Gut Microbiome Biomarkers are Associated with Clinical Response to a Low FODMAP Diet in Children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. human gut metagenome

Gastrointestinal symptoms of those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be related to food intolerance to a group of carbohydrates known as fermentable oligosaccharides disaccharides monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP). FODMAP malaborption and subsequent fermentation by the gut microbiome is believed to be a mechanism of action. We undertook a double-blind randomized cross-over trial to determine the efficacy of a low FODMAP diet in children with IBS. To address the potential role of the microbiome we examined the gut (stool) microbiome of children with IBS at baseline (prior to any intervention) of Responders (>50% decrease in abdominal pain frequency specific to the low FODMAP diet) vs. Non-responders (no robust response to any dietary intervention). Per Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size analysis Responders were enriched in OTUs with high saccharolytic capacity.