Is Personalized Dietary Therapy Effective for Individuals With Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Abstract

Introduction: Adverse reactions to foods and food additives have a critical role in clinical manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Personalized dietary modifications conducted under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner could considerably impact the clinical care and course of the condition. Objective: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of the Lifestyle Eating and Performance (LEAP) program based on the Leukocyte Activation Assay-MRT (LAA-MRT®) results in improving IBS symptoms and quality of life. Methods: The retrospective study included de-identified client records (n = 146) from private group practices seen by registered dietitians. The eligibility criteria were adults aged > 18 years old with an established diagnosis of IBS. Results: Participants were 46.7 ± 12.6 years old and had a BMI of 26.7 ± 6.1 kg/m2; the majority were female (87.0%) and followed-up by a registered dietitian for 10.1 ± 6.4 weeks. There was a significant reduction post-dietary intervention in overall Global Gastrointestinal Symptom Survey Scores (P < 0.001) and improvement in quality of life (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study generates real-world evidence of an alternative treatment option for IBS using a personalized dietary approach. A more precise understanding of the effect of food intake reactions is vital for clinical improvements and enhancing health outcomes in IBS.