The effect of medical nutrition therapy in the syptomatic treatment of patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

.The aim of this randomized controlled trial study was to examine the effect of different types of diet on relieving the symptoms of the patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Forty-five people diagnosed with IBS-C within the age range of 18-64 were involved into the study. Participants' general characteristics and dietary habits were asked and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), quality of life (QOL) scale, Symptom Severity Score (SSS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) evaluations were done both at the beginning and at the end of study. Also, participants body composition analyse and height, body weight, waist-hip measurements and food consumption records were taken. Subjects were randomized into 3 groups each had 15 participants according to medical nutrition therapies namely, constipation, gluten-free constipation and Low-FODMAPs constipation. Participants medical nutrition therapy were applied for 4 weeks. Subjects' body weight, body mass index, waist-hip measurements and body fat ratio values were decreased at the end of the study in comparison to the beginning (p<0,05). HADS scores were not differed significantly according to the type of diet applied (p>0,05). QOL scale scores differed significantly only in subjects with gluten-free constipation diet group(p<0,05). The most efficient medical nutrition therapy was determined as FODMAPs constipation diet according to SSS score (p<0,05). In VAS evaluation, significant difference between groups was only seen in the improvement of defecation (p<0,05). Gluten-free constipation diet was found as the most effective diet in the evaluation of BSS (p<0,05). Although the best medical nutrition therapy was seen as Low-FODMAPs constipation diet on treatment for relieving the severity of symptoms of IBS-C, further studies are needed for efficiency of Low-FODMAPs diet and alternative diet therapies on symptoms. Key words: Irritable bowel syndrome, medical nutrition therapy, gluten free constipation diet therapy, FODMAP diet