Media release

From: American College of Physicians

Mediterranean diet could be an effective first-line intervention for IBS

A randomized clinical trial evaluated if the Mediterranean diet is noninferior to traditional dietary advice in managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. The trial found that the Mediterranean diet is noninferior and superior to traditional diet advice in managing IBS symptoms, suggesting that it could be considered a viable first-line dietary intervention for IBS. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield studied data from 110 adults aged 18 to 65 years who had IBS across the United Kingdom. Trial participation was selective, with exclusion criteria including history of eating disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease. Participants were randomly assigned to follow either a Mediterranean diet or traditional diet for 6 weeks, with traditional diet advice following guidance from the British Dietetic Association. The primary end point was the proportion of participants achieving clinical response, defined as a 50-point or greater reduction in IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS). Secondary endpoints included changes in IBS-SSS scores, quality of life, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). At week 6, a 50-point or greater reduction in IB-SSS score was achieved by 62% (95% CI, 50% to 73%) assigned a Mediterranean diet versus 42% (CI, 31% to 55%) of participants assigned traditional diet. At week 6, there was also a greater reduction in the mean IBS-SSS after a Mediterranean diet than traditional diet. Frequency of abdominal pain was statistically significantly improved among participants with a Mediterranean diet versus traditional diet.