Digitally Delivered Dietary Treament for Adult Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Digitally Delivered Dietary Treament for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Two carbohydrate reduced diets, the low FODMAP diet (LFD) and low-carbohydrate diet (LCD), have in randomized controlled studies shown efficacy in relieving symptoms in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), but access to trained dieticians is limited. Digital delivery may offer a convenient, cost-effective and scalable solution. This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of digitally delivered evidence-based dietary treatments in relieving gastrointestinal, psychological and somatic symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with IBS.

Adults with IBS will be recruited via social media and clinical referrals and will receive their choice of the two dietary treatments: LFD with traditional IBS dietary advice or LCD. Participants will get access to the digital platform which contains information about the study, IBS pathophysiology, the treatment diet along with recipes and a mobile application for food scanning. Participants will complete digital questionnaires at baseline and week four to evaluate changes in gastrointestinal symptoms (IBS-SSS), somatic and psychological symptoms (PHQ-15, HADS, VSI) and quality of life (IBS-QoL). Feasibility and adherence is assessed with an evaluation questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with IBS (Rome IV) by physician
• Age 18-64
• Ability to read and understand Swedish
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Received dietary treatmen for IBS previously
• Manifestations of other conditions that may explain gastrointestinal symptoms
• Manifestation of other serious medical conditions
• Patients with ongoing eating disorders
• Pregnant/lactating women