A nutritional approach for managing irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Purpose of review Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder encountered by the pediatrician and consultant. The primary focus of this review is to provide an update on beneficial nutritional interventions for managing this patient population with discussion on gut microbiome effects. Recent findings A common complaint amongst the pediatric population is IBS-related recurrent abdominal pain. The prevalence of IBS is estimated to range between 6%–14% and is defined by the Rome III criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders. Recent studies highlight the role of nutritional interventions in mitigating symptoms of IBS. While eliminating foods which aggravate IBS gastrointestinal symptoms has become a main nutritional approach for acute management of IBS, recent literature reflects how this may impact the gut microbiome and potentially have long-term implications. Summary There are emerging studies suggesting IBS symptomatic improvement with different dietary interventions in the pediatric population, but most of what is known at this time has been extrapolated from the adult literature.

Novel Coconut Vinegar Attenuates Hepatic and Vascular Oxidative Stress in Rats Fed a High-Cholesterol Diet

“…The concentration of acetic acid is 2.72 g/100g in which actual category is fruit vinegar ( 40 ). The major concern of acidity in traditional vinegar consumption caused irritation bowel syndrome ( 41 ) and dental erosion ( 42 ). Lowering acetic acid level in vinegar could possibly be beneficial and cause fewer health concerns.…”

The Mediterranean Diet in Paediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders

“…Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) affect up to 40% of the population globally at some time in their life and represent almost 50% of paediatric gastroenterologists’ consultations [ 44 , 45 ]. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and still unclear, as no structural or biochemical aberrations have been found [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. To the present date, the biopsychosocial model could explain the correlation between several factors involved in the FGIDs aetiopathogenesis, such as genetic predisposition, altered gut–brain axis, altered gut motility, gut hypersensitivity, intestinal inflammation/infection, altered microbiome composition, psychological conditions and environmental triggers, such as food [ 46 , 49 , 50 ].…”

Electro-acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome patients: study protocol for a single-blinded randomized sham-controlled clinical trial

“…In China, antibiotics, antispasmodics, and secretagogues are used to treat IBS, but the effectiveness varies [ 8 ]. Non-medication treatments such as dietary/nutritional and psychobehavioral therapy can be the alternatives; however, the requirement of high adherence may decrease the rates of treatment continuation [ 9 , 10 ]. Acupuncture can be a more convenient option for patients with IBS as the treatment does not require daily intake of medication nor frequent clinical visits.…”