Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312485
Title: Gut microbiota influences low fermentable substrate diet efficacy in children with irritable bowel syndrome

Author
item CHUMPITAZI, BRUNO - Baylor College Of Medicine
item HOLLISTER, EMILY - Baylor College Of Medicine
item QEZGUEN, NUMAN - Baylor College Of Medicine
item TSAI, CYNTHIA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item MCMEANS, ANN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item LUNA, RUTH - Texas Children'S Hospital
item SAVIDGE, TOR - Texas Children'S Hospital
item VERSALOVIC, JAMES - Texas Children'S Hospital
item SHULMAN, ROBERT - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Gut Microbes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2014
Publication Date: 1/27/2014
Citation: Chumpitazi, B.P., Hollister, E.B., Qezguen, N., Tsai, C.M., Mcmeans, A.R., Luna, R.A., Savidge, T.C., Versalovic, J., Shulman, R.J. 2014. Gut microbiota influences low fermentable substrate diet efficacy in children with irritable bowel syndrome. Gut Microbes. 5(2):1-11.

Interpretive Summary: Childhood irritable bowel syndrome is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder impacting 19% of school aged children. Bacteria in our intestine can influence our health by altering our ability to digest nutrients and regulating the immune system. In this study, we showed that the type of bacteria in the intestines affects the response to a change in diet in children with gastrointestinal problems related to irritable bowel syndrome. Knowledge gained from this study will aid peditricians in addressing this concern in children.

Technical Abstract: We sought to determine whether a low fermentable substrate diet (LFSD) decreases abdominal pain frequency in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to identify potential microbial factors related to diet efficacy. Pain symptoms, stooling characteristics, breath hydrogen and methane, whole intestinal transit time, stool microbiome, and metabolite composition were collected and/or documented in eight children with IBS at baseline and during one week of an LFSD intervention. Pain frequency (P<0.05), pain severity (P<0.05), and pain-related interference with activities (P<0.05) decreased in the subjects while on the LFSD. Responders vs. non-responders: four children (50%) were identified as responders (> 50% decrease in abdominal pain frequency while on the LFSD). There were no differences between responders and non-responders with respect to hydrogen production, methane production, stooling characteristics, or gut transit time. Responders were characterized by increased pre-LFSD abundance of bacterial taxa belonging to the genera Sporobacter (P<0.05) and Subdoligranulum (P<0.02) and decreased abundance of taxa belonging to Bacteroides (P<0.05) relative to non-responders. In parallel, stool metabolites differed between responders and non-responders and were associated with differences in microbiome composition. These pilot study results suggest that an LFSD may be effective in decreasing GI symptoms in children with IBS. Microbial factors such as gut microbiome composition and stool metabolites while on the diet may relate to LFSD efficacy.