Specific foods can reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation: a review

BackgroundFunctional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are groups of disorders involving digestive symptoms that chronically persist despite the absence of organic abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract. Representative FGIDs include functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and functional constipation (FC). In particular, IBS is a disease representative of FGIDs in which abdominal pain and discomfort associated with abnormal bowel movements chronically persist and recur. These symptoms are known to be related to lifestyle habits, such as meals and stress. In recent years, according to advances in dietary therapy for IBS and FC, specific foods have been shown to alter these symptoms. In IBS, bowel movement abnormalities and abdominal discomfort have been reported to be reduced when patients eat these specific foods.Main topicSeveral studies suggest that individuals with certain attitudes toward eating or with preferences for fatty food, fast food, junk snack food, fried food, and hot/spicy food showed a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Those who are cognizant of nutritional balance or healthy food intake have a lower prevalence of GI symptoms. Thus, eating specific foods with higher dietary fiber and low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharaides, and polyols) is effective for relief from some GI symptoms.First, two kinds of dietary fibers are found in foods: water-soluble dietary fiber and insoluble dietary fiber. Enduring misconceptions about the physical effects of fiber in the gut have led to misunderstandings about the health benefits attributable to insoluble and soluble fiber. Previous reviews suggest that health benefits have been shown in regard to fiber, and reproducible evidence of clinical efficacy has been published.Second, the ingestion of certain carbohydrates causes gastrointestinal symptoms. Foods rich in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharaides, and polyols (collectively known as FODMAP) have been shown to cause abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort in westerners with IBS.ConclusionDietary therapy for FGIDs should include specific foods that have been scientifically proven to be effective for managing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation.

背景 功能性胃肠病（FGIDs）是一组涉及消化系统症状的疾病，尽管胃肠道没有器质性异常，但这些症状长期持续存在。具有代表性的FGIDs包括功能性消化不良（FD）、肠易激综合征（IBS）和功能性便秘（FC）。特别是，IBS是FGIDs的一种代表性疾病，与异常排便相关的腹痛和不适长期持续并反复出现。已知这些症状与生活习惯有关，比如饮食和压力。近年来，随着IBS和FC饮食疗法的进展，特定的食物已被证明可以改变这些症状。在IBS中，据报道当患者食用这些特定食物时，排便异常和腹部不适会减轻。 主要话题 几项研究表明，对饮食有特定态度或偏好高脂肪食物、快餐、垃圾零食、油炸食品以及辛辣食物的个体，胃肠道（GI）症状的患病率更高。那些注重营养平衡或健康饮食摄入的人胃肠道症状的患病率较低。因此，食用膳食纤维含量高且低FODMAP（可发酵的低聚糖、二糖、单糖和多元醇）的特定食物对缓解某些胃肠道症状是有效的。 首先，食物中存在两种膳食纤维：水溶性膳食纤维和不溶性膳食纤维。长期以来对肠道中纤维的生理作用存在误解，导致对不溶性和可溶性纤维的健康益处也存在误解。先前的综述表明，纤维已显示出健康益处，并且临床疗效的可重复性证据已经发表。 其次，摄入某些碳水化合物会导致胃肠道症状。富含可发酵的低聚糖、二糖、单糖和多元醇（统称为FODMAP）的食物已被证明会导致西方肠易激综合征患者出现腹痛和腹部不适。 结论 FGIDs的饮食疗法应包括经科学证明对控制肠易激综合征和功能性便秘症状有效的特定食物。