2019 CCS teaching award for Dr Jane Varney

Dr Jane Varney

Congratulations to Dr Jane Varney for winning Central Clinical School's teacher innovation and impact award this year! Jane was the lead for innovative development of the Monash FODMAP online course for dietitians. It has already had 1200 enrolments from 66 countries and 300 graduations. The course has:

• High student satisfaction
• Strong enrolments driven by good reputation
• Reaching dietitians world-wide
• Connecting IBS patients with Monash FODMAP trained dietitians

See Jane's video describing how the course works.

The award is open to all CCS staff working to innovate in learning and teaching, whether academic or professional, individuals or teams. Enquiries to Professor Robyn Slattery, Robyn.Slattery@monash.edu.

Translational Research Symposium Speaker Spotlight - Prof Peter Gibson

Prof Peter Gibson

Monash University's 3rd annual Translational Research Symposium is being hosted by its three metropolitan clinical schools on 31 July 2017. The symposium will host a diverse group of medical researchers presenting their work into translational research. RSVP here.

Professor Peter Gibson is the Head of the Department of Gastroenterology. He also led the team, along with Dr Jane Muir, who developed the very popular low FODMAP Diet app.

Video of the week: Low FODMAP diet in Deutsch!

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The Department of Gastroenterology's very successful animation (now up to 78,000 views) has been translated into German and uploaded to the CCSMonash Youtube channel. Downloads of their low FODMAP diet app have steadily been trending up.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSBygqIDvQQ

Was sind FODMAPS und wie sie RDS-Symptome auslösen

Published on 22 May 2016

Webseite: http://bit.ly/1TgHWhF
App: http://bit.ly/1PKfK3Y
Broschüre: http://bit.ly/1yFzqxg

Die FODMAP-arme Diät wurde von Wissenschaftlern an der Monash University in Australien entwickelt. Unter der Leitung von Peter Gibson lieferte das Monash-Team die ersten Nachweise dafür, dass eine FODMAP-arme Ernährungsweise die Symptome eines Reizdarms verbessern kann. Das Reizdarmsyndrom (RDS) ist eine häufig auftretende funktionelle Magen-Darm-Erkrankung (im Englischen functional gastrointestinal disorder = FGID), die jeden siebten Erwachsenen betrifft und vielfach in Teilen Europas, in den USA sowie in zahlreichen Ländern Asiens und des Pazifiks auftritt.

Photo of the week: Low FODMAP workshop fully subscribed!

Low FODMAP food display. The Monash University Department of Gastroenterology ran a highly successful workshop attended by 120 dietitians on 18 May 2016, called 'FODMAPs 101: Introduction, Indication and Implementation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome'.
See more:

• www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/seminars.html
• Photo gallery

23 Feb Low FODMAP workshop for IBS sufferers

The Monash Department of Gastroenterology are offering an educational workshop for individuals with IBS. It is a group consulting session run by Monash FODMAP research dietitians who can answer your questions and give you an overview of current research. Please note this group education session is suitable for individuals with a diagnosis of IBS only.

• Date: Tuesday 23 Feb 2016
• Time: 6.30pm arrival for 7pm start. 7-9pm
• Venue: The Alfred Centre, Level 5 lecture theatre
• Cost: $50 tickets

Tickets can be purchased here: ecommerce.med.monash.edu.au/product.asp?pID=662&cID=2
See more about the workshop at www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/seminars.html

Video of the week: FODMAP animation - 30,000 views and counting!

The Monash Department of Gastroenterology's new video describing how FODMAPs in diet cause bloating in IBS sufferers was released on 14 December 2015. Since then, it has clocked up 30,000+ views, maintaining a steady average of between 400-500 views per day. It's an excellent tool for the Department, enabling a public understanding of the problem, based on rigorous research, and pointing the public to the Department's low FODMAP app, which is the highest selling medical app in Australia and now downloaded in over 100 countries worldwide.

• See the video at: https://youtu.be/Z_1Hzl9o5ic
• Website: http://bit.ly/1vXL2tQ
• App: http://bit.ly/1PKfK3Y
• Booklet: http://bit.ly/1yFzqxg

Video of the week: The FODMAP Grand Tour Down Under (animation)

Low FODMAP diet for IBS, Department of Gastroenterology, Central Clinical School

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting approximately 15% of people worldwide. Characterised by lower abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating, wind, distension and altered bowel habit (ranging from diarrhoea to constipation), the condition causes considerable discomfort and daily disruption for the sufferer. Researchers at Monash University have developed a diet strategy to manage IBS symptoms known as the low FODMAP diet. This diet is the product of extensive research which has quantified the FODMAP content of hundreds of foods, described the mechanism by which the diet works and shown that a low FODMAP diet improves symptom control in approximately three out of every four people with IBS. Join us as we go on a journey (almost like 'Fantastic Voyage'!) to understand the physiological effects of FODMAPs and the dramatic effects of a low FODMAP diet in people with IBS.

See more about Low FODMAP diet research and products at Monash:

• Website: http://bit.ly/1vXL2tQ
• App: http://bit.ly/1PKfK3Y
• Booklet: http://bit.ly/1yFzqxg
• Video link for reference:  https://youtu.be/Z_1Hzl9o5ic

Picture essay of the week: FODMAP testing

The Department of Gastroenterology has a world wide following for its low FODMAP diet as therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers. They have created a picture essay of how they go about testing their foods for #FODMAPs, which are various types of sugars, present in a huge variety of foods but to varying degrees.

On a FODMAP related issue, ABC Catalyst are broadcasting a show, "Gluten: A gut feeling", on Tuesday, 24 Nov 2015, featuring Professor Peter Gibson, Head of  Department, who has done widely cited research on so-called non coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). See reference for original article.

24 Nov 2015: Find out about the Monash University low FODMAP diet for IBS sufferers

Dietary advice for the IBS sufferer: introduction to the Monash University low FODMAP diet, Tuesday 24 November 2015.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are common but unfortunately people often suffer in silence. Common symptoms include bloating, stomach pain, excessive gas, diarrhoea and constipation. Certain things in our diet may trigger these symptoms but working out what exactly is responsible can be difficult and can often lead to avoiding foods unnecessarily.

FODMAPs are naturally-occurring carbohydrates in a large variety of foods and collectively, trigger IBS symptoms. Over the past decade, research into diet and IBS has shown that a low FODMAP diet successfully improved IBS symptoms in ~70% of individuals.

Come along to an interactive session with 3 expert IBS dietitians (Accredited Practising Dietitians CK Yao, Marina Iacovou and Caroline Tuck) who are at the heart of IBS research at Monash University. You can find out more about what a low FODMAP diet is, whether it is for you, the latest research around the diet and practical strategies to get started.

Light refreshments including Low FODMAP options will be provided.

Date: Tuesday 24 November 2015
Time: 6.30pm arrival, 7-9pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Level 5, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road Melbourne 3004
Cost: $70 per person. Purchase ticket

Enquiries

• phip.settle@monash.edu
• fodmap.feedback@monash.edu
• +61 9903 0526
• Web:  www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/

The low FODMAP diet and its application in East and Southeast Asia

Thai green curry. Image: Monash Dept of Gastroenterology

There is growing interest in using food choice/dietary change to influence clinical outcomes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The low fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) diet is an evidence-based approach that is increasingly used in many Western countries, and holds great promise in treating IBS patients in East and Southeast Asia. However, the success of this dietary approach greatly depends on detailed knowledge about the FODMAP composition of food commonly consumed in that country.

FODMAP testing - what's involved

Mr Alex Bogatyrev, research scientist assisting with the analysis of FODMAPs in food

By Dr Jane Varney (Research Dietitian)

The Department of Gastroenterology at Monash University are leaders in the FODMAP analysis of foods. With over 10 years of experience performing this detailed analysis, we have a team of highly skilled staff and a laboratory equipped with state of the art equipment that enables us to provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive data regarding the FODMAP content of food. This article provides you with an abbreviated description of what is a laborious, expensive testing process, each food taking 2-4 weeks to analyse in our lab! See also the photo gallery.

Do different FODMAPs have different effects?

Figs have a very high excess fructose rating
& pomegranates are rated 'red' for fructans

By Caroline Tuck (APD, PhD Candidate, Department of Gastroenterology)

Do different FODMAPs have different effects?

FODMAP is an acronym for a group of carbohydrates that have been shown to cause symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The acronym stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols and includes the following carbohydrates:

• fructose
• lactose
• sugar polyols (including sorbitol and mannitol)
• fructans
• galactooligosaccharides

Although these five sugar subgroups have been grouped together, they appear to have a different effects on the gut. A 2013 study compared the effects of fructose and fructans.

Dr Jane Muir: The FODMAP evolution. Find out more on 30 Sep 2015

Dr Jane Muir

Dr Jane Muir has over 20 years’ experience in the area of nutrition research and is currently Head of Translational Nutrition Science, Department of Gastroenterology in The Central Clinical School. Her research has focused on understanding the role of carbohydrates in the health of the gastrointestinal tract. In her current position, Dr Muir works in collaboration with Professor Peter Gibson, Head of Gastroenterology.

 A major area of their research involves investigating the role of poorly absorbed short chain carbohydrates (called FODMAPs) on the genesis of symptoms in patients with of functional gut disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Dr Muir will be speaking at the forthcoming 30 Sept Translational Research symposium hosted by Central Clinical School. See detail below.

Participants sought: Investigating the use of oral enzyme supplements in IBS

Interested in the latest IBS research? This study is investigating the use of an oral enzyme supplement to reduce the effects of one type of FODMAP, galactooligosaccharides, found naturally in foods.

You may be eligible to take part if you:

• Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Are aged 18 – 70 years
• Do not have any other gastrointestinal disease (e.g. coeliac disease)
• Living in Melbourne, Australia

We are currently looking for both male and female participants.

Contact
To participate or to find out more information please contact Ms Caroline Tuck:

• Phone: (03) 9903 0264
• Email: caroline.tuck@monash.edu
• Study link: www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/clin-trials/ct-tuck.html

Low FODMAP diet is only meant to be a short term intervention

Monash University Low FODMAP Diet: Low FODMAP diet – not a ‘lifetime’ diet:

Dr Jane Varney, a researcher in the Monash Department of Gastroenterology, explains about a common misunderstanding concerning the low FODMAP diet - namely, that it is a lifetime diet (similar to the strict gluten-free diet that individuals with coeliac disease must adhere to for life).  Well, she says, this is far from true. Read more.

Low FODMAP certification program launched by Monash University

Spelt grain has lower FODMAPs than
modern wheat cultivars

One in seven Australians suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but a new app and certification scheme launched by Monash University will help them find foods they can comfortably eat - and the ancient grain spelt appears to be part of the solution.

The Monash University Low FODMAP Certification Program certifies foods that are low in a group of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the digestive system - Fermentable, Oligo-saccharides, Di-saccharides, Mono-saccharides And Polyols (FODMAPs). See:

• Story
• Low FODMAP certification program details
• 15/4/2015 ABC news video clip with Dr Jane Muir.

Monash University Low FODMAP Diet: Are all spelt products low in FODMAPs?

Spelt is an ancient form of wheat. The Monash University FODMAP analysis of spelt has revealed that spelt flour tends to be lower in total FODMAPs than modern wheat. See the entire article by Dr Jane Muir at:

Monash University Low FODMAP Diet: Are all spelt products low in FODMAPs?

Mythbusting non-coeliac gluten sensitivity

By Dr Jane Varney, Department of Gastroenterology.

The gluten-free diet is more popular among consumers now, than ever before, despite a scarcity of scientific evidence to suggest a benefit of excluding gluten in people without coeliac disease. Monash researchers have responded to this trend by measuring the effect of a gluten-free diet in people with IBS and so called, ‘non-coeliac gluten sensitivity’ (NCGS). Participants consumed a gluten-free, low FODMAP diet for two weeks and were then randomly assigned to one of three diets (high gluten, low gluten or zero gluten). While all participants experienced an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms on the initial low FODMAP diet, the study found that there were no independent, gluten-specific effects observed. The study calls the clinical diagnosis of NCGS into question and suggests that FODMAPs, not gluten, are the trigger of gastrointestinal symptoms in people with so-called, NCGS.

 

Reference: Biesiekierski, J. R., et al. (2013). "No effects of gluten in patients with self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity afterdietary reduction of fermentable, poorly absorbed, short-chain carbohydrates." Gastroenterology 145(2): 320-328 e321-323.

 

You can follow and subscribe to  FODMAP research updates and news from their blog, Low FODMAP Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

FODMAP in the long term

Department of Gastroenterology researchers have authored a study which looks at fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols and their role in irritable bowel syndrome.

Management strategies for abdominal bloating and distension

According to a recent CCS study, bloating and distension are among the most common gastrointestinal complaints reported by patients with functional gut disorders and by the general population.