Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40765115›Full record

SynthesisJournal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association2025

Effects of a Low FODMAP Diet in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Patient Experiences: A Mixed Methods Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aubane Ville, Rebecca McRae, Jiayen Nomchong, Dianne P Reidlinger, Alexandra R Davidson, Heidi M Staudacher, Loai Albarqouni

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
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  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Aubane VilleFaculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7701-3309
Rebecca McRaeFaculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
Jiayen NomchongFaculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
Dianne P ReidlingerFaculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9993-8239
Alexandra R DavidsonFaculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
Heidi M StaudacherFood & Mood Centre, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Loai AlbarqouniFaculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.

Funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionA low FODMAP diet reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but its impact on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is less established. This systematic review aimed to: (1) assess the effect of a low FODMAP diet in IBD and (2) understand patient experiences when implementing the low FODMAP diet.

methodsFour databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL and CENTRAL) were systematically searched. RCTs evaluating a low FODMAP diet in IBD on disease activity, inflammatory markers, gastrointestinal symptoms, and quality of life (QoL), and qualitative studies reporting patient experiences of low FODMAP interventions (in either IBS or IBD), were included. Outcome data were meta-analysed as standardised mean differences or odds ratios. Qualitative data underwent content analysis using the Health Belief Model.

resultsFive RCTs (n = 224) and two qualitative studies (n = 30 IBS patients, no studies in IBD) were included. Compared with controls, there was no effect of a low FODMAP diet on disease activity (Crohn's disease: SMD -0.33; -0.77, 0.11; ulcerative colitis: SMD -0.31; -0.78, 0.15) or faecal calprotectin (SMD -0.20; -0.49, 0.09), but lower severity of global IBS symptoms (SMD -0.56; -0.90, 0.23) and higher QoL scores (SMD 0.43; 0.05, 0.81) at end of intervention. Patients with IBS described implementation as burdensome (Severity, Barriers), inadequate professional support (Susceptibility) and found it difficult to interpret information (Susceptibility, Barriers). Meal plans and recipes (Cue to action and Self-efficacy) gained through dietitian-led information sessions were valued (Benefits).

conclusionsA low FODMAP diet does not impact IBD disease activity and inflammation markers, but leads to improved gastrointestinal symptoms compared with controls. The diet should be considered for improving functional gastrointestinal symptoms, but not an IBD treatment. There are minimal studies about patient experiences implementing the low FODMAP diet, all in IBS. Future research should assess patient experiences of low FODMAP diet implementation, specific to IBD. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023480762, Open Science Framework.

Indexed as

Diet, Carbohydrate-RestrictedInflammatory Bowel DiseasesFODMAP DietHumansIrritable Bowel SyndromeQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicCrohn's diseaseFODMAPinflammatory bowel diseaseirritable bowel syndromequalitativeRCTulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID40765115
PMCPMC12326053

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.