Diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: indications and design.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in diet low in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) as an important mainstay in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This model of diet was developed by a multidisciplinary team from the Monash University in Melbourne and became well-known after the publication of a study in 2008 showing that dietary FODMAPs acted as causing factors in patients with IBS. Since then there have been several randomized controlled trials which, although with small sample sizes, have again shown the benefits of this dietary pattern.