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Clinical trial: A Mediterranean diet is feasible and improves gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be effectively managed with food, although different people may respond differently to different dietary strategies for addressing psychosocial symptoms. This study by Staudacher et al. (2024) aims to evaluate the feasibility of a Mediterranean diet for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and its effects on gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms. The authors conducted an unblinded, 6-week randomized controlled trial involving adults diagnosed with Rome IV IBS and mild to moderate anxiety or depressive symptoms. Participants were assigned to either Mediterranean diet counseling or continued their habitual diet. Data were collected on gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms, dietary habits, and stool samples for metagenomic analysis. Out of 59 participants (29 to the Mediterranean diet and 30 to the control group), 48 completed the study. At week 6, the Mediterranean diet group had a higher Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener score than the control group, with a greater increase in scores indicating the diet’s feasibility. Analysis of the results revealed that a higher percentage of the Mediterranean diet group participants reported improvements in both gastrointestinal and depressive symptoms. Gastrointestinal adverse events were comparable across groups, and there were no differences in microbiome changes. The Mediterranean diet is a feasible option for IBS patients and contributes to improvements in both gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms. Despite the unblinded nature of this study, these findings, along with the known benefits of the Mediterranean diet, support the need for further research into IBS. [NPID: Mediterranean diet, irritable bowel syndrome, psychological symptoms, randomized controlled trial, dietary adherence, anxiety, depression, microbiome]
Year: 2024
