e know some patients need a lot of dietary help, and it鈥檚 useful to find their specific triggers,鈥听Dr. Cohen says.听鈥淭hey sit with patients and go through their diets听to talk about what works and what doesn鈥檛 work.鈥听听
It鈥檚 also an听effective听way to individualize care.听
鈥淎djusting a patient鈥檚 diet is not a one-size fits-all approach,鈥 Dr. Cohen adds. 鈥淪ometimes听adjusting diet听is enough for a patient to experience relief, and sometimes it鈥檚听just听one听way to help听treat the overall condition.鈥听