RENO, NEV.—The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome could benefit from a more holistic approach including comprehensive dietary changes, nutritional supplements, exercise and relaxation therapy, and acupuncture, Dr. Joel S. Edman said at the annual meeting of the American College of Nutrition.
Conventional treatments for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) center on patient education, avoiding common food triggers, and increasing fiber intake, said Dr. Edman, a clinical nutritionist at the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Edman has received grant support from Integrative Therapeutics Inc., a nutritional supplement manufacturer.
Instead, an integrative approach to treating IBS should involve some of the same dietary changes but also should include an elimination diet or rotation diet, and more use of nutritional supplements. It also may include exercise, massage, acupuncture, and stress management techniques.
Dr. Erdman favors a food intolerance or elimination challenge diet. This diet first calls for avoiding sugar, dairy, wheat, alcohol, and caffeine for 1–2 weeks and adding a new food every 2–3 days. Most IBS patients will improve on this diet, he said. For patients who have longstanding IBS and already may have tried dietary approaches, the next foods to avoid include soy, peanuts, corn, citrus, and other gluten grains.
Other tips include not overeating, and eating smaller and more frequent meals. He also suggested eating cooked rather than raw vegetables.
Timing also is important. Patients shouldn't begin an elimination challenge diet until they start taking nutritional supplements and begin relaxation techniques, since the diet often is an added source of stress, he said.