title: Effect of a low-flatulogenic diet in patients with flatulence and functional digestive symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diets rich in fermentable residues increase intestinal gas production. Our aim was to demonstrate the potential effects of diet on gas-related symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of a low-flatulogenic test diet (restricted to foodstuffs low in fermentable residues; n = 15) was compared to that of a balanced control diet (Mediterranean type; n = 15) in 30 patients complaining of flatulence and other abdominal symptoms using a randomized parallel design. The following outcomes were measured daily: number of anal gas evacuations by an event marker, severity of gas-related symptoms by 0-10 scales, and sensation of digestive comfort by a -5 (unpleasant) to +5 (pleasant) scale. Measurements were taken pretreatment for 3 days on their habitual diet and for 7 days during the treatment phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No pretreatment differences were detected between patients allocated to the control or test diets. The test diet significantly reduced the number of gas evacuations (by 54 ± 10%; p = 0.002 vs basal diet) whereas the control diet had a lesser effect (reduction by 28 ± 9%; p = 0.059 vs basal diet; p = 0.089 vs test diet). Compared to the control diet, the test diet significantly reduced flatulence (by 48 ± 7% vs 27 ± 8%, respectively; p = 0.018), abdominal distension (by 48 ± 4% vs 22 ± 12%, respectively; p = 0.038), and enhanced digestive well-being (by 149 ± 18% vs 58 ± 22%, respectively; p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with gas-related symptoms, a low-flatulogenic diet produces immediate beneficial effects with digestive, cognitive, and emotive dimensions. The number of gas evacuations is an objective biological marker of response to dietary treatment.
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azpiroz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guyonnet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accarino
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: J-R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Malagelada
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guarner
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: clinical intestinal disorders; colonic motility and disorders; functional disorders