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The Ketogenic Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
The impact of a ketogenic diet on the microbiota
We know that there is a link between irritable bowel syndrome and an imbalance with the microbiota. That’s why it’s important to pamper these little gut bacteria. To promote the growth of good bacteria, you must consume prebiotics which are a type of dietary fiber particularly found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds. In this way, you can see that the keto diet, which excludes the vast majority of these foods, can cause more damage than good to the intestinal microbiota. Studies have shown that people who followed a keto diet for 6 months have a reduced diversity in their microbiota.
In light of this information, if you have an irritable bowel, opt instead for a low FODMAP diet which only removes the foods which can cause the digestive problems associated with this syndrome and does so for a limited period of time.
Remember that it is important to eat a varied diet and it is not necessary to impose more restrictions on yourself than your health requires.
Since we are all different, I advise you to draw up with your doctor and/or dietitian a personalized treatment plan (diet, lifestyle, medication) that is tailored to work the best for you.
References
- Monash University (2012). Monash University FODMAP diet [Application mobile]. Repéré à http://itunes.apple.com
- Varney, J., Yao, C. (15 août 2017). The role of dietary fat in IBS symptoms. Tiré de : https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog/does-fat-play-role-in-management-of-ibs/
- Extenso (2019) Favoriser votre régularité. https://extenso.org/article/favorisez-votre-regularite/
- Simrén, M., Abrahamsson, H., & Björnsson, E. S. (2007). Lipid-induced colonic hypersensitivity in the irritable bowel syndrome: the role of bowel habit, sex, and psychologic factors. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 5(2), 201-208.
- Wan, Y., Wang, F., Yuan, J., Li, J., Jiang, D., Zhang, J., … & Zheng, J. (2019). Effects of dietary fat on gut microbiota and faecal metabolites, and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors: a 6-month randomised controlled-feeding trial. Gut, gutjnl-2018.
- Reddel, S., Putignani, L., & Del Chierico, F. (2019). The impact of low-FODMAPs, gluten-free, and ketogenic diets on gut microbiota modulation in pathological conditions. Nutrients, 11(2), 373.
- Murphy, E. A., Velazquez, K. T., & Herbert, K. M. (2015). Influence of high-fat-diet on gut microbiota: A driving force for chronic disease risk. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care, 18(5), 515.
Author
Jennifer is a Registered Dietitian graduated from the University of Montreal in December 2018 and is a member of the Ordre professionnel des diététistes du Québec (OPDQ). She believes that the quality of our food choices has a direct impact on our health and energy level. Her goal? To help people improve the quality of what they put in their plates, for their better well-being and greater pleasure.
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