This is a GWAS that aims to identify possible single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with the response in a combined dietary pattern low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols and Meditteranean diet (MED-LFD) in a small group of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common chronic gastrointestinal disorder. Several factors seem to contribute to its development, such as psychological stress, intestinal dysbiosis, infections, post-traumatic syndrome and genetic predisposition. Regarding the nutritional management of IBS, there are several approaches to alleviate symptoms, such as the low-fructose diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and FODMAP polyols (LFD), recommendations from the British Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the recently proposed combination of the Mediterranean diet and LFD (MED-LFD) proposed by our Research Group. However, genetic background expressed in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) appears to influence the response to even dietary interventions. The aim of this GWAS is to identify SNPs that are associated with the negative or positive response to the diet. At the baseline, blood samples will be collected for DNA extraction. Genotyping will be based on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology to detect genetic factors associated with the effectiveness of the intervention. Symptom severity will be measured by the IBS-SSS scale. Mental health status will be assessed with the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) questionnaire. Patients will be recruited by the Department of Clinical Nutrition, Attikon University General Hospital, where the nutritional intervention will be carried out.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
In the beginning of the intervention, blood and stool samples will be collected. All participants of the group at phase 1 (elimination phase), will initially follow the Med- LFD (2-6 weeks). At phase 2 (reintroduction phase), patients will gradually reintroduce foods rich in FODMAPs (6-8 weeks) and test their tolerance. At phase 3 (maintenance phase), following the reintroduction of foods rich in FODMAPs, patients will follow an individualized diet based on their personal tolerance (a combination of high and low FODMAPs). In the end of intervention, stool samples will be collected again.
Attikon General University Hospital of Athens
Athens, Greece
RECRUITINGFind single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that associate with the diet respone
Blood samples will be collected for DNA extraction. Genotyping be based on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Quality control (QC) filtering will be applied at individual-and variant-level using specialized software.
Time frame: Baseline
Change of symptoms severity pre and post intervention using a specialized questionnaire.
IBS- SSS contains 5 specific questions with instructions on how to score them. Each of the five questions (pain severity, pain frequency, abdominal distension severity, bowel movement satisfaction, quality of life) ranges from 0 to a maximum score of 100 using a visual analog scale (VAS) with total scores ranging from 0 to 500, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. Subjects can be categorized as having mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (\>300) IBS. A decrease of 50 points is associated with a clinically meaningful improvement.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion (an average of 1 year)
Evaluation of the effect of interventions on gut microbiota composition between groups.
Fecal samples will be collected from each participant and stored at -80°C.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion (an average of 1 year)
Assessment of general quality of life pre and post intervention between groups
12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) is a 12-item questionnaire used to assess generic health outcomes from the patient's perspective, covering the eight domains of health outcomes: physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional \& mental health. The items are weighted and summed to provide physical and mental health scores (PCS and MCS). The two composite scores are computed using the scores on the questions that range from 0 to 100, with higher score indicating better health.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion (an average of 1 year)
Assessment of symptoms burden in general pre and post intervention.
The GSRS questionnaire was originally developed for dyspeptic patients but was later validated in patients with IBS. The GSRS is a 15-item questionnaire designed to assess common gastrointestinal symptoms. The questionnaire has five subscales, reflux, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain, with subscale scores ranging from 1 (no discomfort) to 7 (severe discomfort). Higher scores represent higher symptom burden.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion (an average of 1 year)
Assessment of anxiety and depression disorders pre and post intervention.
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire is used for the assessment of anxiety and depression symptoms. It's a 14-item scale with seven items for each subscale, anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D). Each item is scored on a response scale with four alternatives, ranging between 0 and 3. The total score is the sum of the 14 items, and for each subscale the score is the sum of the respective seven items (ranging from 0-21). A final score of 0-7 on each scale indicates that the patient has no symptoms, a score of 8-10 indicates mild symptoms while a score ≥11 indicates severe symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion (an average of 1 year)
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