A low FODMAP diet may improve the often-overlooked gastrointestinal issues that come with endometriosis.
Gastrointestinal symptoms are estimated to affect more than 75% of people diagnosed with endometriosis and greatly impact quality of life, yet most clinical guidelines don’t mention them or address treatment options.
Monash University recently underwent a study aimed at bridging this care gap with dietary intervention. Researchers found a low FODMAP diet (<5g/day FODMAPs) significantly reduced abdominal pain and bloating compared to the control diet (20g/day FODMAPs).
Participants in the randomised, blinded trial received frozen meals in plain packaging for the duration of the study. There were no statistically significant differences in the macronutrient and fibre intake between the two diets.
They began their diet on the first day of their monthly cycle and continued for 28 days, then underwent a washout period of at least 28 days before crossing over to the other diet for their next cycle. Both diets were modelled on Australian Dietary Guidelines and response was assessed using a 100mm visual analogue scale of overall gastrointestinal symptoms.
The low FODMAP diet led to improved scores from baseline by 26mm, while the control diet improved by 3mm. Overall gastrointestinal symptoms were 35mm on the low FODMAP diet and 58mm on the control diet.
The 35 participants, aged between 18 and menopause, had confirmed diagnoses of endometriosis. Exclusion criteria included irregular periods, laparoscopic surgery within the past 3 months, other gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies and/or special diets, and uncontrolled physical or mental illness.
[/related_posts] 116046, 115443, 18516 [/related_posts]
They completed food diaries and were assessed using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index questionnaire, the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire, IBS-VAS, NIH PROMIS Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale and the Bristol Stool Chart.
The study concluded that abdominal pain, bloating, stool form and quality of life for both gastrointestinal and endometriosis-associated scales were significantly better for the low FODMAP diet compared with the control diet.
Authors noted that some medications that reduce pain and menstrual symptoms, such as progesterone, opiates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tricyclic antidepressants, can worsen gastrointestinal symptoms.
Patients with endometriosis frequently report receiving a label of irritable bowel syndrome and are three times more likely to meet Rome criteria for IBS than the general population, the researchers said.
