Dietary Interventions for FGS in IBD Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Dietary Fermentable Carbohydrate Restriction for the Relief of Functional Gut Symptoms in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IRAS ID
184561
Contact name
Selina Cox
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by chronic relapsing, remitting intestinal inflammation. Even during periods of inactive disease, many patients with IBD experience debilitating gut symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhoea that may severely impact quality of life. A diet lower in certain carbohydrates (a 'low FODMAP' diet) improves gut symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome and preliminary studies show that it may also be effective in IBD. However, the low FODMAP diet reduces certain beneficial gut bacterial groups, which might impact the gut immune system in IBD.
Therefore the aim of this study is to examine the effects of a low FODMAP diet on gut symptoms, bacteria and inflammation in IBD. We propose a prospective randomised controlled trial to investigate this. Fifty two patients with inactive IBD, suffering from persistent functional gut symptoms (FGS), will be recruited. Baseline data on FGS and stool output, faecal microbiota, inflammatory markers, clinical disease activity, dietary intake and quality of life will be obtained. Patients will then be randomised to either a low FODMAP intervention diet or a 'sham' placebo control diet. The 'sham' diet is devised to look like the intervention diet but does not affect nutritional intake or FODMAP intake. The same outcomes will then be assessed following the intervention, at week 4.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1684
Date of REC Opinion
22 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion