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Project

Understanding the mechanism and optimizing the outcome of dietary therapy in Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, defined according to the Rome IV criteria. IBS is characterized by symptoms of recurrent abdominal pain associated with an altered defecation pattern such as pain related to defecation, change in the frequency of stool and/or change in the form of stool. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are still only partially understood. The majority of patients report that their symptoms are food-related. Previous studies have shown that restriction of fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) improves symptoms in patients with IBS, with a highly personalized pattern of reactivity to individual FODMAPS. Moreover, besides the carbohydrates in the FODMAP diet, ongoing research demonstrated that specific proteins are able to trigger acute microscopic changes in the duodenum after exposure to specific foods, possibly due to a local immune response against food antigens, mediated by increased mucosal permeability. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying the food-related symptom exacerbation in IBS patients, with the goal of optimising nutritional interventions.

Date:13 Sep 2022 →  Today
Keywords:Nutrition, Functional gastrointestinal disorder
Disciplines:Gastro-enterology
Project type:PhD project