Comparative Efficacy of Low FODMAP Plus Traditional Dietary Advice, Low-Carbohydrate Diet, and Pharmacological Treatment in Moderate-to-Severe IBS: Insights from the CARIBS Trial

Highlight

– Two distinct 4-week dietary interventions (low FODMAP plus traditional advice and low-carbohydrate diet) significantly reduced IBS symptom severity more than optimized pharmacological treatment.
– Large randomized controlled trial (n=294) with blinded dietary arms and symptom-based medical treatment.
– High completion rates and low adverse event-related discontinuations across all groups support tolerability.
– The study supports dietary interventions as viable first-line treatment options for moderate-to-severe IBS.

Study Background and Disease Burden