[Diet therapy in irritable bowel syndrome; a review]

ABSTRACT

Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] has the most common functional gastrointestinal disease and has among the most common reasons for outpatients doctor visit both in primary and specialty clinics. Patients suffer from lifelong chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and flatus often associated with anxiety depression which significant opposing effect on the quality of life and have to use the patients to use the healthcare system and induce a huge cost for health care system. It has also result in abstinence from work and its economic consequences. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome has symptom base which were most challenging aspect of clinical practice. Recently there was accumulating evidence in favor of dietary therapy as one of the cheapest and most effective therapy for IBS. However, there was need for a review which concludes these results. Purpose of this study was to look at the recent literatures about the role of diet in controlling IBS symptoms. Studies published in recent 5 years in Pub Med and SID databases were searched with relevant keywords. Human studies, English or Persian and original articles were included. Studies which were not relevant to medical nutrition therapy were excluded. From 81 studies, 31 studies were included. Foods containing gluten, lactose, fructose, galactane, sorbitol, fructane and allergen foods should be limited or omitted. Patients should be advised to use fibers, prebiotics and probiotics more often. Medical nutrition therapy is a useful method for controlling symptoms of these patients and should be advised