Mediterranean Diet May Ease IBS Symptoms: Study

New Delhi – A new study by researchers in the US has found that the Mediterranean diet may help relieve symptoms in people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

IBS affects an estimated 4 to 11 percent of the global population, with many patients opting for dietary solutions over medications. One commonly recommended approach is the low FODMAP diet, which has shown symptom improvement in more than half of patients. However, it is known to be highly restrictive and difficult to maintain.

Previous research by Michigan Medicine introduced a simplified version of this, called “FODMAP Simple,” targeting only the most symptom-triggering food groups. In their latest study, published in the journal Neurogastroenterology & Motility, researchers compared the Mediterranean diet to the low FODMAP diet in a randomized trial.

The results showed that 73% of participants following the Mediterranean diet experienced symptom improvement, compared to 81.8% in the low FODMAP group.

“Restrictive diets like the low FODMAP can be hard for patients to stick to,” said Dr. Prashant Singh, lead author and gastroenterologist at Michigan Medicine. “They can be expensive, time-consuming, and raise concerns about nutritional deficiencies and disordered eating. The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, is not an elimination diet and avoids many of these challenges.”

Well-known for its benefits to heart, brain, and overall health, the Mediterranean diet had previously shown mixed results in IBS treatment. However, this study confirms it can offer noticeable relief — even if slightly less than the more restrictive low FODMAP diet — especially in terms of reducing abdominal pain and overall symptom severity.

“This adds to the growing evidence that the Mediterranean diet could be a valuable, evidence-based dietary option for managing IBS,” said Dr. William Chey, Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of Michigan.

With inputs from IANS