The study, published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, compared the efficacy of a personalized diet (PD) provided by UK based biotechnology company Enbiosis to that of a low FODMAP diet (LFD), on different sub-types of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with "exciting" results, according to the firm.
The PD provided by Enbiosis was based on the analysis of trillions of gut bacteria to provide personalized food and supplement advice.
This diet showed a substantial effect in improving symptom severity scores (SSS) and quality of life (QOL) scores across various subtypes of IBS but most notably showed substantial effect in alleviating symptoms in in the IBS-D (diarrhea) subtype.
While the PD intervention led to significant improvements for all subtypes, the LFD intervention showed significant improvements only for the IBS-C and IBS-D subtypes.
Beyza Hilal Ermiş, R&D nutrition specialist at Enbiosis Biotechnology, said the significant improvements in the PD group included: IBS severity and quality of life scores, anxiety and depression levels, microbiome diversity, and increased levels of beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (notable for its anti-inflammatory and gut health properties).
"The results were truly remarkable and exceeded our expectations," she told NutraIngredients.
As well as symptom and QOL benefits, the study observed positive influences of the PD intervention on gut microbiome profiles, including increased alpha and beta diversities and the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii.
Conversely, the LFD intervention did not exhibit similar positive effects on gut microbiome parameters, especially in means of alpha diversity.
"These observations suggest that the PD intervention may have a broader impact on gut health, potentially contributing to its effectiveness in improving symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients," the paper stated.
Conducted and authored by researchers in Turkey, including two Enbiosis scientists, this was the first randomized controlled trial to assess a microbiome based personalized diet with an active comparator.
Study details
The study recruited 121 patients and assigned 70 to the PD group and 51 to the LFD group. IBS subtypes, demographics, symptom severity (IBS-SSS), anxiety, depression and quality of life (IBS-QOL) were evaluated. Both interventions spanned six weeks. The trial's primary outcome was the within-individual difference in IBS-SSS compared between intervention groups.
For the primary outcome, there was a change in IBS-SSS of -112.7 for those in the PD group vs -99.9 for those in the LFD group (p: 0.29).
Significant improvement occurred in IBS-SSS scores, frequency, abdominal distension and life interference in both groups. Additionally, there were significant improvements in anxiety levels and IBS-QOL scores for both groups.
Importantly, PD was effective in reducing IBS SSS scores across all IBS subtypes IBS-C, IBS-D and IBS-M subtypes, while LFD exhibited comparable improvements in IBS-C and IBS-M.
PD intervention significantly improved IBS-QOL scores for all subtypes, while the LFD did so for the IBS-C and IBS-D.
Notably, PD intervention led to significant microbiome diversity shifts and taxa alterations compared to LFD.
The authors noted that by prioritizing microbiome diversity and health, they aimed to provide a more comprehensive and targeted therapeutic strategy for individuals with IBS, potentially yielding long-term benefits beyond symptom relief
"This research highlights a significant milestone in IBS management," the firm noted. "Tailored dietary approaches, such as that provided by Enbiosis, offer a comprehensive strategy for improving the long-term health of patients with IBS. Extending beyond symptom relief, AI-powered personalized nutrition offers a means of optimizing microbial gut communities and improving overall health outcomes. Ultimately, personalized nutrition powered by AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach IBS care.”
Source: The American Journal of Gastroenterology
doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002862
"A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Of Microbiome-Based Artifıcial Intelligence-Assisted Personalized Diet Vs Low Fodmap Diet: A Novel Approach for the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome"
Authors: Tunali. V., et al