Diets that differ in their FODMAP content alter the colonic luminal microenvironment

Authors

Emma P. Halmos
Claus T. Christophersen, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Anthony R. Bird
Susan J. Shepherd
Peter R. Gibson
Jane G. Muir

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

BMJ Publishing Group

Place of Publication

London, UK

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

19747

Comments

Halmos, E. P., Christophersen, C. T., Bird, A. R., Shepherd, S. J., Gibson, P. R., & Muir, J. G. (2015), Diets that differ in their FODMAP content alter the colonic luminal microenvironment. Gut, 64(1), 93-100. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-307264. Available here

Abstract

Objective A low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols) diet reduces symptoms of IBS, but reduction of potential prebiotic and fermentative effects might adversely affect the colonic microenvironment. The effects of a low FODMAP diet with a typical Australian diet on biomarkers of colonic health were compared in a single-blinded, randomised, cross-over trial. Design Twenty-seven IBS and six healthy subjects were randomly allocated one of two 21-day provided diets, differing only in FODMAP content (mean (95% CI) low 3.05 (1.86 to 4.25) g/day vs Australian 23.7 (16.9 to 30.6) g/day), and then crossed over to the other diet with ≥21-day washout period. Faeces passed over a 5-day run-in on their habitual diet and from day 17 to day 21 of the interventional diets were pooled, and pH, short-chain fatty acid concentrations and bacterial abundance and diversity were assessed. Results Faecal indices were similar in IBS and healthy subjects during habitual diets. The low FODMAP diet was associated with higher faecal pH (7.37 (7.23 to 7.51) vs 7.16 (7.02 to 7.30); p=0.001), similar short-chain fatty acid concentrations, greater microbial diversity and reduced total bacterial abundance (9.63 (9.53 to 9.73) vs 9.83 (9.72 to 9.93) log10 copies/g; p

DOI

10.1136/gutjnl-2014-307264

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