Digestive Disease week 2014

Happy Monday! I am back from a mini tour of FODMAP educating! I did a FODMAP dietitian workshop in New Jersey and Phili on Friday and Saturday.  I love working with dietitians and teaching the FODMAP diet! Here I am with Patsy Catsos, my co-presenter!This week in Chicago gastroenterologists and health care professionals are meeting to discuss recent news and research in the area of GI health.  If you are interested in following this info, follow the #DDW14 on twitter.   I know some of you are not keen on getting on twitter but I promise you can learn quite a bit on twitter. 🙂

I am not at this meeting…but I sure wish I was!

Here are a few items that I wanted to share with you!

Peter Gibson, MD one of the key FODMAP researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia provided some key FODMAP news:

The more current research is looking at individual FODMAPs and their effect on the intestine versus looking at FODMAPs collectively.  Individual FODMAPs have different effects in the intestine–some tend to be more gas producing (fructans/ GOS) while others tend to draw water into the intestine (fructose and lactose).  This may, at some point, alter the way we prescribe the low FODMAP diet.

Dr. Gibson mentioned that FODMAPs are like McDonalds (fast food) for our gut bacteria. I love this analogy!

FODMAPs can contribute to GERD and fatigue!

One of the presenters, Dr. Levy–tells the attendees at DDW that there are over 20,000 other proteins other than gluten in wheat. Wow! Who knew? There is much to learn about our beloved –over used in the American diet–grain, wheat!

The first study in children looking at the low FODMAP diet was discussed at DDW too!! We knew it worked, right? But it is so important to know that the research supports what we apply in practice:

• In a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial of 55 children, those who followed a low FODMAP  diet decreased abdominal pain frequency 20%-30%, lead investigator of this study is Dr. Bruno Chumpitazi of Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston.
• 20% of school-age children and adolescents have IBS, and the low FODMAP diet should be a first-line therapy for those children.   Learn more here!

Other interesting news!  People with IBS have an altered balance of bacteria in their mouth! The thought is that the whole gut not just the intestine may be altered or imbalanced in individuals with IBS. Interesting! Learn more here!

Well, I am busy prepping for talks that I will be doing next week at University of Michigan and in NYC for a group of dietitians! Busy…but love spreading the word about FODMAPs.

Enjoy the week!