A recent study has uncovered a link between genetic variations and the effectiveness of dietary interventions for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The research, conducted by the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB) at Kiel University (CAU) and the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel Campus, investigated the role of human carbohydrate-active enzymes (hCAZymes) in relation to IBS. The findings suggest that individuals with defective variants in hCAZyme genes are more likely to benefit from a carbohydrate-reduced diet, specifically a low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet.
The study, conducted within a large-scale European research network called the GenMalCarb consortium, involved 250 patients diagnosed with IBS. The trial compared the efficacy of a low-FODMAP diet against treatment with the antispasmodic drug otilonium bromide. Of the 196 patients who adhered to the low-FODMAP diet, those carrying a defective hCAZyme gene exhibited a statistically significant improvement in their symptoms compared to those without the defective gene. This suggests a potential for personalized dietary recommendations based on an individual's genetic makeup.
Impact on Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
The effect of the genetic variation was particularly pronounced in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). IBS-D patients with the defective hCAZyme gene were six times more likely to respond positively to the low-FODMAP diet. This highlights the potential for targeted dietary interventions in this specific IBS subtype. The researchers noted that this difference in response was not observed in the group of patients receiving otilonium bromide, indicating that the genetic influence is specific to the dietary intervention.
Implications for Personalized Medicine
These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting personalized medicine approaches in managing IBS. By identifying genetic markers that predict treatment response, clinicians can potentially tailor dietary recommendations to individual patients, maximizing the likelihood of symptom relief and improving overall quality of life. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which hCAZyme gene variants influence the response to low-FODMAP diets and to explore the potential for developing targeted therapies based on these genetic insights.
