Credit: Seb_ra
Relief could be in sight for millions of people living with the pain and discomfort of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) thanks to a specially formulated fibre that's been created and trialled by researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU).
Scientists from ECU's Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI) found that their fibre blend, ur gut®, helped improve gut health in people with IBS without worsening their abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea or constipation.
IBS is a common gut issue worldwide which affects nearly 11 per cent of Australians, and while the cause is unknown, potential triggers could include stress, infection and medication.
The symptoms are often exacerbated by certain foods, poor sleep, psychological stress, hormonal fluctuations and lifestyle-related factors.
The results offer a new approach for people with IBS, who are often advised to manage symptoms by limiting highly fermentable foods by following a low-FODMAP diet.
For years we've known that a diet low in Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monesaccharides and Polyols (FODMAPs) can relieve symptoms, but they can also reduce beneficial gut bacteria and negatively impact fibre intake over time," lead author Dr Tina Yan said.
"We wanted to find a way to build better gut health while following a low-FODMAP diet."
Researchers believe the secret to the success of ur gut® lies in the unique fibre blend of resistant starch and psyllium husk.
The psyllium appears to delay the fermentation of resistant starch, allowing it to travel deeper into the colon before being fermented by bacteria and enhancing the production of beneficial metabolites.
"Traditionally, fermentable fibres can be difficult for people with IBS because they can increase gas production and discomfort," Dr Yan said.
"What's exciting about this study is that participants maintained stable symptoms while showing meaningful improvements in their gut microbiota as well as in their gut-related anxiety."
The researchers found significant changes in the composition of gut bacteria among participants.
"Changes of this magnitude are rarely seen with such a short intervention,"ur gut® co-creator Professor Amanda Devine said.
"The study demonstrated that our targeted dietary fibre blend positively reshaped the gut microbiome in people with IBS following a low-FODMAP diet, supporting beneficial bacteria linked to gut and mental health. This was great to see."
The team believes the findings could pave the way for new dietary approaches that help IBS patients move beyond symptom management alone.
"For many people with IBS, success has traditionally meant simply avoiding certain foods," ur gut® co-creator Associate Professor Claus Christophersen said.
"Our findings suggest we may also be able to actively rebuild gut health and the microbiome while not making IBS symptoms worse. That's an important step forward."
ur gut® is available for purchase and researchers have also compiled a helpful cookbook to assist in adding it into a healthy diet.
The study, 'Dietary fibre blend improves gut health in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following a low FODMAP diet: a randomised, double-blind control trial', was published online in the European Journal of Nutrition.
