Adopting a Mediterranean diet may help alleviate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, according to new research. The eating plan, packed with fruit, vegetables, pulses, wholegrains, nuts, fish and olive oil, could serve as a “simple, enjoyable and highly effective first step” in controlling the widespread condition, scientists have suggested.
IBS impacts the digestive system, triggering stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea. It typically persists throughout life, though symptoms can be controlled through lifestyle modifications and medication.
Dietary adjustments are generally the primary treatment approach, with sufferers encouraged to maintain regular mealtimes, boost fruit and vegetable consumption and reduce fatty, spicy, processed foods, caffeine, fizzy beverages and alcohol. Scientists at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust assessed how the Mediterranean diet stacked up against this conventional guidance.
Dr Imran Aziz, senior clinical lecturer in gastroenterology at the University of Sheffield, said: “For millions of people worldwide, IBS symptoms can severely impact daily life.”
The study involved 139 people with IBS, with 68 adhering to the Mediterranean diet for six weeks and 71 following standard dietary recommendations. Both groups participated in 30-minute online educational sessions about their respective diets and received email-based supplementary materials.
The research, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, discovered that a whopping 62% of those adhering to the Mediterranean diet experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms compared with just 42% in the other group.
Dr Aziz said: “Our study provides strong evidence that the Mediterranean diet can be a simple, enjoyable and highly effective first step in managing this common condition. The Mediterranean diet was found to be not just as good as traditional dietary advice, but actually significantly better at reducing symptoms.
“Using a Mediterranean diet as an initial treatment also potentially simplifies care for both patients and healthcare providers. These findings will inform future guidelines for the management of IBS.”
