Habitual Intake of Macronutrients and Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharides and Polyols is Not Associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like Symptoms in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Purpose: Almost a third of patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from symptoms compatible with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-like symptoms). The relation between these symptoms and diet in patients with IBD is not fully established. We aimed to assess associations between IBS-like symptoms and intake of macronutrients and fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) in patients with inactive IBD compared to an IBD-free background population.

Methods: Patients with IBD at one-year follow-up from the IBSEN III (Inflammatory bowel disease in South-Eastern Norway) study were compared to an IBD-free Norwegian background population (Tromsø7). A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect dietary data including FODMAP intake, which was compiled as gram/100 g of food and assessed in patients with active versus inactive IBD. Rome IV criteria were applied to define IBS-like symptoms in patients with inactive IBD.

Results: A sample of 154 patients ≥40 years with inactive IBD was compared to 11078 adults from the IBD-free background population (Tromsø7). There were no significant associations between IBS-like symptoms and FODMAP and macronutrient intake, neither in patients with inactive IBD nor in the IBD-free background population. Patients with IBD ≥40 years had higher intake of fructans and total FODMAPs compared to the Tromsø7 sample. Intake of nutrients and FODMAPs was similar in patients with active IBD (n = 105), inactive IBD with IBS-like symptoms (n = 55), and without IBS-like symptoms (n = 197).

Conclusion: FODMAP and macronutrient intake were not associated with IBS-like symptoms in patients with inactive IBD one-year after diagnosis.