Author information

1 Department of Internal Medicine, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, 2421 Cylburn Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA.

2 Gastroenterology Department, University of Rochester Medical Center, 101 Portsmouth Terrace, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.

3 The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Welch Medical Library, 2024 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

4 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street CARN 464B, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: gmullin1@jhmi.edu.

Abstract Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a multifaceted illness involving maladaptive shifts in the gut microbiota that affect the enteric nervous and immune systems, mucosal barrier function, the balance of neurotransmitters and hormones, and emotional well-being. There is abundant evidence indicating that certain foods elicit symptoms in IBS. Numerous elimination-type diets have been shown to alleviate symptoms. However, among these, the most controversial is a group of foods called fructo, oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs). This paper reviews the role of diet and systematically analyze the literature for the role of FODMAPs in IBS.