Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021 Apr 12;e14148. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14148. Online ahead of print.

Heidi M Staudacher ^1 2 3, Amy N Nevin ¹, Christopher Duff ^1 4, Bradley J Kendall ^5 6, Gerald J Holtmann ^5 6

Author information

• ¹Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
• ²Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
• ³Food & Mood Centre, IMPACT (the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation), Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia.
• ⁴Nutrition and Dietetics, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
• ⁵Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
• ⁶Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Certain dietary constituents may provoke symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD); however, there is an absence of dietary trials testing specific dietary interventions. Empirically derived dietary strategies and the low FODMAP diet are frequently used in practice. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of low FODMAP dietary advice with standard dietary advice for reducing epigastric and overall gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with FD.

Methods: Data were collected from 59 consecutive eligible individuals with FD attending an initial and review outpatient dietetic consultation at Princess Alexandra Hospital. Of these, 40 received low FODMAP advice and 19 received standard dietary advice. As part of usual care, the Structured Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale (SAGIS) was used to assess epigastric (maximum score = 28) and overall gastrointestinal symptoms (maximum score = 88). Dietary adherence data were collected, and change in symptom score and proportion of responders (defined as a ≥30% reduction in score) for epigastric and total symptoms was calculated.

Key results: Most individuals (48/59, 81%) had FD and coexisting irritable bowel syndrome. There was a greater reduction in epigastric score in those receiving low FODMAP dietary advice compared with those receiving standard advice (est. marginal mean [95% CI]: -3.6 [-4.9, -2.2] vs. -0.9 [-2.9, 1.1], p = 0.032) and total symptom score (-9.4 [-12.4, -6.4] vs. -3.3 [-7.7, 1.1] p = 0.026). A greater proportion receiving low FODMAP dietary advice were responders versus those receiving standard advice (50% vs. 16%, p = 0.012). Dietary adherence did not differ between groups (p = 0.497).

Conclusions & inferences: The low FODMAP diet appears more effective for improving epigastric symptoms in people with FD compared with standard advice. A randomized controlled trial is required to substantiate these findings.