A study points to diet as key to improving the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome

The study, led by researchers from the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragon) and the Aragon Agri-Food Institute (IA2, a joint UNIZAR-CITA center), opens new avenues for incorporating dietary assessment into clinical practice.

Diet could become a key tool to improve the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a digestive disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, as demonstrated by a new study led by researchers from the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragon) and the Aragon Agri-Food Institute (IA2, a joint UNIZAR-CITA center).

The study identified that people with IBS have different dietary patterns than the general population. Specifically, they tend to consume more carbohydrates and fewer dairy products, while their fruit and vegetable intake shows no significant differences.

The work, whose first author is Dr. Mónica Gros, has been coordinated by the researcher and tenured professor of Cell Biology in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology and member of the research group of “Immunity, Cancer and Anti-inflammatory Treatments” of the University of Zaragoza, Eva Latorre.

The study, titled 'Dietary intake as a tool to support diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome', is based on an analysis of 109 participants – 53 patients with IBS and 56 healthy individuals – and has been published in the international scientific journal Medicina Clínica. Its aim is to improve the identification and management of IBS through the analysis of dietary habits.

The research team has developed an index based on commonly consumed foods, such as rice, bread, yogurt, minced meat, and distilled beverages, which allows for fairly accurate differentiation between IBS patients and healthy individuals. This tool has shown a sensitivity of 85,7% and a specificity of 81,1%, indicating high potential for clinical application.

“We wanted to focus on patients’ eating habits and understand to what extent they can help us improve the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome,” explained Mónica Gros.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a complex disease, with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, or changes in bowel movements, and its diagnosis remains a challenge in many cases.

In this context, the study's results pave the way for integrating dietary assessment as part of the routine clinical process. Beyond diagnosis, the findings could also help design nutritional recommendations more tailored to each patient, thus improving their quality of life.

The authors emphasize, however, the need to continue validating this tool in larger studies before its definitive incorporation into clinical practice.

Source: health news