ABSTRACT
Environmental factors that are considered to increase the risk of developing IBD are smoking, diet, drugs, geography, and stress. The European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) published guidelines for nutrition management of IBD and overall, there is no specific diet recommended for IBD since the evidence is limited in efficacy of diet to induce or maintain remission. Nutrition education is provided to address any knowledge deficits (e.g., role of diet in IBD, foods and their portions to counteract symptoms, fluids to optimize hydration). There are three phases of the low FODMAP diet: elimination, reintroduction, and personalization. The low-FODMAP diet has been primarily utilized in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in which the studies have shown the diet to be effective in reducing functional symptoms associated with IBS. Given that symptoms are similar between IBS and IBD, there is interest in use of the low FODMAP diet in IBD.
