Nutrients. 2022 Apr 19;14(9):1688. doi: 10.3390/nu14091688.

Bodil Roth ^1 2, Julia Myllyvainio ², Mauro D'Amato ^3 4 5, Ewa Larsson ², Bodil Ohlsson ^1 2

Author information

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden.

²Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden.

³Gastrointestinal Genetics Lab, CIC bioGUNE-BRTA, 48160 Derio, Spain.

⁴Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.

⁵Department of Medicine and Surgery, LUM University, 70010 Casamassima, Italy.

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms. Overweight and increased risk of metabolic syndromes/diabetes are observed in IBS, conditions associated with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and visfatin. The aim of this study was to measure blood levels of AXIN1, cholecystokinin (CCK), enkephalin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), PAI-1, and visfatin before and after a 4-week intervention with a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet (SSRD). A total of 105 IBS patients were randomized to either SSRD (n = 80) or ordinary diet (n = 25). Questionnaires were completed, and blood was analyzed for AXIN1 and hormones. AXIN1 (p = 0.001) and active ghrelin levels (p = 0.025) were lower in IBS than in healthy volunteers at baseline, whereas CCK and enkephalin levels were higher (p < 0.001). In the intervention group, total IBS-symptom severity score (IBS-SSS), specific gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological well-being, and the influence of intestinal symptoms on daily life were improved during the study, and weight decreased (p < 0.001 for all), whereas only constipation (p = 0.045) and bloating (p = 0.001) were improved in the control group. PAI-1 levels tended to be decreased in the intervention group (p = 0.066), with a difference in the decrease between groups (p = 0.022). Visfatin levels were decreased in the intervention group (p = 0.007). There were few correlations between hormonal levels and symptoms. Thus, this diet not only improves IBS symptoms but also seems to have a general health-promoting effect.