Evaluation of the quality of life and symptomatic effects of fodmap diet in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); It is a chronic functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and variable bowel habits of unknown pathology. This study was conducted to examine the effects of the current dietary approach, the Low-FODMAP Diet, on symptoms and changes in quality of life in individuals with different education levels, aged 18 and over, diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome IV criteria. It was carried out between 1 June-1 December 2022 at İzmir University of Economics Hospital of Medicalpoint in İzmir. The study was carried out with 53 volunteer participants who were diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome IV criteria and applied to the nutrition and diet outpatient polyclinic. A face-to-face interview was conducted with the volunteer participants and they were asked to apply a Low FODMAP Diet for a period of 4 weeks. Data were collected through a questionnaire during the interview. In the survey, firstly, the 'General Characteristics of Individuals Questionnaire Form' was applied. IBS-Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) and IBS Quality of Life Index (IBS-QOL) were administered to individuals before and after dietary intervention. While the rate of female participants in the study was 81.14%, the rate of male participants was determined as 18.86%. The mean symptom severity of IBS patients before the FODMAP diet (M = 335.66, SE = 13.02) was found to be the mean of the symptom severity after the FODMAP diet (M = 121.32, SE = 10.14). This ratio was statistically significant, t(52) = 19.71, p < 0.05. While the mean quality of life of IBS patients was (M = 99.94, SE = 3.64) before the FODMAP diet, the mean quality of life increased (M = 135.55, SE = 2.38) after the FODMAP diet. According to the dependent group t-test analysis results, a statistically significant difference was found between before and after the FODMAP diet in the quality of life of the participants. t(52) = -12.03, p < 0.05. As a result of the study, it is seen that the low-FODMAP diet is an effective diet in reducing the severity of symptoms and improving the quality of life in IBS patients, and it should be emphasized that it is important to adopt the FODMAP diet by dietitians in patients diagnosed with IBS.