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VIDEO: Data Highlights Diet, Nutrition Impact on GI Disorders
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PHILADELPHIA — In this exclusive video from the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting, William Chey, MD, FACG, discusses a pair of studies he and his team conducted on the impact of diet and nutrition on gastrointestinal disorders.
The first was a study on the efficacy of the low-FODMAP diet in patients with fecal incontinence.
“We know the low-FODMAP diet improves a variety of different symptoms particularly in IBS patients, including abdominal pain and also diarrhea,” Chey told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. “With that as a rationale, we conducted a retrospective chart review to evaluate the efficacy of a low-FODMAP diet in patients with fecal incontinence.”
Chey said they found that the diet was a useful tool in patients with fecal incontinence. However, future prospective studies are needed.
The second study explored avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), a recently defined eating disorder where individuals over-restrict their diet due to fears that the food will cause them physical harm. Their research found that nearly 20% of screened patients tested positive for ARFID risk.
Chey said physicians need to think about ARFID when recommending diets that restrict food intake.
“We’re doing some additional research to really understand the implications of this and to think about how to best treat these patients,” he said. “But I think one thing is clear. Patients that have clear, or even suggestive, evidence of ARFID probably shouldn’t be referred for highly restrictive diets.”
References:
Menees SB, et al. Abstract 9. Presented at: American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 5-10, 2018; Philadelphia.
Harer K, et al. Abstract 72. Presented at: American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 5-10, 2018; Philadelphia.
Disclosure: Chey reports financial ties to Allergan, Biomedica, Conti, IM Health, Ironwood, QOL Medical, Nestle, Ritter, Salix, Shire, True Self Foods, Volcant, Zespori and MyGiHealth.