Very Low Carb Diet Can Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Patients with diarrhea-predominant form of the disease find relief

Very Low Carb Diet Can Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Patients with diarrhea-predominant form of the disease find relief - Modern Medicine

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HOT TOPICS: Cardiometabolic Disorders & Weight · Liability & Risk Management· Health Care IT

Gregory L. Austin, M.D., of the University of Colorado in Aurora, and colleagues conducted a study of 17 patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, of whom 13 completed a two-week standard diet, followed by four weeks on a very low carbohydrate diet with only 20 grams of carbohydrates a day.

All of the patients who completed the diet responded, and 10 (77 percent) reported adequate relief of symptoms during the four weeks of the very low carbohydrate diet, with decreased stool frequency, improved stool consistency, and significantly improved pain and quality of life scores, the investigators discovered.

"This study found objective evidence that overweight and obese individuals initiating a very low carbohydrate diet had a profound clinical response in their diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome symptoms," the authors write. "This finding requires further investigation to identify mechanisms by which a very low carbohydrate diet affects the symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. This will elucidate additional dietary and pharmacologic methods for managing patients."

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Comments from our Readers

Richard Feinman / Brooklyn, NY, UNITED STATES
Posted 2009-06-27 05:55:42.0
This has been anecdotal observation of several people who undertook carbohydrate restricted diet for weight loss and is likely due to change in intestinal flora. What the report "elucidates" is that pharmacology may not be necessary. Also of interest may be Norm Robillard's Heartburn cured which discusses similar issues.

David Brown / Klispell, MT, UNITED STATES
Posted 2009-06-29 08:30:19.0
A likely mechanism "by which a very low carbohydrate diet affects the symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome" is gut microbiota. Researchers estimate that 50 to 60 percent of fecal matter consists of gut microbes. Gut microbes require a source of carbon which can be fat, carbohydrate, or fiber. The various sorts of microbes proliferate or diminish depending on the amount of each type of carbohydrate available and the amount of supportive nutrition (nutrient mix consisting of nitrogen, sulfur, potassium, trace minerals, etc) included with the carbohydrate at each meal. For more on this I suggest readers visit Gary Tivendale's collection of documents on the relationship between gut flora and weigh control. http://www.scribd.com/people/view/3737769-gary-tivendale

nonegiven /
Posted 2009-07-02 02:29:24.0
Possible an intolerance of gluten or wheat or fructose caused the problem in the first place? All are reduced on a low carb diet.