Effect of healthy eating before intervention with a low FODMAP diet in pediatric patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Introduction: Background: a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) may be effective in the treatment of pediatric patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Its complexity and side effects make it a secondary therapeutic alternative. Objective: to demonstrate that nutritional education, aimed at optimizing the diet of children with IBS, is able to improve gastrointestinal symptoms of children without following a diet low in FODMAP. Methods: prospective intervention study. Changes in gastrointestinal symptoms were analyzed by means of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Gastrointestinal Symptoms (PedsQL™ GI Symptoms), after receiving nutritional education based on a healthy diet. Likewise, anthropometric changes and dietary habits were analyzed. Results: twenty-one patients were included (12 girls) with a mean age of 10.6 years (5-14 years). A diet with excess intake of simple sugars, saturated fats and salt along with fiber deficit was observed. After the intervention, an increase in 8.07 points was observed in the inventory (95% CI: 13.42 a -2.73, p = 0.005). Additionally, significant weight loss was observed in overweight and obese patients (decrease in body mass index [BMI]; Z-score 0.62 SD, p = 0.001). Significant changes in dietary habits were observed: increased consumption of complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and reduction of simple sugars. Conclusions: healthy eating is effective to improve gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric patients with IBS, without requiring the exclusion of FODMAP.