Irritable Bowel Syndrome is widely prevalent in South Africa, yet there is no cure. Dietitians can help patients improve their overall gut symptoms through easy and practical dietary and fibre modifications. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is complex and is usually presented with one or more of the following: visceral hypersensitivity, dysregulated gut-brain axis, altered gut motility or a dysfunctional gut microbiome.
By understanding the root cause of gut symptoms, we are able to effectively treat patients initially by using first-line treatment strategies, which include diet choice, fibre manipulation, eating habits and microbiome management. I have seen a lot of improvement in patients who keep consistent with dietary and lifestyle strategies discussed in the first line treatment. Once we have exhausted all first line strategies, we can embark on implementing the second line treatment, which is having a look at FODMAPs (Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols).
Our guts are central to our entire body’s health and there is substantial research supporting a healthy gut microbiome with lowering diseases of the lifestyle such as type two diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, as well as overall immune functions. Furthermore, there is a direct link between the gut and the brain called the gut-brain axis which helps us understand how closely mental health is related to gut health.