Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The effect of FODMAPs and meditation on pain management

Introduction: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. IBS can significantly impact quality of life for patients. Similarity in symptoms can be attributed to other diseases, and the varied symptomatic manifestation among patients can cause physicians to have difficulty in providing a differential diagnosis, prolonging suffering. The heterogeneity of the disorder often forces physicians and patients to primarily focus on symptomatic management with pharmaceuticals, which can eventually lead to patient dissatisfaction due to the undesirable side effects sans quality of life improvement. Methods: We used articles found in PubMed, National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide a review of literature that focuses on two alternative approaches to symptom management, meditation and diet. Evidence suggests these alternative approaches to pain management can be integrated with conventional therapy to attenuate pain in IBS by inhibiting transient receptor potential channels. Results: Within the last century, low FODMAP diets, along with relaxation through meditation, are areas that have received increased attention among medical professionals. Evidence suggests that dietary interventions, along with discovery and understanding of transient receptor potentials, have provided new insight into the mechanisms of action that are attributed to nociception in IBS. Conclusion: In this opinion paper, we offer information on evidence-based complementary therapies that have been reported to improve patient satisfaction in the management of pain related to IBS. It would behoove physicians and patients to utilize an integrative approach that includes conventional and proven alternative therapies for IBS treatment.