Evaluation on effects of removing dairy products from diet on functional dyspepsia

Introduction and Aim: Functional Dyspepsia (FD), is a disease that it's ethiology has not been clearly elucidated and new treatment alternatives to be developed are needed. In this research, it was aimed to reveal the potential contribution of abandoning milk and dairy products by evaluating the effects on patients with dyspepsia complaints. Methods: In this cross-sectional and cohort study, 120 patients between the ages of 18-65, who are suitable for the diagnosis of FD according to the Rome IV criteria and applied to the Gastroenterology Clinic of Bezmialem Vakif University Hospital were included. Patients were divided equally into two groups; those who removed milk and dairy products under the advice of a dietician without receiving medical treatment, and those who received appropriate medical treatment according to the FD subtypes. The patients groups followed up for a month for the severity of symptoms. For determining the severity of symptoms, "Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)" was used at the onset of the study and at the end of the following month. Along with the symptom questionnare, the demographic data (age, gender, height, weight), comorbid diseases and medications of the patients were recorded. Results: Between the two groups there was no statistically significant difference according to the age, body mass index, frequency and duration of symptoms, weight loss in the last six months, FD subtypes and gastroscopy results (p>0.05). Percentage of females were higher in the group that give up milk and dairy products (p=0.01). Although the patients who gave up milk and dairy products had higher GSRS scores at the beginning (p=0.01), both groups had similar GSRS scores at the end of the study (p=0.99). After one month follow-up period, GSRS scores have improved in both groups compared to the baseline (p=0.01). However, the decrease in the GSRS total symptom score was significantly higher in the group that gave up milk and dairy products compared to the medical treatment group (p=0.01). In the evaluation of the GSRS symptom subsets, seven symptoms with a statistically higher was observed in the gave up milk and dairy compared to the medical treatment group (p <0.05). Moreover, no statistically significant decrease in any symptom subset score was observed in the medical treatment group, compared to the group that gave up milk and dairy products (p>0.05). Conclusion: Of the 120 FD patients followed up for one month, 60 patients who removing cow's milk and products had a greater reduction in GSRS symptom score and some symptom subset scores than 60 patients receiving medical therapy. Keywords: Functional dyspepsia, cow's milk, dairy products, helicobacter pylori, epigastric pain, burning, distress, early satiety