Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) causes patients to experience a group of symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal bloating, etc.) which decrease their quality of life. Until recently, there has not been a standard treatment for those with IBS. The low-FODMAP (fermentable, oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide and polyols) is showing promising results in alleviating symptoms of IBS. The low-FODMAP diet eliminates fermentable short-chain carbohydrates from the diet. These short-chain carbohydrates are not well absorbed in the small intestine causing increased intestinal osmolality and cause gas production due to rapid fermentation and osmotic action. Decreasing foods high in FODMAPs leads to a reduction in gas production and luminal distention, both of which help to eliminate gastro-intestinal (GI) symptoms. The systematic review, written by Schumann et. al., found evidence that a low-FODMAP diet does help to eliminate IBS symptoms in many patients, thus, improving their quality of life. This diet continues to become more popular for treating IBS and is showing promising results. Further research needs to be conducted to determine long-term outcomes and safety of a low-FODMAP diet.  This diet eliminates several foods that are part of a healthy, balanced diet and care must be taken to ensure patients are meeting their macro- and micro-nutrient needs while following this eating plan.   

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