A Low FODMAP Diet Reduces Symptoms in Treated Celiac Patients With Ongoing Symptoms-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Frida van Megen; Gry I Skodje; Simon Lergenmuller; Stephanie Zühlke; Lars Aabakken; Marit B Veierød; Christine Henriksen; Knut E A Lundin

doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.01.011

A Low FODMAP Diet Reduces Symptoms in Treated Celiac Patients With Ongoing Symptoms-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Oct;20(10):2258-2266.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.01.011. Epub 2022 Jan 17.

Authors

Frida van Megen¹, Gry I Skodje², Simon Lergenmuller³, Stephanie Zühlke⁴, Lars Aabakken⁵, Marit B Veierød³, Christine Henriksen⁶, Knut E A Lundin⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Services, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Coeliac Disease Research Centre, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: f.van.megen@medisin.uio.no.
² Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Oslo, Norway; Healthy Life Centre, Municipality of Nes, Årnes, Norway.
³ Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ K.G. Jebsen Coeliac Disease Research Centre, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Oslo, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Coeliac Disease Research Centre, Oslo, Norway.
⁷ K.G. Jebsen Coeliac Disease Research Centre, Oslo, Norway; Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 35051648
DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.01.011

Abstract

Background & aims: A gluten-free diet usually leads to mucosal remission in celiac disease, but persistent symptoms are common. A low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet is an established treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We have assessed the efficacy of a moderately low FODMAP diet on persistent symptoms in treated celiac patients.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed from 2018 to 2019 in 70 adults with biopsy-proven celiac disease. Inclusion criteria were as follows: persistent gastrointestinal symptoms defined by a Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)-IBS version score of 30 or higher, gluten-free diet adherence for 12 months or longer, and serologic and mucosal remission. Participants were randomized to a low FODMAP-gluten-free diet (intervention) or usual gluten-free diet (control). The GSRS-IBS score was recorded at baseline and at weeks 1 to 4, and the Celiac Symptom Index at baseline and at week 4. Statistics included marginal models for repeated data and analyses of covariance.

Results: We included 34 participants in the intervention group and 36 in the control group. Time development of GSRS-IBS total scores differed significantly between the groups (P_interaction < .001), evident after 1 week (mean difference in intervention vs control, -8.2; 95% CI, -11.5 to -5.0) and persisting through week 4 (mean difference in intervention vs control, -10.8; 95% CI, -14.8 to -6.8). Moreover, significantly lower scores were found for the dimensions of pain, bloating, diarrhea, and satiety (P_interaction ≤ .04), but not constipation (P_interaction = .43). FODMAP intake during the intervention was moderately low (mean, 8.1 g/d; 95% CI, 6.7-9.3 g/d). The Celiac Symptom Index was significantly lower in the intervention group at week 4 (mean difference, -5.8; 95% CI, -9.6 to -2.0).

Conclusions: A short-term moderately low FODMAP diet significantly reduced gastrointestinal symptoms and increased celiac disease-specific health, and should be considered for the management of persistent symptoms in celiac disease.

Clinicaltrials: gov: NCT03678935.

Keywords: Celiac Disease–Specific Health; Gastrointestinal; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Low FODMAP Diet; Persistent Symptoms.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Celiac Disease*
Diet
Diet, Gluten-Free
Disaccharides / adverse effects
Fermentation
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome* / diagnosis
Monosaccharides / adverse effects

Substances

Disaccharides
Monosaccharides

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03678935