What Foods are Triggering Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Research appearing in Annals of Allergy (June 1985; 54:538–540) looked at 24 subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Half of the patients were described as having allergies or a tendency toward sudden allergic reactions. Yeasts (Candida albicans or Geotrichum candidum) were found in stool samples from 11 of the subjects.

All participants were placed on a hypoallergenic diet, avoiding common allergens such as gluten and dairy. Permitted foods included fish, rice, apricots, and mineral water. Since gluten was excluded, bread was prepared using corn or soybeans. New foods were gradually reintroduced into the diet over time.

In seven patients, specific foods were found to trigger IBS symptoms. In seven others, dietary changes had no effect. An additional three subjects experienced improvement on the hypoallergenic diet but did not have a recurrence of symptoms when foods were reintroduced.

By the end of the study, 10 patients were completely free of IBS symptoms. The authors concluded that investigating hidden food sensitivities in patients with IBS—particularly those with a tendency toward allergies—may be worthwhile.